Regular readers probably know that any time I get to test drive a pick-up truck, the old Dukes of Hazzard television programme gets a mention. When my sons were young, I remember watching the goings on in Hazzard County as the Duke cousins Bo and Luke, their cousin Daisy, uncle Jesse and the bumbling Boss Hogg got involved in some harmless fun.
Uncle Jesse used to drive a Ford pick-up truck in some episodes and the pick-up truck reminds me of the good old USA. I never realised that one day I would be reviewing a Ford pick-up truck here in Ireland.
Yes, simple days in the fictional Hazzard County, but as it happens right now several residents on my road are getting work done on their houses. And it was no surprise that those builders and contractors who drove various types of jeeps and vans were very interested in the plug-in Ford Ranger Wildtrak that I was driving last week.
Since its European introduction in 2011 as a fourth-generation model, the Ford Ranger has surged in popularity to become one of the go-to pickups and is consistently at the sharp end of the registration charts. The current, fifth-generation model, was introduced in 2021 and is a global product that Ford sells on multiple continents. Now, there is a plug-in hybrid variant joining the fray.
The Ranger PHEV can do everything the Ranger does, with the added benefit of versatile electric power for more torque than ever, driving with zero tailpipe emissions in the city.
Looking at pictures from the European launch in Iceland last year of the plug-in hybrid version, the colour of the Ranger on show was a bright yellow one. That colour might be a bit too much for Ireland, so sticking to the only Henry Ford tradition, Ford Ireland have opted for black version for the Irish press fleet. However, the day after I picked up the black version, I spotted a yellow version parked outside a local shop.
I used to think that those pick-up trucks would be of little use in Ireland as our weather is not as good as drivers enjoy in places like USA, Australia or New Zealand. But of course, covers are provided for the cargo area, so those bags of cement will not get wet.
The double-cab Ranger line-up starts with the XLT specification, which is more of a functional and basic design that features body-coloured bumpers and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The mid-range Wildtrak model is a popular choice as it gets a more rugged appearance by way of a contrasting front bumper with an aluminium scuff bar and a more pronounced honeycomb grille.
When it comes to pick-up trucks like these towing ability is important and the Ranger can tow up to 3,500kg and can carry up 993kg in the cargo area. It’s fairly long vehicle, measuring 5,350mm.
With a running board on both sides, it’s easy for driver and passengers to climb on board. And there are also steps on both sides of the truck to access items in the cargo area. But you need to be careful walking behind the truck as your shin could come in contact with the towbar. It happened me once previously and it’s sore.
Inside, the cab is dominated by a 12-inch touchscreen display, similar to that found in Mustang Mach-E and with double-cab version you get all the luxury of a regular truck, with plenty of charging points. Yellow stitching on seats makes the interior bright. For long journeys it’s not as comfortable as an SUV, but I reckon people who buy pick-up trucks are unlikely to be making many long road journeys.
Pricing for the Ford Ranger PHEV 2.3-litre starts at €62,458 including VAT for the XLT version. In comparison, the same-spec Ranger diesel costs €49,868.
You should be able to close to 40km in pure electric mode from the 11.8kWh battery.
Ford are not the force they used to be in this part of the world when it comes to new car sales. But there is no doubt that the blue oval logo is still very popular when it comes to pick-up trucks.
