Item: Used Ford Ranger 2011 - present
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/hilux/pick-up/used-review/n19008"> Toyota Hilux</a> has long been a staple of the pick-up truck market because it suits the needs of its users perfectly while providing&nbsp;impeccable reliability. It’s even better off road thanks to better approach and departure angles than the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/ford"> Ford</a>, and it has a suite of safety tech as standard from Invincible spec onward. The Ranger, on the other hand, only offers&nbsp;these items bundled up in an optional pack.

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<h3 dir="ltr">Failing seat back latch</h3>

On models produced between 5 September 2011 and 10 May 2012 there was an issue where the seat back latch would fail. A recall was issued where dealers would modify the latch to fix the problem.

<h3 dir="ltr">Engine cut out</h3>

There was a problem with the fuel injection system of cars manufactured between 12 September 2014 and 26 January 2015 where fuel pressure could be lost and cause the engine to cut out. Dealers were to inspect the injectors and replace if necessary.

<h3 dir="ltr">Unintended downshift</h3>

On Rangers built between 30 September 2011 and 31 March 2012 that were equipped with an automatic gearbox, there could be a downshift from 6th to 1st because of an incorrect signal from the output speed sensor. A recalibration of the sensor solved the problem.

<h3 dir="ltr">Driveshaft damage</h3>

The gearshift cables on Rangers made between 17 November 2015 and 24 February 2016 can damage the rear driveshaft. Dealers were to inspect the gearshift retaining clips to ensure correct alignment to prevent the two from coming into contact.

<h3 dir="ltr">Side airbags that fail to deploy</h3>

The ignitor used in the side airbag system to inflate the bag itself might fail to operate in a collision on some models constructed between 7 October 2016 and 17 November 2016. Replacement side airbags were fitted to fix the issue.

The Ford Ranger wasn’t included in the latest What Car? Reliability survey but<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/ford"> Ford</a> as a brand only managed a middling 18th place out of 31 manufacturers.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/toyota"> Toyota</a>, by contrast, was up in 3rd place.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2018-what-car-reliability-survey/n17798"> What Car? Reliability Survey</a> pages for more information.

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Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

RANGER

Big, rugged and capable; the Ford Ranger is a good value pick-up truck that’s not bad to drive

Used Ford Ranger 2011 - present

No&nbsp;Ranger will be particularly cheap to run. Fuel economy varies quite a lot depending upon which cab style you go for. The highest NEDC economy figure is 43.5mpg for a 158bhp 2.2-litre diesel with a manual gearbox, but drops to as low as 28.2mpg for a 197bhp 3.2-litre diesel auto.

Road tax can also be quite costly. The most polluting 3.2-litre auto sits in the highest tax band of £555 per year, but even the cleanest 2.2-litre manual is no eco-warrior at £230. Any Ranger registered after 1 April 2017 will be charged under the current road tax system; that means a flat rate fee of £140.

Minor servicing costs are similar to those of the Toyota Hilux, but major services can cost considerably more. However, if your Ranger is over four years old and has the smaller 2.2-litre engine, you can take advantage of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/ford">Ford</a> Motorcraft fixed price servicing for older vehicles. It includes an oil and filter change, pollen filter change and a wash and vac for £149. &nbsp;

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Big, rugged and capable; the Ford Ranger is a good value pick-up truck that’s not bad to drive

An early example with over 100,000 miles on it will set you back about £8000&nbsp;but, if you increase the budget to £11,000, you’ll begin to find base model XL Rangers with 75,000 miles or less. £17,000 or more will find you plenty of facelifted Rangers with the improved interior while Euro 6 capable examples from 2017 onwards are more like £19,000. If you fancy something with less than 5000 miles on it, be prepared to spend roughly £23,000.

Check the value of a used Ford Ranger with<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation"> What Car? Valuations</a>

If you regularly carry heavy loads you might want to avoid the larger engine 3.2-litre Ranger and go for the 2.2-litre engine. The bigger power plant is much heavier and therefore reduces the payload rating. By the same token, you might not want an automatic either because this lops 19kg off of the maximum rating, too. That being said, if payload isn't&nbsp;your major concern,&nbsp;the additional performance of the 3.2-litre might come in handy.

A single cab range will get you the biggest bed and highest payload capacity, but limits you to only two seats. That might not make it ideal if it’s your only vehicle. We’d suggest going for the full double cab for the extra practicality it affords for adults in the back, and because it has individual doors that don’t require you to open the front ones first.

Limited trim gets you all the equipment you’ll need in a ranger and there are plenty of them available on the used market.

Our favourite<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/ford"> Ford</a> Ranger: 2.2-litre TDCI 160 Double Cab Limited

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Go-anywhere capability</li> <li>Work-ready load bay</li> <li>Robust, durable yet also pleasant interior</li> <li>Commanding driving position</li> <li>Heavyweight towing capacity</li></ul>

The popularity of pick-up trucks is growing in the UK, thanks in part to a fixed-rate company car tax for business users, due to them being categorised as light commercial vehicles.

