Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2.0 EcoBlue Pickup Review

Introduction

Ford is definitely doing something right, as around half of all pickups being sold in the UK are Rangers. Now, there’s a new one, being introduced model by model to ensure supply can cope with demand. It started with the high-performance Raptor, but it’s the Wildtrak model that will prove most popular with UK buyers.

A new pickup doesn’t come along very often — the last new Ranger was 12 years ago — so has it been worth the wait? We take what will be the most popular model, the 2.0-litre Wildtrak, out on UK roads.

At a Glance

While the basic chassis is based on that of the old model, there’s been a huge amount of work done, making the latest Ranger more capable and more refined. It starts with the cosmetics, with C-clamp headlights surrounding a darkened grille obviously highlighting this as the new model. 

What’s not changed is the Wildtrak additions — you’ll still find bold wheel arch extensions and attention-grabbing Wildtrak logos adorning the pickup.

Elsewhere, it’s much the same as the rest of the Ranger lineup, Raptor excluded. That means you’ll likely pick a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine developing 205hp and a 10-speed automatic gearbox, although a smooth 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine producing 240hp is also available.

Power goes to all four wheels when required; you can leave the truck to sort that out automatically, or a rotary dial in the middle of the cabin gives you control over the various terrain settings. There’s even a low-range option for when the going gets really tough.

The rest of the range runs from the workhorse XL through to the truly luxurious Platinum model, with the high-performance Raptor standing as an edge case in an otherwise thoroughly considered range perfect for a commercial and owner-operator audience.

Key Features

Ford has worked hard to ensure the new Ranger Wildtrak stands up to scrutiny as both a lifestyle model for those needing something to cope with weekend adventures and a workhorse for professional users.

That’s most obvious by countless small changes you might not even spot individually but add up to a truck left wanting for very little.

At the back, the tailgate drops down and reveals built-in measurements above holes to place clamps. Suddenly, the Ranger Wildtrak can be used as a workbench. There’s even a cup holder to keep your coffee safe while you work.

An onboard power supply, with proper three-pin sockets in the back, can power anything from hand tools to laptops. Being out of the office no longer means being out of office.

There’s also a step behind the rear wheel, giving users a safer and sturdier way of climbing up to reach items in the load box rather than balancing precariously on the rear tyre.

Performance & Drive

You’ll never find a pickup truck that rides smoothly, thanks to the need to carry large payloads in the back while towing even larger loads. That said, the Ranger gets closer than anything else to date. It’s not on par with a modern SUV, but if you imagine driving a previous generation Toyota RAV4 or similar, you won’t be too far from reality; it’s excellent, for a pickup.

The engine isn't quite so refined, at least not under load. It’s a noisy thing, with plenty of vibration, but the 10-speed automatic gearbox soon gets the revs down to a more tolerable level. Once you’re cruising, it’s hushed and as refined as you could expect.

The gearbox, however, can get a little confused, although, with 10 ratios to choose from, that’s perhaps not surprising. Again, once up to speed and cruising along, it settles down and keeps you in one gear for longer. Not that changing gears is a problem, as the gearbox is impressively smooth.

Running Costs

The Ranger Wildtrak weighs more than 2.4 tonnes, so don’t expect it to be easy on fuel. That said, officially, it’ll manage 32.1mpg, which is remarkable, and our results from our time in the pickup were only slightly lower than that. Opting for the 3.0-litre model only provides an additional 35hp but hurts economy, with an official figure of just 27.9mpg.

Strong demand and high residual values keep leasing and PCP rates relatively low, which makes the nearly £40,000 plus VAT price tag more bearable. Opting for the smoother 3.0-litre adds another £5,000 plus VAT, and that’s reflected on your monthly payments.

Commercial users can reclaim the VAT element, which helps keep costs down. Those facing BIK charges will also benefit from the fixed-rate charges there, which currently means a basic rate taxpayer will face an annual bill a little below £800.

Servicing is required every two years, which is very generous, or every 12,500 miles. The latter will likely come first. Ford also provides a three-year or 60,000-mile warranty.

Interior & Tech

Ford has gone hard on tech, which possibly works against the rugged reputation the Ranger projects. But, for the majority of users, the modern cabin will be a huge plus point.

Its most obvious feature is the 12.0-inch infotainment screen placed vertically in the centre of the dashboard. It used Ford’s latest Sync 4 software, which is pretty good. You’ll find all the gadgets you need, from a navigation system and DAB radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and on to controls for the cameras and diff locks. It’s not always entirely intuitive, but it’s lightyears ahead of some of its rivals.

