Ford Ranger (2011-2022) Review

Powerful, stylish and capable of rivalling some of the best vans for load moving potential, the Ford Ranger is an accomplished commercial vehicle. What’s more, with a huge choice of bodystyles and trim levels, there really is a Ranger for everyone. Little wonder, perhaps, it is the UK’s favourite pick-up truck. 

Most people choose the double cab Ranger, with its five seats and larger interior providing the broadest appeal. However, if you are looking for a working vehicle for the building site, the Ranger is also available as a single or super cab, with the latter getting a small rear door and two fold down rear seats for occasional use. 

The Ranger is available in five trim models, but most buyers splash out on the high spec Wildtrak versions owing to their high spec that includes touchscreen navigation and leather seats. Ford has also commissioned a number of high-performance Rangers over the years, with the Stormtrak, Raptor and MS-RT models being the most desirable. 

The Ford Ranger is similar to the Toyota Hilux, SsangYong Musso and Volkswagen Amarok. You may also want to consider the Isuzu D-Max, which has an excellent 4x4 system for towing and carrying one-tonne payloads. The Ford also rivals the Nissan Navara and Mercedes-Benz X-Class, although these are only available as used vehicles due to the fact these models have been axed by their respective manufacturers. 

If you are looking for a tough 4x4 that will cope with the building site during the working week and family days out at the weekend then the double cab Ford Ranger will be for you. It’s well made, comfortable and extremely practical. 

The Ranger interior does have its fair share of hard plastics but that's to be expected in a commercial vehicle such as this. And while some of the interior quality might be a little rough ‘n’ ready by car standards, the Ranger’s cabin is hardwearing and easy to clean. If you want something that is more luxurious you may want to consider a 4x4 SUV. 

High spec versions of the Ranger in Wildtrak, Stormtrak or Raptor trim feature lots of high-quality fabrics and trims. These are the most desirable Ranger models, especially those that feature leather and heated seats.  

Since 2019, XL has been the entry-level version of the Ford Ranger. It comes fitted with a DAB radio system that features a basic multifunctional display and Bluetooth connectivity for your mobile phone. You also get a pair of USB charging sockets. 

XLT trim adds a CD player, 8-inch TFT touchscreen and Ford Pass Connect, which allows you to lock/unlock the vehicle with your mobile phone or locate it in a busy car park via Ford’s app.

Ford added SYNC 3 infotainment to the Ranger line-up in 2019 and this features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but you’ll need to buy the Ranger in Limited trim or better to get it as standard. Wildtrak models get touchscreen navigation as standard, along with Raptor and MS-RT versions.

Being a pick-up, the Ford Ranger doesn't get a traditional boot; instead, it features a flat load area that can be customised with lockable roller shutters, rigid tonneau covers or a hardtop with windows. Maximum payloads for most versions of the Ranger is around one-tonne, with the exception being the performance Raptor model which is limited to 620kg. 

The load height ranges from 800mm - 900mm, depending on spec, and the tailgate drops down flat and flush with the load bed, making it easy to lift in heavy items. Four load hooks help keep items in place, while an optional plastic load tray will prevent the load bed from damage. All versions of the Ranger get around 1650mm load width - 1139mm between the wheel arches - while single cab models provide a load length of 2317mm and this drops to 1575mm for the double cab models.    

Single cab models have a limited amount of space behind the two seats for soft bags or jackets. The super cab model has more space with the two rear seats folding away. Double cab models have the most interior space, with three rear seats. 

There are good levels of leg and headroom in the back seats of the Ranger double cab, which means four or five adults can travel in comfort. You also get deep door pockets and a generous scattering of cup holders. The door pockets will also accommodate one-litre water bottles while the large storage box between the front seats is handy for hiding valuables. 

The latest versions of the Ford Ranger are powered by a Euro 6 four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine with 135PS, 170PS or 213PS. The 170PS version is the best in our opinion as it strikes a good balance between performance and running costs, with its 420Nm of torque producing lots of low-gear acceleration. 

If you need more poke from your pick-up, the bi-turbo 213PS engine will most likely suit your needs. It produces a mountainous 500 Nm of torque but is only available on high spec versions of the ranger like Raptor and Stormtrak. 

