The Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid is billed as an uncompromised model that teams up full Ranger towing, payload and off-road performance with electric-only driving ability. Al Suttie puts
The Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid is billed as an uncompromised model that teams up full Ranger towing, payload and off-road performance with electric-only driving ability. Al Suttie puts it to the ultimate test on a range of tracks up north of the border.
List price: £50,741 CO2: 68g/km Economy: 94.2mpg Test efficiency: 27.9mpg
Perfect timing as a Ford Ranger Stormtrak pitches up just when the weather takes a turn for the worse. With four-wheel drive and plenty of ground clearance to cope with flooded lanes, the Ranger will have its work cut out in the days ahead to keep me on the move when it’s safe to do so – experience tells me fallen trees and branches are the biggest hazards to travel around here.
A blowy journey up to Perth, around 30 miles away, on mostly dual carriageway that is fairly exposed to the wind. The Ford gets a bit of a buffeting, but it stays planted in its lane to get me there without incident, which is more than can be said for a couple of vans seen cleared to the side of the road after toppling over. A stark reminder of how weather affects driving in an instant.
Calmer weather today but plenty of standing water and deep puddles on a back road trot to meet a client this morning. None of it bothers the Ranger, and I even manage some of it on EV power, though I haven’t been able to charge up this PHEV model – no home charger and the local charge points were all occupied earlier.
The 2.3-litre petrol engine in the Ranger is smooth and quiet, but it doesn’t have quite the lowdown urge of its diesel brethren. Further up the rev band, its 281hp makes itself felt and it breezes through the 10-speed automatic gearbox to feel brisk for a vehicle of this size. If I could charge the battery more easily, there would also be a claimed 27 miles of emissions-free travel.
The Stormtrak trim of this Ranger comes with almost everything you could want, including thermonuclear heated front seats – ideal on this morning’s chilly start. Even so, given the price of this model, it seems odd that a public charging cable remains on the options list. Another option is the powered roller shutter for the load bed, which has an annoying one-touch button operation that can mean faffing between opening and closing it when trying to adjust its position.
If you’re wondering about the wrap on this particular Ranger, it’s to celebrate the Ford Transit’s 60th anniversary that took place in 2025 – when this Ranger was first on the road. It certainly generates conversations wherever I stop, as the Transit seems to have played a part in almost everyone’s lives at some point.
The Ranger PHEV’s low emissions and potential combined economy of 94.2mpg – real-life 27.9mpg for me with no access to charging during my time with the pickup – give it plenty of fleet user appeal. It’s every bit as capable and good to drive as its diesel siblings while imposing a lower financial outlay. The Stormtrak trim is exclusive to the PHEV, but it also comes in XLT and Wildtrak trims, delivering more cost-effective options.
