Ford Ranger 2.2 TDCi

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14 Mar, 2012 11:00am Sam Hardy

Do cost savings make the Ford Ranger a viable SUV alternative?

Verdict

There is something loveable about a pick-up – and the Ranger ticks the right boxes with its rugged looks and huge versatility. It’s certainly much more grown-up than before, while the 2.2-litre diesel will have more than enough performance for most needs. It’s not an alternative to a regular SUV, but some business drivers will be prepared to put up with the compromises for the huge savings in tax.

Pick-ups used to be as simple as transport got – but lately, models such as the Ford Ranger have ladled on the luxuries.

Why? Because of a loophole. For the self-employed, a pick-up makes a cheap, well equipped family car, as it’s classed as a light commercial vehicle. This saves you the VAT and means a lower rate of company car tax.

Video: Watch official footage of the Ranger

However, is the latest Ranger really an alternative to the Kuga? It’s more comfortable than before, the interior is more modern and top-spec models come with Bluetooth, iPod connectivity plus voice and cruise control.

This 148bhp 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel was pretty quiet on the motorway and there wasn’t much wind noise from the huge mirrors. Switch the 4WD into low-ratio mode and select hill descent, and you can do some serious off-roading, too, while a 3,200kg gross payload is the same as the more powerful Ranger 3.2’s.

However, this is no SUV. The turning circle is vast and the ride jiggly over bumps, while the diesel is raucous at high revs. At 5.3m long and 1.85m wide, the big Ford won’t fit in most supermarket parking spaces, either. But then, neither will rivals such as the Mitsubishi L200.

The Ranger is a step forward for pick-ups and will continue to appeal for tax reasons. But for most buyers looking for more flexibility, a regular SUV and a used Transit make more sense.

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Submitted by Big6ft3d on Wed, 2012-03-14 15:53.

Rugged good looks though, one of the best around like the Amarok from VW

Submitted by giorikas81 on Thu, 2012-03-29 15:57.

So it is not an SUV. It is a truck. Why 3 stars? It is one of the few that is so safe in the crush, plastics look better texture than the amarok and basically, than all the others, the diesel is a great engine, what else do you need?

Submitted by orangefireball on Mon, 2013-07-29 08:19.

Because its a Ford...when i came to thailand, i saw same exact sibling Mazda BT50 outselling ranger...its hideous looking but people trust Japanese more than American..now these days in the states, people purchase more Korean than American...time has been changed, its not 40 years ago when ford made quality vehicle... :(

Key specs

* Price: £22,520 (inc. VAT)
* Engine: 2.2-litre 4cyl turbodiesel
* Power: 148bhp
* Transmission: 4WD, 6speed manual
* 0-62/top speed: 12.3 seconds/109mph
* Economy/CO2: 33.2mpg/224g/km
* Equipment: Bluetooth, voice control, HDC, iPod connectivity
* On sale: Now

For an alternative review of the latest Ford Ranger Pick-up visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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