But it's not just those savings to your wallet that makes the pick-up a compelling buy; incredibly durability, huge towing capacity and the surprising about of technology available means the majority are worthy for much more than just working on building sites.

Prices start at under £30,000 for examples such as the Ssangyong Musso, while top-spec models, including the Volkswagen Amarok, feature rear-view cameras, heated seats and smartphone mirroring. Just beware high running costs, as might be expected for vehicles of this size.&nbsp;

Pick-up

<h3 dir="ltr">Off road damage</h3>

This four-wheel drive Ranger is&nbsp;intended as a vehicle for mud plugging, but do inspect the underside for signs of damage caused by rocks. Also, make sure there aren’t clumps of mud stuck to it because that’ll trap water that may then lead to corrosion.

<h3 dir="ltr">Bed liner</h3>

The bed of a pick-up truck will see a lot of abuse in its life from the items thrown into it, which is why a plastic bed liner is a good idea. Not only will it be easier to clean out, but also it’ll prevent the painted bed from being scratched.

<h3 dir="ltr">Spare tyre</h3>

The spare tyre is exposed under the car, so make sure it is securely fastened to the car and the security locks are still in place. Otherwise, you might find the opportunist thief might relieve you of it and you’ll be left with a bill for a new spare.

Many may have mocked the early pick-up trucks that were sold in the UK as being a mere pastiche of those sold in America. But as time has gone on, the market for these part family car, part work truck crossbreeds has increased to the extent that they’ve quickly become a part of the motoring landscape. None more so than the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/ford"> Ford</a> Ranger, the best selling vehicle of its type in the UK and one of the most readily available pick-ups on the second-hand market.

Unlike rivals such as the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/hilux/pick-up/used-review/n19008"> Toyota Hilux</a>, the Ranger can be had with a choice of two diesel engines: a 2.2-litre four-cylinder in 123bhp, 148bhp or 158bhp forms, or a 3.2-litre five-cylinder engine with 197bhp.

As with most rivals, the Ranger can be had in three different body styles (regular, super and double cab), with or without four-wheel drive. Also in the interests of luxury, you can get a six-speed automatic in place of the six-speed manual.

Despite being quite a tall and heavy vehicle, you can hustle the Ranger down the road with a lot more confidence than you can with some rivals. The suspension resists body roll rather well and the accurate steering allows you to place the vehicle in corners with ease.

Some potential pick-up buyers will actually be more interested in the Rangers off road abilities, so it’s worth noting that it has one of the best wading depths in the class at 800mm, can clear obstacles of up to 229mm and tackle some pretty steep gradients thanks to approach and departure angles of 28deg and a breakover angle of 25deg.

The bed is a decent size, even with a bed liner fitted. Total length is 1460mm and the width is 1420mm at its widest point. At 510mm in depth, it’s deep enough to load up plenty of stuff, but it might not be quite as easy to grab equipment out of the back of the Ranger as it is in a Hilux. Towing capacity is up there with the best at 3500kg, but you have to make sure you’ve got the 3.55 ratio rear axle, because the 3.15 ratio axle can only pull 2500kg.

Base model XL Rangers are a bit spartan, but XLT models add heated door mirrors, cruise control, air conditioning and Bluetooth audio. Limited is nicer still;&nbsp;rear parking sensors come as standard along with heated front seats and dual-zone climate control. Top of the range Wildtrak cars have a colour-reversing camera and sat nav.

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Used Ford Ranger 2011 - present review

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Find out how much the Ford Ranger 2011 - present costs to run, covering expected MPG, servicing costs and insurance costs.

An early example with over 100,000 miles on it will set you back about £8000 but, if you increase the budget to £11,000, you’ll begin to find base model XL Rangers with 75,000 miles or less. £17,000 or more will find you plenty of facelifted Rangers with the improved interior while Euro 6 capable examples from 2017 onwards are more like £19,000. If you fancy something with less than 5000 miles on it, be prepared to spend roughly £23,000.,Check the value of a used Ford Ranger with What Car? Valuations,,No Ranger will be particularly cheap to run. Fuel economy varies quite a lot depending upon which cab style you go for. The highest NEDC economy figure is 43.5mpg for a 158bhp 2.2-litre diesel with a manual gearbox, but drops to as low as 28.2mpg for a 197bhp 3.2-litre diesel auto.Road tax can also be quite costly. The most polluting 3.2-litre auto sits in the highest tax band of £555 per year, but even the cleanest 2.2-litre manual is no eco-warrior at £230. Any Ranger registered after 1 April 2017 will be charged under the current road tax system; that means a flat rate fee of £140.,Minor servicing costs are similar to those of the Toyota Hilux, but major services can cost considerably more. However, if your Ranger is over four years old and has the smaller 2.2-litre engine, you can take advantage of Ford Motorcraft fixed price servicing for older vehicles. It includes an oil and filter change, pollen filter change and a wash and vac for £149.  ,Page 2 of 5

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