Ford Ranger pickup in-depth review - Carbuyer

The Ford Ranger has become part of the pickup aristocracy, alongside the likes of the Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara and Volkswagen Amarok. The latest version is available with a choice of two engines, two gearboxes, two- or four-wheel drive and three bodystyles. Although it's a commercial vehicle at heart, higher-spec models make cases for themselves as everyday passenger cars, even if a conventional SUV will be more comfortable and practical.
Ford Ranger review: carbyr.uk/1V9zhN1
SUBSCRIBE to Carbuyer for new videos every week: bit.ly/17k4fct
Watch our latest video: bit.ly/carbuyervideos
Ford Ranger prices and specs: carbyr.uk/2bZZfpX
Mitsubishi L200 review: carbyr.uk/2c00R2O
Nissan Navara review: carbyr.uk/1OiwAFH
Volkswagen Amarok review: carbyr.uk/2bZZhhJ
Ford Edge review: carbyr.uk/2b091Tt
Best pickup trucks: carbyr.uk/2b2yKMy
Follow James Batchelor
Twitter: / jrrbatchelor
Instagram: / mrjbatchelor
Follow us:
Twitter: / carbuyeruk
Facebook: / carbuyeruk
Instagram: / carbuyeruk
Subscribe to Auto Express magazine: subscribe.autoexpress.co.uk/cb
Carbuyer makes car buying simple. We're the only automotive brand that's approved by the Plain English Campaign, delivering you clear, concise and easy to understand information about the things that really matter when you're choosing - and buying - your next car.
www.carbuyer.co.uk
Every week, Carbuyer's KZbin channel brings you simple and entertaining reviews on every major make and model that's available for sale in the UK. Plus you'll find frequently-updated top 10 features and the occasional group test for good measure.
If you want even more helpful information, head over to Carbuyer.co.uk where you'll find in-depth reviews of more than 500 cars, alongside the best buying advice and dozens of features helping you to narrow down your car buying shortlist.

[@slnoll21]

As an American, I LOLed when he said the 3.2L is noisy

[@iTzDilly.]

Scott Noll I have a 2013 4 cylinder car that’s louder than that lol

[@dougieranger]

As a Scotsman I laughed too.

[@nathanreid2974]

The engine sounds like a 200 SDL mercedes

[@nickwills6042]

they are the most steel wheel like alloy wheels i have ever seen!

[@miloraca]

I love my Ranger 3.2ltr auto, I am a builder and I tow a tandem trailer with ease

[@josephc2801]

They only make rangers with diesels? Now ford really needs to bring this back to America. That engine noise is nothing tho, that a ridiculous complaint

[@LAD241]

My mum's friend's partner has a Moonlight Silver 2016 Ford Ranger Wildtrak. Such a nice truck

[@YZJB]

"So American" - designed and engineered in Australia, mate

[@project-overland]

one colonial looks much like another

[@alles_klar]

"PICKUPS!!1" wasnt ready for this

[@LolFishFail]

Definitely looking at getting one of these ever since Land Rover abandoned the Defender. Wish we could get right hand drive F150s but I guess the Ranger is as close as it gets.

[@allanmacbadger5692]

Where does he get 40+ MPG for the 3.2 five cylinder engine? I struggle to get 30 MPG from my 2.2 automatic.

[@tomj337]

Couldn't have picked a more manly person to review a pickup 😂

[@DoktrDub]

Yeah because too many people are insecure about themselves and need to represent how manly they are with a big pickup truck lmao.. or how about you just drive whatever you want?

[@tomj337]

@@DoktrDub cry

[@DoktrDub]

@@tomj337 don’t project buddy, it’s not a good look.

[@BushmanOutdoors]

Bachelor lol

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

High beam lights is an additional option? Where I live they're required

[@AdrijanaNikolic]

Super review, great pick-up.

[@JasonDunlop247]

Good review. Thank you

[@rifqiyudhon313]

C'mon it's not that noisy

[@Richardthompson1969]

my ford was down for awhile it gave some trouble to start and then it wont now i have replaced the battery and it is turning over but will not start and the eengine light is on

[@bosse641]

No backup camera?

[@aminurrashid9211]

dont have review for colorado?

[@muzithandonxumalo9790]

Bakkies are life in South Africa

[@rob8975]

👊🏼

[@robbiesouthern7956]

I like rangers, I see lot of them Thailand with all tinted windows and chrome handles makes them look great

[@pooleheating]

Probably the worst ranger review i've seen to date! But I would love to know where he gets a tonneau cover for around £180 quid??? i'll take 10 please.

