New 2022 Ford Ranger pickup has a more imposing design and shares platform with the Volkswagen Amarok
- Fully electric Ranger coming later
- UK deliveries expected to start in early 2023
- Styling inspired by big Ford F-150 truck
Pricing for the new Ford Ranger pickup has been partly released, with the range-topping Wildtrak model set to start from £47,220. The latest Ranger ushers in a tough new look, high-tech equipment and extra practicality, and shares its underpinnings with the next-generation Volkswagen Amarok.
Exact pricing for other models in the range will be revealed at a later date before the new Ranger goes on sale towards the end of 2022. The outgoing truck has arguably made pickups more popular with UK buyers, and the new Ranger will look to continue the success of its predecessor. It’ll rival the Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara, Isuzu D-Max and SsangYong Musso.
Earlier this year, Ford unveiled an electric F-150 Lightning; an electric Ranger is coming later but won’t be available at launch. Instead, eager buyers can now place their order for the new high-performance Ranger Raptor with its muscular 284bhp V6 powertrain.
As for the standard Ranger Wildtrak, two new engines have been introduced to the lineup; priced from £48,900 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine sits at the top of the range, while a petrol engine is available to UK Ranger drivers for the first time and costs £47,220. It’s a 2.3-litre EcoBoost, just like the engine in the Ford Focus ST, while the 3.0-litre diesel is similar to the one fitted to the outgoing first-generation Amarok. The existing 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel will also be retained, however this will only be available on lower-spec models.
The V6 diesel Ranger gets a permanent four-wheel-drive system, while cheaper, more work-focused models receive selectable four-wheel drive. Lower-spec models get either a five or six-speed manual, while more expensive versions will be sold with Ford’s 10-speed automatic, used in the outgoing Ranger and in the Ford Mustang.
Inside, the tech count has risen significantly. New equipment includes a 360-degree camera to aid parking and off-road driving, plus a wider range of driving modes and Ford’s latest SYNC 4 infotainment system.
The all-round camera is likely to come in handy, given that the new Ford Ranger is 50mm wider than its predecessor, making it easier to load pallets into the bed. Other practicality improvements include new side steps in the rear bumper, flexible cargo dividers and lights in the load bay, and a ruler integrated into the tailgate.
Buyers can choose from a variety of optional extras: the Technology package includes several driver assistance features such as self-parking, blind spot monitoring and the aforementioned 360-degree camera system – this starts from £840. For around £1,600 buyers can also add a powered roll top for the bed to keep valuable items secure and out of the weather, while Ford will prep the Ranger for towing for £450.
Ford has gathered feedback from more than 5,000 customers worldwide, and has detailed some of the extreme testing that the new Ranger has gone through. When it arrives, the all-new Ranger will be sold in 180 countries, and Ford wants to make sure the new model lives up to its own ‘Built Tough’ standards.
Ford also says that the testing regime has included around 770,000 miles of testing, with more than half of those miles completed when fully loaded. During its development, the new pickup has covered more than 6,000 miles of desert driving, and a range of extreme simulation tests, including one where a prototype was shaken continuously in a rig to identify any squeaks or rattles.