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The What Van? Road Test: Ford Ranger Stormtrak (2021)
Date: Monday, August 1, 2022
Operating
Service intervals are set at one year/10,000 miles, and if that seems on the short side, it’s understandable. Take a 4x4 off road and you could do all sorts of damage to it without being aware of the harm that has been done, so getting a workshop to pop it on a ramp reasonably frequently and take a look at the undercarriage is no bad thing.
Stormtrak comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, which could stand to be made more generous, and a spare wheel – far better than one of those pesky inflator/sealers.
Ford Ranger Stormtrak
Price (ex. VAT) £36,375
Price range (ex. VAT) £24,750–£49,775
Gross payload 1,024kg
Load length 1,575mm
Load width (min/max) 1,139mm/1,560mm
Load bay height 511mm
Loading height 857mm
Gross vehicle weight 3,270kg
Braked trailer towing weight 3,500kg
Residual value tbc
Cost per mile tbc
Engine size/power 1,996cc, 213hp @ 3,500rpm
Torque 500Nm @ 1,750-2,000rpm
Gearbox 10-spd automatic
Fuel economy (combined WLTP) 36.2mpg
Fuel tank 80L
CO2 201g/km
Warranty 3yrs/60,000mls
Service intervals 1yr/10,000mls
Insurance group 40E
Price as tested £38,600
*after 48 months @ 20,000 miles a year – source – KWIKcarcost
Options
Metallic paint £600
Cargo area management system £100
Trailer tow pack £400
Wildtrak driver assistance pack £1,125
Rivals
Isuzu D-Max
Price (ex. VAT) £21,104–£48,604
Gross payload 1,045–1,205kg
Braked towing weight 2,500–3,500kg
Engines 164hp 1.9 diesel
Verdict: While the wide range of derivatives and the stress on on-board safety can
only be applauded, the D-Max is light on power, with only 164 horses on tap. Isuzu needs
to emulate Toyota and offer a more powerful diesel as an alternative. Still a good package though – check out the Arctic Trucks AT35 D-Max – and good enough to win the What
Van? Pick-up of the Year Award for 2022.
SsangYong Musso
Price (ex. VAT) £23,265–£31,665
Gross payload 1,050–1,140kg
Braked towing weight 3,200–3,500kg
Engines 181hp 2.2 diesel
Verdict: A well-priced, well-equipped truck that is usefully capable off road, Musso has not long been upgraded, with a redesigned front-end. Good to see such a remarkably-generous warranty. Think about investigating the long-wheelbase Rhino variant if you need to carry more; it offers additional load floor length. Specification levels are high across the line up,
but a few more on-board safety systems need to be provided if Musso is to stay abreast with marketplace trends.
Toyota Hilux
Price (ex. VAT) £25,136–£55,969
Gross payload 1,000–1,030kg
Braked towing weight 3,500kg
Engines 150hp 2.4 diesel, 204hp 2.8 diesel
Verdict: The new 2.8L diesel affords the legendary (an appropriate word in this context) workhorse a long-overdue power boost. Any drawbacks are more than compensated for by Hilux’s well-deserved reputation for durability and its undoubted off-road credentials. As well as the new engine the latest offering gets a restyled exterior, an upgraded interior and an assortment of mechanical changes.
The Final Verdict
Design 9/10 – Looks fabulous and it’s practical too. A great combination.
Cabin 8/10 – A good environment. Heated front seats and an electrically-adjusted driver’s seat.
Ride 7/10 – Not its strong suit and could stand to be better-damped.
Refinement 8/10 – Offers a smooth drive despite the ride’s limitations, and is well put together.
Load area 8/10 – Ample with good braked trailer towing capacity. Power-operated cover a good option.
Handling/performance 8/10 – Well up to the mark, with Stormtrak surprisingly nimble round bends.
Engine/transmission 8/10 – An effective combination, the 10-speed auto box proving its worth consistently.
Standard equipment 8/10 – Lots of goodies and more focus on on-board safety than usually with 4x4 double cabs.
Operating costs 6/10 – High fuel cost with warranty that should be 100,000. Residual values look healthy.
What Van? subjective rating 9/10 – Conscientious people should go for the new Maxus T90EV electric 4x2. If you fancy a bit of fun, get yourself a Stormtrak.
Overall Rating = 79/100
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