[@ionutochian1956]

I am still looking for this 180£ cover.

[@chitteshrawoody4227]

review the isuzu kb 300

[@AdamAus85]

New Nissan Navara seems to be doing pretty good in Australia with their coil shocks in the back.

[@armanpena3870]

Adddam It is terrible for loading!! the front goes up!!

[@sjpb1982]

I have the 3.2 and love it. It is noisier the than a regular car but it isn't terrible. I also have a BMW 420d as a company car and the noise level seems no different to me. Its just a different type of noise. I actually quite like it. Horses for courses I guess

[@matblackbluesport8720]

This is Made in Thailand?

[@chanukajayasinghe756]

review the 2016 hilux

[@juliopena9235]

3.2 litres is big? The Ford Super Duty gets a 6.7 turbodiesel V8

[@mustsilm]

When you review these type of cars you should also say is it any good off road? 4x4 badges alone doesnt tell anything. The car might be too heavy for offroading. Or there are other issues like the automatic gearbox. I just feel like otherwise why buy this big car if you only drive in the city. Speaking from european perspective. Just isnt enough room to park it and therefore nightmare in the city. That brings me on to another point, how is it to drive in a city traffic? Are there blindspots - visibility issues for example, i know windows are quite big but there might be some issues still. Engine noise alone shouldnt be the deciding factor, im not expecting this type of vehicle to be quiet as a mouse.

[@JackalArtsmith]

"little prod of the throttle and" *starts cringing at a noise that isn't even that loud and is quieter than most hatchbacks and cars*

[@rexyt8376]

damn this is a big truck in europe my dad has a 6.0L engine in his silverado v8 powerstroke

[@andyking5431]

How much is road tax on 3.2 .

[@deanhawthorn5783]

what a shame vospers ford at torquay cant supply the back up for this superb truck!!!

[@BestCarSound]

It's lovely sounding 5cyl for a diesel, just as Volvo's D5 and old LR Disco!

[@lavykhurana]

What is that watch he is wearing?

[@warsboerse5866]

Omega Seamaster Professional. Absolutely stunning watch, couldn't help noticing it myself.

[@MarushDenchev]

Pickups are doomed in Europe. Streets are way to thin as well as the people.

[@danineira366]

Marush Denchev I'm not sure if you've seen the pickups for sale in the eu they are SUV/off reader size width wise they're fine in Europe

[@sniff1197]

northen europe people are HARD

[@dougieranger]

Hare Bauer Brahs They're great in Scotland.

[@SammyInnit]

@Hare Brahs yeah it's not like tradesmen ever use them for anything is it.

[@j.cesarbraga]

It is funny how europeans want a truck without a decent engine. I bet if the Ranger came with the 1 liter engine from the Focus it would be the best selling vehicle in Europe. Ridiculous. Here in my country, where at least we have space to drive pickup trucks, my '06 Ranger XLT 3.0 burns less diesel than a Vauxhall Astra, so fuel consumption and emissions are not even the case. Next year I'm picking this new Ranger model.

[@sniff1197]

actually we have a 2.2l and its a damn workhorse, we haul really heavy stuff and the engine doesnt even break a sweat. a really impressive 2.2l engine that ford has pu together!

[@WanderingMeanderer]

Braga.. fitting!

[@antowens6276]

Is thus guy related to Quentin Wilson?....... or is he tryin to be him 😅😅 .... that said..... good review and i still buyin one 😎

[@marzy2423]

American... The Ranger was designed in Australia for Australia.

[@colemorgan5079]

He said pickups in general ffs

[@Schaneification]

Yea , most people in the UK do not know they do not sell the Ranger in the U.S. Most people in the EU have no idea about American cars but what they seen on Top Gear lol

[@maltesephil]

Like the mustang just bring over the f150 please ford

[@deanhawthorn5783]

if you want comfort and no roll....buy a car ....this is the best truck ever....its exiting to drive.....so when you go to work to have to drive there in this beautiful truck....sets you up for the day

[@PHRULEZ1234]

I like the number plate. FEK

[@harveybirdman74]

Plenty of room in the back for his boyfriend's herd of poodles.

[@THEDIESELCHANNEL]

harveybirdman74 spot on

[@MIKEGRACETHOMAS]

Lol.. lol.

[@downburst1]

He hasn’t a bloody clue that some people work for a living and need a utility

[@52hermitage]

Homophobia alive n well I see

[@user-qe1qn8bg1t]

@@52hermitage ooo you are a big sissy too

[@StartMan09]

The louder the better with a pick-up surely... It's not exactly designed for families!

