Ford Ranger Plugin Hybrid Review: Price, Availability, Specifications

Fitness for purpose. Use cleverly targeted electric tools for all your marketing flim frams. When it comes to pickup trucks, there’s no confusion about vehicles that do a clear job. Most of the time, it’s spectacular.

However, even this segment is unimmunized by mission creep, and these tough vehicles are currently expected to double as mainstays and acceptable full family transport. Ford F-150 It may represent the variety, but outside the US, Rangers have been active for over 40 years. He has been a global player since 2011 and has been sold in 180 regions around the world, making it particularly dominant in the European pickup market.

But get this, 80% Ranger The product was sold in the UK last year to WildTrak Spec, a version of hard leather plastic wrapped in leather and ladles on decals. It’s – breathe – a real lifestyle vehicle loved by real buyers Do things Instead of just thinking about it.

Well, finally, we’re talking and there’s an electrified version. hybrid Not the whole Enchilada. Ford sells electricity completely lightning In the US, they are trapped in the battle with Tesla Cyber ​​Truck (Both have not set up sales charts, but this is the closest British for at least for those who can be foreseen. Only Chinese manufacturers. Max Electric pickups are sold in the UK. This is a vehicle we don’t recommend, and Toyota’s immortal HI-Lux uses a mild hybrid setup. This will mark the Ranger PHEV’s important new arrivals.

Share platform hardware with VW AmarockIt is manufactured at the Silverton factory in Ford, South Africa. Previously, engine options were limited to 2.0 liter petrol or 3.0 liter diesel. The new car uses Ford’s excellent 2.3-liter “Eco Boost” turbo petrol unit (seen previously with Focus and Mustangs), reinforced by a 75 kW (100-bhp) electric motor packaged inside the Bellhows of the 10-speed automatic transmission.

Pick-up philosophy

It comes with an 11.8 kWh battery (easy to use) located under the Ranger roadbed. Despite its compact size, it still required changing the vehicle’s ladder frame chassis, resulting in a bulge of 20 mm. (It has a payload of 1 metric tonnes that can accommodate Euro pallets between the wheels.) An electronically controlled clutch engages and releases the electronic motor and the combustion engine, switching between gasoline, hybrid and electric propulsion. The visual difference is limited to the second filler flap on the nearby rear wing, with a lightning logo and hidden battery charging ports. A 7kW wall charger takes about 2.5 hours to charge.

How does this work? EV Auto is the default setting, blending power with gasoline power in a way that is best suited for daily use. EVs do what it says now. This is only electric driving, and Ford claims its range of around 26 miles (WLTP). The EV later allows the driver to store electrical energy. This is especially useful if you are heading towards a city or zero emissions zone. Finally, there is EV charging. This will cause the gasoline engine to charge the high voltage battery, but not refill it. In addition to them, the PHEV maintains the drive modes used in existing ranger models, typically, eco, slippery, towing/hauling, mud/rutting and sand. This new ranger variant clearly tinkers with the sacred constraints of pickup philosophy.