Ford will be introducing its all-new Ford Ranger next month from £15,515 and it comes with best-in-class towing capacity of 3.3 tonnes and two new diesel engines.
It will be offered in three cab bodystyles – Double, Super and Regular – and in four trim levels: XL, XLT, Limited and Wildtrak. The pick-up will also come in 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrains.
Ford says the pick-up is totally new from the ground up. Everything is new – engines, gearboxes, frame, suspension, steering system, brakes, chassis, exterior sheet metal and vehicle interior. The list continues with brand-new features for safety and passenger comfort.
It also has a new look: the front end has been sculpted and the windscreen has been raked back to give, if that’s possible, a sportier appearance. Larger headlamps, bigger mirrors and stamped-in wheel lips are also part of the refit.
The beltline has been raised, along with the rails of the load box to give the Ranger a deeper box. The Regular Cab and the Super Cab have the biggest box volume in its class at 1.82 cubic metres and 1.45 cubic metres respectively while the Double Cab is among the top with 1.21 cubic metres.
At 5,359mm long and 1,850mm wide, the new Ranger is bigger than the previous-generation model and it’s fitted with new interior surfaces. The B-pillar in the Double Cab has also been moved forward, delivering best-in-class rear legroom and knee clearance. Three adults can fit in the second row of the Double Cab.
The Ranger Double Cab offers 23 storage spaces in the cabin and its centre console bin is the biggest in its class at 8.5 litres and can cool up to six drinks cans in models with a duct from the air-conditioning.
The glove box can accommodate a 16-inch laptop computer, while door pockets can take 1.5-litre water bottles. Ample storage for mobile phones and other small items can be found in the console. Underneath the rear seats there’s a hidden storage area for tools.
On selected models the pick-up is offered with Bluetooth, USB and iPod connectivity. Dual-zone climate control and cruise control are available on the higher models while selected models offer a five-inch colour screen with satellite navigation.
Engine-wise there’s a new 197bhp 3.2-litre five-cylinder diesel engine that returns 28.3mpg on average for a 4×4 version with a manual and 28.7mpg on a 4×4 model with automatic transmission.
There’s also 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine delivering a power output of 148bhp. This returns an average of 32.8mpg.
For the first time, selected Ranger diesel models will be available with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. It can tow up to 3,350kg on selected models with diesel engines while the 4×4 can wade through 800 millimetres of water even when fully laden. It has a payload capacity of more than 1,340kg on some 4×4 variants, as well as a ground clearance of up to 232mm.
A robust electronically controlled transfer case – for both manual and automatic transmissions – allows drivers to shift on the fly from 4×2 to 4×4 high anytime via a knob on the centre console. Selected Ranger models come with traction control and stability control that features hill descent control, hill hold, trailer sway control, emergency brake assist and anti-roll.
Side curtain airbags are available on all cab styles for the first time and newly designed side thorax airbags which deploy from the driver and front passenger seats are available. All-new frontal impact airbags are available for the driver and passenger, along with seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters.
The Ranger will go on sale in the UK next month.