[@adamtrauba7187]

be lucky you get this truck in europe in america ford doesn't make the Ranger anymore

[@lucianocardoso237]

His face when he complains about the noise, it looks like someone just ate all of his pudin....preposterous!!!!

[@AdamAus85]

High beam lights? Does he mean projector head lights? Pretty sure every car has high beams

[@Mr.SneakyShadow]

A review for a commercial pickup truck that doesn't go off road :(

[@decklenmiller8156]

Europe isn't used to big engines i guess. "The massive 3.2L". I have a 302 5.0L v8 in my 01 ranger. Pushin about 370bhp.

[@armanpena3870]

FTYB Miller Because European cars manufactures small displacement engines but bigger output.

[@sniff1197]

a volvo 940 2,3l can easily put out 300hp lel

[@WanderingMeanderer]

North America isn't used to our gas prices.

[@gpappas79]

In europe the average cost of gas is 1.80€ /ltr...... In usa???? Think about Thatcher....

[@LentPanic7]

A J We’re getting there, don’t worry.

[@teslateslo89]

How about it's reliability?

[@jhaibowenn8298]

We have had ours for 8 months, done 15,000kms with no problems! (3.2 Auto)

[@orpheasnestos7444]

jhai bowenn Still no problems? Thanks.

[@matthiasrambally1899]

I'm in the Caribbean and we have to deal with these utes but compared to America these pickups are jokes 😪

[@Hibuy-]

ROFL big 3.2 liter engine

[@dougieranger]

That is not noisy.

[@dimitris.p.kepenos]

Who on Europe would by a pick up as a daily driver?! I can get behind the idea that construction workers/companies or farmers would like those by why people?

[@ASLUHLUHCE]

"0-62 takes just 10 and a half seconds"

[@amerigo88]

Drove a 1998 Ford Ranger in Texas and Alabama for 8 years and sold it in 2014 for $2000 with 197,000 miles on odometer. It was so handy and had the 3.0 liter V-6 plus a manual transmission with the heaviest clutch on Earth. This British review is hilarious. My 2003 Ford Expedition SUV (bought in 2015 for $3500) seats eight and has a 5.4 liter V-8 engine and 165,000 miles so far. I nearly took a new Ford F-150 to West Germany in 1989, but was wisely advised that I would flip it while driving the high-crowned country roads there. It turned out I would have struggled to squeeze through many of the German villages as well.

[@nathanreid2974]

The Engine sounds like mercedes 200 SDL

[@scoottyscott7845]

ok, I'm not really a big fan of pickups but would love to see the Mercedes pickup. just thinking about makes me giggle it's going to be the ugliest car on the road and i live in the UK and we love Mercedes so you can kinda see where I'm coming from I love the Ford ranger it's a very good looking car and I wouldn't mind having one in my drive way

[@Ara198826]

my 2014 hilux with 2.7 petrol inline 4 which is naturally aspirated goes from 0-60 in 10.5 seconds wtf is ths

[@ashishatif]

This is a diesel

[@armanpena3870]

Ara J Rnager The Ranger 3.2L goes 9.1 secs. Wrong info on 10.5secs

[@farmerjohn19]

That back cover is more like £1000

[@Luka_WiFi]

კაი კაცი ხარ.

[@TheKmc121]

Her? Again?

[@stoikgramadanski7401]

The amount of Chinese plastic inside is impressive...... :)

[@ryandever2355]

Stoik Gramadanski it's got one of the best interiors of any pickup (of this price) . It's not going to be a rolls Royce is it .

[@steventhoseby]

Great car for taking your cousin on a date! Give me the Amarok 3.0 TDI over this anyday.

[@scottt3491]

They are good.... as long as no-one is in the back.

[@georgegeorgakopoulos5956]

Built Fek Tough

[@gordonremsey8055]

"Terribly American?" Um no not all of them are designed in America

[@lukeb1360]

Is this Jeremy Clarkson and Quentin Wilson's lovechild?

[@ScottPC]

If I had to have a pickup I'd 100% have a VW pickup! If ford brang the F150 here.. for the price it would be great but stupidly big for England!

[@jamessez5826]

It's the same size as a Range Rover.

[@ScottPC]

James SEZ highly doubt that!

[@larry8065]

Well, the shortest version of the F150 is about as long and wide as a Range Rover or a Mercedes S-Class or a Jaguar XJ LWB, but every other version is significantly longer. The SuperCrew short box is approximately 2 feet or 61 cm longer than an Xj LWB.

[@DionFan80]

Terribly American yet not sold in the US.

[@LentPanic7]

NoH8 There isn’t anything british about the falklands either, but slap a flag on it and it is now british....same concept here.