Pleasingly, there are also some good old-fashioned physical controls around, with knobs for audio volume and cabin temperature allowing changes with just a twist of the wrist.

Buttons and switches on the steering wheel cover more options, most of which are visible in the 8.0-inch digital instrument panel in front of the driver. It’s customisable to a degree but also changes in response to the user selecting one of the many driving modes to offer the most relevant information, and is sandwiched by some analogue dials for good measure.

Space is plentiful, with loads of elbow room and lots of headroom, even in the back. The seats are wrapped in leather, and the front seats and steering wheel are heated. There’s dual-zone climate control to keep everybody comfortable, keyless entry and start, and pretty much anything else you can think of.

While the cabin is the best we've seen on any pickup in the UK (and we include the new Volkswagen Amarok in that), it’s not quite perfect; there are few options for storing some work essentials, such as a laptop.

Payload & Practicality

With a foot firmly in the commercial vehicle arena, it’s no surprise that the Ranger Wildtrak can carry a full one-tonne payload — enough for the HMRC to allow VAT reclamation for business users without too much discussion. It's tight, though. At 1,037kg, you’ll need to remove the sports bar to accommodate a canopy, which the HMRC considers to weigh 40kg.

The load box is large, measuring 1,544mm long, with the liner in place, and 1,584mm wide. There’s 1,224mm of space between the wheel arches, enough to slide a Euro pallet into place.

It’ll tow 3,500kg without a problem, but beware if you're looking to fully load the Ranger Wildtrak; the maximum gross train weight is 6,500kg, so you can max out the vehicle’s payload or the trailer, but not both.

Ford’s Pro Power system is fitted to the load bed. This provides a three-pin power socket at the rear of the bed, allowing users to recharge a drill, plug in a sander, or power any number of tools. The tailgate even includes sections to attach a clamp so that, for example, pieces of 2x4 can be kept in place when being cut to size.

Safety

Ford has thrown everything at the Ranger Wildtrak, creating what we think is the pickup with the most comprehensive safety package. You’ll find automatic emergency braking, trailer sway control, load adaptive stability control, hill descent control, roll-over mitigation, parking sensors all around, rearview camera, adaptive cruise control with intelligent speed assist, and lane keeping assist, amongst many other things. What you won’t find is a blind spot warning or rear cross-traffic alert, as that’s reserved for the 3.0-litre model.

Euro NCAP has been let loose on the new Ranger. After crashing, smashing and testing the truck, it awarded the pickup the full five stars.

Options

While Ford makes a comprehensive range of models available, from relatively basic XL vehicles to the seriously plush Platinum, there’s still no end of options and customisations you can make to your Ranger.

There are 15 colours to choose from, although Ford has complicated this by making some shades available on limited models. The Cyber Orange of our vehicle is rather eye-catching but comes at a cost of £500 plus VAT.

Aside from some safety tech upgrades, most options revolve around the load box, where you’ll know far better than we do what is essential. However, four different shutters, three load box management kits, and two canopy options should be a good start.

Rival Pickups

The Volkswagen Amarok shares almost everything with the Ford Ranger — they’re even built on the same production line in South Africa — but the Volkswagen product feels a little more grown-up. It’s more expensive and not as capable of lugging loads, though.

With an incredible reputation for reliability, the Toyota Hilux will always be a strong choice. It’s a well-rounded pickup, but not as good to drive as the Ranger.

An Isuzu D-Max was always the worker’s choice thanks to its rugged capability and more industrial design, especially inside, but the latest model in V-Cross specification will surprise many with how plush it is. The 1.9-litre engine is underpowered, though, and needs to be worked hard.

Ssangyong is a name many forget, but the Musso is an excellent choice, especially for those tackling tarmac. It’s a bit fidgety on the road, but the car-like cabin and incredible equipment list will smooth things over a little.

Verdict

The Ford Ranger recently won the pickup award from the International Van of the Year jury, and it’s easy to see why.

In Wildtrak guise, it’s an impressively equipped truck that’s capable on the road and off it. It manages to carry the loads that commercial users require, and carry the right weights to keep the tax man happy. It does all that while riding well and offering a cabin that will keep a family happy at the weekend.

It’s tough to find fault with.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Ford Ranger Wildtrak.

**Correct as of 13/12/2023. Based on 12 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 24 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 12 monthly payments, or £4,438.56 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.