Ford Ranger road test
Review: Sam Hardy
Ford Ranger 2.5 TDCI 4WD Pick Up Thunder Double Cab
What is it?
Special edition of Ford’s familiar pick-up. Flagship double-cab Thunder gets a new grille and other styling tweaks plus a smart new dashboard, MP3-playing stereo and air-con as standard. Ford Ranger Thunder now powered by an improved 2.5 TDCi diesel.
What’s hot?
- Ranger certainly looks mean: chunky tyres and flared wheelarches
- Efforts to improve refinement have been reasonably successful…
- …and 140bhp 2.5 TDCi is punchy and pretty economical too
- Driving experience positive with accurate steering and good grip
- Dashboard design much better. Equipment levels great
- Hugely capable off-road
- Tax situation favourable
What’s not?
- Leaf spring rear suspension means progress can be a bit bouncy
- Surprisingly impractical with little additional space inside…
- …while secure coverings for the huge flat-bed are expensive
- Cabin quality better but still not as good as the average family car
- Still feels and sounds like a commercial vehicle
What you need to Know
| P11D Value: | £17,450 |
| Monthly Rental: * | £358 |
| What will it be worth: ** | £ |
| GVW: | 3020kg |
| Payload: | 1175kg |
| Loadspace Volume: | n/a |
| Basic Loadspace Dimensions: | 1530mm x 1456mm |
| Engine: | 2.5 turbo diesel |
| CO2 Emissions: | n/a |
| Power/torque: | 140bhp/243lb ft |
| Economy: | n/a |
*Monthly rental courtesy of HSBC DriverQuote. Based on 36-month/30,000-mile contract hire agreement with maintenance.
** Trade value of van if purchased after three years and 60,000 miles.
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Business Van Manager Road Test Rating
It’s not going to make many business car drivers swap out of their Mondeos but the Thunder is a well-equipped, good-to-drive, truly multi-purpose vehicle. It’s not as practical as a van and Mitsubishi’s L200 and Nissan’s Navara are both better pick-ups, but in Thunder form the Ford Ranger is better than ever.