[@marmal320]

Coke Life! Remember that?

[@damienmccue2793]

I'm american and the steering wheel on the right is throwing everything off. How... XD

[@senor250]

Forget the off-road and power, do the real test. A McDonald's drive thru........

[@ernodios]

senor250 Shit you're so right lmao

[@orpheasnestos7444]

Picks ups are “American”?! And what is it with British reviews and large water bottles?

[@pow1983]

Quentin's love child

[@skadooshly]

“Toe hooks” ... smh city boys...

[@davimurph]

*Tow

[@imwolfmaster8399]

This car sexy as fuck

[@richardhartley1705]

£180 for a mountain top cover I don’t think so

[@zacksalvage]

Well wasted $10,000 fixing this car on its first month because I "used the wrong diesel type."

[@TrailDave]

Doesn't like the sound of a 5 banger? Fire this guy immediately

[@kevenantoine3587]

My mother was listening to this video from a distance and asked " is that a man or a woman?" He is not the best reviewer on the carbuyer staff. Anti-american, and bigoted. It's a pickup not a range Rover!

[@Pienimusta]

Hilux still probably better work horse

[@benthk3dprt136]

these Uk review video's alway's make my heart skip a beat each time they turn around the corner ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD !

[@thewarden6910]

Lmao

[@gzakwan5604]

stupid ways to review pickup is not to say how much torque the truck has

[@kwokwingyo]

Someone give this guy a sandwich. A strong gust of wind may blow him away.

[@brightivan]

The Ford Ranger. Second most unethical vehicle on Malaysian highways after the Toyota Hilux.

[@LemtemPoktui]

In Malaysia the people who drive these cars are mostly assholes. That's why.

[@chilogutierrez4558]

Welcome to America where we love out trucks loud. RIP thanks to obama

[@blueburaq]

Because what's Ford Motor c Company without giving Ford of Europe the better cars....*sigh*...

[@raulbarsan8582]

Almost first

[@Ford_Everest]

Yay no more Rebecca , this is the happiest day of my life

[@charlierobert7263]

30k plus for a car with a rubber Arial, cheap interior and Awful engines/ stats. A hot hatch back has more torque, power and economy, space, as do most estate cars. Not sure in the point of these really.

[@hugocahill7514]

The worst person to review it cuz he is never gonna use the ranger,y didn't they lend it to a farmer to review

[@JimihendrixHendrix-yl7cx]

the wheels look like fucking grandad brought them from the garage and put them on

[@nzrota5298]

The Rangers are now listed in the Dog and lemon guide as Unreliable and get 2 out of 5 stars. They have major problems with all the sensors on the vehicle and when you do an oil change the oil pump empties and wont reprime when the new oil is added. This means the oil pump fails and the engine then fails. Ford are having to replace engines at an alarming rate. I know a guy who has had 3 engine replacements from Ford. They also have major issues with their four wheel drive systems and drive train. Terrible vehicles. Basically Junk. But they make great paper weights or garden ornament's.

[@muhammedguney6786]

mhuammed61

[@doyle201206]

Is he selling it a hairdresser wagon, worst combo of vehicle and presenter ever.

[@misterosc]

This pickups look like a monstrosity in our tiny european roads

[@josephc2801]

misterOsc these are tiny in America actually. oh wait. They don't make them here anymore 😑

[@Takeruskep]

Joseph C stopped in 2011 but it is coming back now they say it will be 25k with a diesel option probably to compete with the Colorado, and Tacoma

[@josephc2801]

yeeeeee

[@iamkhanyasakawuli]

This guy just gets on my nerves! And who the f*ck dresses him?

[@jamezz34]

"Terribly American"...I'd rather be in that than in a shitty Japanese hatchback

[@sniff1197]

UK is such a wimpy country lol

[@fortheloveofnoise9298]

Poor poor brits....I am so sorry that this is your most powerful pick up, you don't even get the Ford F-150.

[@onestepbeyond5221]

Weird Music you wouldn't have one if you had to pay the fuel costs like here! lol plus the 20 percent tax on purchase. poor Brits your right! :-)

[@fortheloveofnoise9298]

Yea just got a 2014 Mustang Premium for $15,000 total cost with tax and everything.

[@onestepbeyond5221]

Weird Music stop rubbing it in! lol

[@ernodios]

Cars with more power than that are usually sportcars, supercars, limousines or premium SUVs in Europe. Nobody would ever spend more money than that in such a rough vehicle

[@fortheloveofnoise9298]

guess you get the short end of the stick

[@TriStarIII]

it looks really outdated