The What Van? Road Test: Ford Ranger Raptor

Date: Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Rear 34 Copy

Operating

Service intervals are set at one year/12,500 miles. Admittedly that’s short, but that’s no bad thing if the truck is having to endure the sort of hammering that can be dished out by intensive off-road use.

Under those circumstances regular workshop visits can make sound sense so that any damage can be dealt with.

At three years/60,000 miles the warranty could stand to be a little more generous given the vehicle’s high price.

You can switch the anti-idling system designed to help you save fuel on and off. We left it on most of the time, but we’re not sure how much impact it had on the fuel consumption.

We averaged a, painfully-high, 21.5 mpg. As it happens that was marginally better than the woefully-meagre WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) official figure of 20.5mpg.

The LED headlights, tail-lights and daytime running lights should last for ages and its good to see a spare wheel is provided. Bash a rock and rip a tyre’s sidewall wide open and an inflator/sealer will be of no help whatsoever.

Ford Ranger Raptor V6 petrol pick-up

Price £60,664

Price range £57,064-£60,664*

Gross payload 676kg

Load length 1544mm

Load width (min/max) 1,200mm/1,584mm

Load bay height 529mm

Loading height 860mm

Gross vehicle weight 3,130kg

Braked trailer towing weight 2,500kg

Cost per mile tbc

Engine size/power 2,956cc, 292hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque 491Nm @ 2,300rpm

Gearbox 10spd automatic

Fuel economy (combined WLTP) 20.5mpg

Fuel tank 80 litres

CO2 315g/km

Warranty 3yrs/60,000 miles

Service intervals 1yr/12,500 miles

Insurance group 42E

Price as tested (inc VAT) £64,144

* Businesses should be able to reclaim VAT on diesel model.

Options

Metallic paint £720

Decal pack £600

Electric load area cover plus roll-over bar £2,160

Rivals

Isuzu D-Max

Price range (ex VAT) £23,924-£51,324

Gross payload 1045-1205kg

Braked towing weight 2500-3500kg

Engines 164hp 1.9 diesel

Verdict: It’s a hardy workhorse with plenty of kit and a more-than-competent off-road performer, and Isuzu deserves high praise for its stress on onboard safety systems. The lack of power lets it down however, and the manufacturer should give some thought to offering a beefier diesel as an alternative to what is on offer at present. One suspects however that it is a lot more interested in developing a battery-electric model.

Toyota Hilux

Price range (ex VAT) £27,777-£60,187

Gross payload 1000-1030kg

Braked towing weight 3500kg

Engines 150hp 2.4 diesel, 204hp 2.8 diesel

Verdict: The biggest improvement made to the Hilux recently is the advent of a 200hp-plus diesel which has given it a power boost. The engine’s arrival was accompanied by a restyled exterior, a reworked interior and some well-judged mechanical changes. With a reputation for being virtually unbreakable, the Hilux is not lacking in comfort. Second-hand values are healthy, and we’re big fans of Toyota’s approach to warranty.

Volkswagen Amarok

Price range (ex VAT) £33,990-£48,410

Gross payload 842-1103kg

Braked towing weight 3420-3500kg

Engines 170hp, 205hp 2.0 diesel, 240hp 3.0 diesel

Verdict: The Amarok has the same platform as Ford’s Ranger, but the styling is different, and a V6 petrol engine is nowhere to be seen. Sold solely as a 4x4 double-cab, it builds on what the previous Amarok had to offer. As is usual with VW, onboard safety is at a high level, so is build quality – all VWs give you the impression that they’ve been carved out of a solid block of steel – and the warranty and servicing package provided is impressive.

The Final Verdict

Design 9/10 – A stack of clever features make it an extraordinarily-effective off-roader.

Cabin 9/10 –A well-designed working environment with one of the best touchscreens.

Ride 9/10 – Tackles the umpteen defects in Britain’s Third World highway network with aplomb.

Refinement 8/10 – The engine is commendably quiet and never sounds harsh.

Load area 6/10 – Poor payload capacity and towing capacity is below the magic 3.5 tonnes.

Handling/performance 10/10 – Both are utterly superb, with no defects that we can detect.

Engine/transmission 10/10 – An outstandingly-well-matched combination that delivers on everything.

Standard equipment 9/10 – It’s got virtually everything a discerning 4x4 double-cab pick-up purchaser wants.

Operating costs 6/10– Fuel consumption is the main drawback here, but petrol means no AdBlue refills.

What Van? subjective rating 8/10 – Ford could sell the V6 Ranger Raptor with the slogan: “The truck you always promised yourself.” OK, it’s not perfect – but we’d have one tomorrow.

Overall Rating = 84/100

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