Read this before you buy the Ford Ranger

Did you know that Ford stopped selling the Ranger pickup in the US a good ten years ago? Yes, they did it because the market there was stagnant. However, immediately after Ranger’s exit from the pickup market there, the sales started increasing as more and more Japanese players started trickling in. While it is anybody’s guess why it happened, Ford will be back in the US next year with the updated Ranger. But, why are we telling you this? Because of Ranger’s exit from the pickup market in America, other regions now could experience this Ford pickup. The Philippines got it and ohh boy, we are so glad. The Ford Ranger pickup has been a welcome addition to our market which has so far seen infiltration by Nissan and Isuzu. So, read on to see the details you should know before buying the Ford Ranger.

Two engines options

There are two diesel engines on offer with the Ford Ranger. These are the same ones that are present in the Ford Everest. The 2.2-litre engine is for those who want economy drilled in with the butch looks. For them, Ford offers different configurations of the Ranger 2.2-litre and these include 125 PS / 320 Nm, 150 PS / 375 Nm and 160 PS / 385 Nm tunes. However, the choice of transmission remains a 6-speed manual for the 2.2-litre engine 125 PS and 150 PS. For the 160 PS, there is also the option of a 6-speed automatic. This is shared with the bigger 3.2-litre motor that makes 200 PS of power and 470 Nm of torque. The e-locking differential though is standard only on the 3.2-litre engine whereas the 2.2-litre motor doesn’t even get it as an option.

Cabin isn’t bare basic

Far from it, the cabin has been lifted straight off the Everest SUV. This means a proper plush and luxurious set-up. It, however, depends on which trim you are selecting. The Wildtrack versions are the top spec of their respective engines as well as offer all the bells and whistles one will want in their vehicle. This includes a digital display for the speeds, cruise control, steering mounted audio controls, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, dual zone climate control, a sunroof, electrically adjustable front seats and rear aircon vents. Leather seats are also an option and Ford offers plenty more customisation options for the Ranger. The seating space too is comfortable by a huge margin and as discussed before, is similar to the Everest. Users will barely know if they are seated in a pick-up. This also speaks volumes about the refinement of the diesel powertrain.

Off-road ability

Pickups are supposed to have good off-roading capability because of the vast terrain they are expected to traverse. The Ford Ranger too does that and some more. In fact, a couple of organisations have mentioned that it has one of the best towing capacities in its class. At 3,500 kgs capacity, it is easily understandable why it has been one of the most awarded pickups. The 237 mm ground clearance is massive and aided with the 18-inch wheels as well as the Terrain Management System. The Ford Ranger is poised to take on the rough very easily.

Safety

Being a pickup that will basically be used to haul goods around doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be safe enough. The Ford Ranger boasts six airbags, ABS along with EBD, ARP and various other aids. This has also given it a five-star rating as far as crash tests are concerned. The Ranger also boasts exceptional stability, however when relatively unladen, the ride at the back can get a bit bouncy. These can be credited to the durable and high capacity leaf springs.

Variants

Ohh, there are a lot of them and picking one will solely depend on the purpose the vehicle you will use it for. For example, there is the single cab that comes with the 2.2-litre engine only and in 4x2 guise. The chassis cab and the single are both available only with the 125 PS 2.2-litre engine. In double cab iterations, there are the Base 2.2-litre 4x2 MT, XLS 2.2L 4x2 MT, XLS 2.2L 4x4 MT, XLT 2.2L 4x2 MT and XLT 2.2L 4x2 AT. Of these, the Base comes with the 125 PS engine, the next two with the 150 PS configuration and the last two in the 160 PS guise. For the Double Cab Wildtrak, buyers can get the 160 PS 2.2L 4x2 MT and 2.2L 4x2 AT. The same state of tune can also be specified with the 2.2L 4x4 MT and 2.2L 4x4 AT. For the 3.2L, there is the 4x4MT and the 4x4AT trims available.