Since the launch of the latest Mitsubishi L200 there has been something of a schism in the ranks of the country’s 4x4 double-cab manufacturers.
The Japanese maker decided to eschew the tough, macho looks of the opposition – and indeed its own previous model – and go for a style which was more subtle and, dare we say, feminine.
There was no such move when Ford launched its new Ranger last year. If anything, those ‘don’t-mess-with-me’ looks were strengthened even more – and the strategy seemed to work as Ranger sales were up 30% in the first six months of last year with 4,300 models sold.
Now, as if to thumb its nose at Mitsubishi, Ford has upped the ante with a tough new pair of cookies which move the muscle-truck sector up another notch in the testosterone stakes – meet the Ranger Wildtrak and Ranger Thunder 3.0-litre automatic.
Any wimps among you may as well stop reading now – it’ll only make you cry into your spritzers.
The new 3.0-litre powerplant complements the present 2.5-litre unit and ups the bhp from 143 to 156, while torque increases from 243lb-ft to 280lb-ft at 1,800rpm.
This engine is mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox.
The Thunder features a tubular sports bar, chrome side sill bars and a rear chrome underbar.
There are also body-colour overfenders, foglights with chrome surrounds, six-spoke 16in dished alloy wheels, leather seats, a six-CD player and air conditioning. Price is £19,972 ex-VAT.
For those who want things a little more macho, the Wildtrak should fill most desires.
With the same 3.0-litre engine, only mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, it also features a more dynamic looking grille, aluminium overrider, chrome rear protector bar, sports side steps and side vents, sports bar and roof rails and dazzling leather/perforated Alcantara sports seats. Price is £20,872 ex-VAT.
Behind the wheel
The L200 has caused an awful lot of discussion in this market – people either love its looks or hate them. I must say I fall into the latter category – to me it just doesn’t seem the part and the front half doesn’t seem to sit easily with the back.
In contrast, the new Ranger – in my eyes – looks a stunner.
The kind of people who choose these vehicles want something that not only acts tough but looks tough too and even seven stone weaklings will feel kings of the road in these two new models.
If the Thunder looks great, the Wildtrak has looks to die for – a wow factor that even puts the Ranger ahead of my current personal favourite, the Nissan Navara.
But the Ranger doesn’t just look good – it is hugely practical too.
For example a plastic load liner comes as a standard fitting and there are notches built into the mouldings so that users can compartmentalise the rear end by slotting in pieces of wood.
There are also four chrome load-lashing eyes to help keep cargo in place.
Climbing aboard, the leather seats are big and comfortable, while there is plenty of legroom for rear passengers.
The engine starts up with a mighty roar which befits this vehicle, but it soon settles down to a meaty thrum which does not seem to intrude into the cab.
During our test drive, my co-pilot and I managed to converse in quiet tones without a problem.
One item that has caused comment among other journalists is the carrying over of the ‘stirrup-pump’ type handbrake from the old model. It looks like something from a 1950s shooting brake.
It might seem old-fashioned but a Ford engineer pointed out to me that not only does it mean more space in the centre console ‘bits and pieces’ box but it is also easier to pull up and hold steady in a hill-hold situation.
On the automatic, choosing between two-wheel drive high, four-wheel drive high and four-wheel drive low is carried out via a small plastic switch in the centre console.
It’s a far cry from the meaty second gear lever of the Wildtrak and hardly seems up to the job, although presumably it is.
We started off in the 3.0-litre Thunder automatic on some A-roads and motorways and it soon became clear that the stiff suspension set-up of old that threatened to loosen fillings on anything but snooker table smooth roads is a thing of the past.
While the suspension isn’t exactly soft, it’s something a driver could live with happily on a day-to-day basis.
My only complaint is that on the Tarmac, the steering felt rather vague and unresponsive.
Blame this on the Ranger’s ‘ball and nut’ steering system.
However, fans of automatic gearboxes will delight in this model.
Thanks to a computer-controlled electro-magnetic clutch and drive-by-wire technology, changes are totally seamless.
That massive amount of torque low down at 1,800rpm and the meaty 156bhp on offer gives the Ranger a lively performance too – it’s a far cry from the old model which boasted just 107bhp.
Turning on to our off-road course, that steering vagueness disappeared as we whacked our vehicles into four-wheel drive low.
A great addition is a cluster of three round dials on the top of the dash which show direction (north, south etc) and front and sideways incline of the vehicle.
One hardier tester than me managed to crank the Ranger over to a sideways figure of 28 degrees without getting into trouble, although the guys from Ford looked more than a bit worried.
The simple fact is that this vehicle is capable of taking more punishment than most drivers will ever dare give it.
Verdict
A day with the Ranger Thunder and Wildtrak more than convinced me that this vehicle handles as well as it looks. For those who want macho looks and macho action, it’s a winner.
Fact file
Model: Ford Ranger Thunder/Wildtrak
Power (bhp): 156
Torque (lb-ft/rpm): 280/1,800
Gross vehicle weight (kg): 1,107
Prices (ex-VAT): £19,972/£20,872
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