Ford Ranger Van Review

Our Review of the Ford Ranger

Though the marketing from Ford for the Ford Ranger Diesel Pick Up Double Cab Wildtrak states it is aimed at the outdoor adventurous type, it is probably fair to say in the UK there is not much scope for travelling into a desert or across a mountain range to do some snowboarding. Where the Ford Ranger Wildtrak fits into the competitive market of commercial vehicles, is that it can carry a good payload, while its 5 seat cab just as aptly takes the children to school as any modern family saloon.

Due to its stylish, cowboy country appearance and five seats, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak has been claimed as a company car due to its commercial vehicle tax bracket being considerably less than a standard car.

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak is powered by a 3.0 - litre TDCi Turbo diesel engine, and can generate around 154bhp. It is configured to give a good low end torque and this cannot be disputed. Like most pickups it has a standard 4 x 4 transmission system whereby the driver can select from three modes: 4 x 4, rear - wheel drive, and a special low range 4 x 4 when driving over serious off road terrain. Ford have given the Wildtrak a slip differential as standard, and it performs well over uneven ground and rough surfaces thanks to the chassis and engineering quality that has gone into the design.

Traditionally, pick - ups give a bumpy, bouncy ride on the open road. This is heightened when unladen. This has been addressed to some degree by the Ford Ranger Wildtrak which still is a little bouncy, but thanks to a little adjusting on the dampeners on this model, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak does provide a smoother ride than most of the vehicles in its class.

The payload of the Ford Ranger Wildtrak is around 1072kg and will give a mileage of around 29.7mpg. This is considerably less than most commercial vans but then it is a trade off between a good family leisure vehicle and a way of transporting materials from A to B.

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak stands up well to other vehicles in its class, and despite the large alloy wheels, massive headlights and mirrors, not to mention the cowboy country appearance, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak is not just for show as it can perform over all terrains as a good pick - up should.