A SHARP decline in demand for workhorse vehicles has hit all motor manufacturers during the current recession but Ford is confident its new Ranger pick-up will be well placed to take advantage of any upturn.
On sale in September, the latest model offers a sharp new package which Ford believes will attract fleet sales, small businesses and individuals looking for a rugged machine for use in outdoor leisure pursuits.
The Ranger, which comes with a choice of 2.5 and 3.0-litre Duratorq TDCi turbo diesel engines, has been given a major makeover both inside and out.
I was impressed with its new looks and the added comfort on offer and when at the wheel it was easy to forget this was a big pick-up and not a car.
The latest Ranger is available in three body configurations and seating for up to five. The Single Cab version is the base model with the 2.5-litre engine, a five-speed manual gearbox and a choice of 4x2 or 4x4 drive.
The Super Cab 2.5-litre comes with five-speed manual with 4x4 drive and specifications ranging from XL, XLT, Thunder or Wildtrak.
Top of the range is the Double Cab, which has a choice of 2.5 or 3.0-litre power plants and five-speed manual or automatic transmission.
The Super Cab has a four-door configuration to provide easier access to the cabin by featuring two forward-hinged doors and two rear-hinged doors.
In addition a Chassis Cab version is available with a Ford one-stop-shop tipper body.
The new Ranger is built in Thailand and the quality of the finish is of high standard. It has a very solid feel on the road and was very capable when put to the test on a pretty arduous off-road route.
On the motorway the Ranger handled well with road and engine noise well suppressed. But wind noise at high speed was a bit invasive.
The 2.5-litre, 143 bhp engine was very impressive, with bags of low-down torque. On the Single Cab Ford claims you could expect up to 39.8 mpg and a top speed of 105 mph. The Super Cab is very similar but the Double Cab manual, as expected, would give you around 31 mpg.
The 2.5 was more than adequate, and should be well suited to heavy loads and towing.
The Ranger has best-in-class towing capacity with a maximum 3,000kg braked trailer capacity.
Despite its tough load lugging and off-road capabilities, the new Ranger interior offers car-like comfort, with comfortable seats, climate control, MP3 CD-compatible audio and carpets. But how the interior will look after a couple months ploughing through muddy building sites or muck-covered farmyards is anyone's guess.
It also has good interior stowage solutions, including a centre stack binnacle for sunglasses, a front door stowage bin capable of holding a half-litre bottle and a pull-out sliding tray above the glove compartment.
Power window and mirror controls are a standard Ranger feature. The driver's window has a one-touch-down feature and the switch is backlit for better night visibility.
Prices start at £14,137 for the Single Cab XL 4x2; the Super Cab XL from £14,437; and the Double Cab XL 4x4 from £16,750.
Overall the Ranger appears to be a very versatile machine which can be used in a variety of ways from load-carrying, towing to family transport for leisure events.
Competition will become increasingly fierce in this sector of the market when an upturn begins and Ford should be well placed to take advantage with its new pick-up.