Ford offered the Ranger with a powerful five-cylinder 3.2-litre diesel engine up until 2020. The 3.2 diesel is one of our favourite diesel engines owing to its grunty 470Nm of torque, which means it is perfectly suited to off-roading in heavy mud or towing heavy loads. 

A four-cylinder 2.2-litre was also offered up until 2019, when it was replaced by the latest 2.0-litre diesel. This 2.2 TDCi engine is the least powerful engine in the Ranger line-up, initially being offered with 125PS or 150PS. However, this was increased slightly in 2013 to 130PS or 160PS.

The Ranger is generally fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. A six-speed automatic was offered until 2019 when it was replaced with a 10-speed torque-converter automatic. This 10-speed auto is fitted as standard to the Ranger Raptor. 

Refinement and noise levels are not areas where commercial vehicles tend to excel, with their focus firmly on shifting huge loads at the lowest possible fuel cost. Ford’s pick-up is no exception. Certainly, compared to the best SUVs, the Ranger’s diesel engines are noisy and there is lots of road and wind noise on the motorway. 

The suspension in the Ranger transfers lots of vibration into the cabin on rough road surfaces. This is because Ford uses a leaf-sprung suspension system in the Ranger, which is designed to carry heavy loads. If you want a pick-up with SUV-like comfort, we’d recommend the Nissan Navara, Volkswagen Amarok or Mercedes-Benz X-Class.

That said, some versions of the Ranger perform better than others. Certainly, those built since the 2015 facelift are much improved over the older models, while further improvements to refinement and noise were applied during a model refresh in late-2019. 

The Ford Ranger is fitted with lots of safety tech as standard, with all models getting a driver and passenger front airbag, along with side and curtain airbags. There is also an inflatable knee airbag for the driver, along with low-speed crash foam bumpers that are designed to absorb small impacts. 

Double cab models get two Isofix anchor points for the outer rear seats and both of the rear doors are fitted with child locks. 

There is a comprehensive array of active driver safety kit, which includes a hill descent control system that will automatically control the Ranger’s speed when tackling a steep off-road decline. The Ranger also gets systems that will take action if it detects a risk of the vehicle rolling over when off-road. 

Cruise control, lane keep assist and an automatic emergency braking system are all fitted as standard, while the options list includes adaptive cruise control and a semi-autonomous parking system that will automatically steer the Ranger into a space.

Pick-up trucks tend to live tough lives, which means reliability is very much dependent on how much care the previous owner(s) have paid to their Ford Rangers. As a basic requirement, you should aim to buy a Ranger from a dealer with a warranty and full service history. 

According to the MOT Files at HonestJohn.co.uk, the Ford Ranger has a good record with 81% of vehicles passing their first MOT test - a figure that's 22% better than other pick-ups. 

Pick-up trucks tend to be expensive for insurance. The Ranger starts in group 30 and the high-performance models like the Raptor, Stormtrak and MS-RT are closer to group 50. 

Pick-up trucks are taxed as commercial vehicles, which means you'll pay a flat rate of £275 for 12 months VED and £143 for six months tax.

The Ranger line-up is broadly split across six trim levels, although Ford has released various special editions and limited run models over the years that include the Stormtrak and Wolftrak.

XL is the entry-level spec and features 16-inch steel wheels, body coloured bumpers, DAB audio with 3.5-inch multifunction display, Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, air conditioning, lane keep assist, cruise control and electric windows. XLT adds alloy wheels, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment, automatic windscreen wipers and front fog lights, 

Limited is the mid-spec trim level and includes LED headlights, electric door mirrors, SYNC 3 infotainment with voice control, leather seat trim, keyless start, parking sensors and a rear view camera. 

Wildtrak is the most popular trim level in the Ranger line-up and includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED front fog lights, touchscreen navigation, ambient LED interior lighting. and roof rails. 

Raptor is the highest spec in the Ranger line-up and includes an enlarged Ford grille, leather and suede seats, electric seat adjustment for the front seats and bespoke high-performance suspension. Ford has also commissioned a specialist MS-RT model that gets 20-inch OZ alloy wheels, carbon fibre door mirror caps and a hand-built carbon fibre-effect grille. You also get orange stitched MS-RT leather seats and an aerodynamic load bar.