EAT your heart out, SUV drivers… If you want a truly commanding view from behind the wheel and real off-road and workhorse capabilities, you need a pick-up truck.
A fine example of what I’m talking about is the Ford Ranger – which in the tested mid-level Limited double cab spec will also keep the family happy at the weekend.
During my week with this sizeable machine from the blue oval badge marque, I was constantly amazed by how much I could see around me because of the ride height. I always seemed to be looking down on so-called large 4x4s.
With the load box able to carry more than a tonne of stuff, a trip to the rubbish dump with debris from the latest home improvement project was a skoosh. And for the record, the Ranger has a towing capability of 750kg unbraked and 3500kg braked.
I also managed a little bit of off-roading, which the Ranger simply seemed to love, thanks to the selectable 4x4 dial next to the gear lever.
It allows you to choose 4x2 for regular driving and switch to 4x4 High while on the move should you find yourself going on to dirt tracks. And if the going gets really tough, there’s 4x4 Low Range.
The test vehicle, priced from £32,874, was powered by a 160PS 2.2-litre diesel engine mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox.
From start up and in the low gears, this created a pleasingly throaty rasp, which seemed befitting of this workhorse. But I was also pleasantly surprised by the way the engine settled down quietly once at cruising speed.
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The steering weight felt satisfyingly heavy yet the Ranger still managed to negotiate town traffic and busy motorways with ease. The suspension was also relatively stiff (in order to cope with any heavy loads), meaning body roll through bends was not excessive.
Despite the Ranger having a kerb weight in excess of 2.1 tonnes, the powertrain can still propel it to 62mph in 12.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 109mph. The claimed average fuel economy is 36.2mpg – and I got reasonably close to that, with CO2 emissions of 207g/km.
Step up into the cabin (with grab handles to help those up front), and you’ll find plenty of creature comforts and a quality finish. Leather seats, heated in the front, are complemented by soft-touch leather trim around the cabin and soft, premium car mats. A cool box in the centre console is also a nice touch.
There’s plenty of room for four adults or a family with three younger kids, who will no doubt enjoy Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system with voice control on their travels.
In the case of the Limited model, this includes an eight-inch touchscreen with a DAB radio/CD player, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for smartphone mirroring.
Taking a run to a part of Scotland that was unfamiliar to me, I was easily able to use my device’s maps app to get sat nav while also listening to my tunes. Other goodies include dual-zone climate control, auto lights and wipers, cruise control and rear parking sensors.
Safety highlights include Emergency Assistance to call for help if you have an accident, Trailer Sway Control and Roll Stability Control.
Sitting on sturdy 17in alloy wheels, the Ranger Limited looks smart, too, with plenty of chrome styling featuring on the bold front grille, side vents, wing mirrors, door handles, tubular sports bar and rear step bumper. It certainly made me feel like I had the upper hand over other road users.
Factfile:
- Model: Ford Ranger Limited Double Cab 2.2TDCi Auto 4x4
- Engine: 2.2-litre diesel
- Power: 160PS
- Top speed: 109mph
- 0-62mph: 12.8 seconds
- Average mpg: 36.2
- CO2 emissions: 207g/km
- Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles
- Price: £32,874
