[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/rise-of-the-ford-ranger\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/rise-of-the-ford-ranger\/","headline":"Rise of the Ford Ranger","name":"Rise of the Ford Ranger","description":"The Ford Ranger is making pickup trucks cool again It\u2019s big, it\u2019s beefy and it\u2019s become rather popular. The Ford Ranger can be recognised instantly thanks to its ultra-mean and aggressive look which is something you won\u2019t find on competing models such as the Nissan Navara or VW\u2019s Amarok. Not only does the Ranger look gorgeous, it\u2019s also a very capable machine, both on and off road. It\u2019s successfully made a name for itself as a rugged, thoroughbred workhorse and […]","datePublished":"2019-02-25","dateModified":"2019-02-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Ford-Ranger-front-side-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Ford-Ranger-front-side-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/rise-of-the-ford-ranger\/","about":["4x4 Cars","BLOG","Cars","Ford","LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":709,"keywords":["ford","Ford 4x4"],"articleBody":"The Ford Ranger is making pickup trucks cool againIt\u2019s big, it\u2019s beefy and it\u2019s become ratherpopular. The Ford Ranger can be recognised instantly thanks to its ultra-meanand aggressive look which is something you won\u2019t find on competing models suchas the Nissan Navara or VW\u2019s Amarok. Not only does the Ranger look gorgeous,it\u2019s also a very capable machine, both on and off road. It\u2019s successfully madea name for itself as a rugged, thoroughbred workhorse and a fairly luxurious family SUV, all at the same time. Once youbegin to think about it, it\u2019s really not that hard to see why it\u2019s adored by somany. So just how popular is it? PopularityEven though the UK\u2019s pothole-infested roadsare bad enough to cause whiplash, our country isn\u2019t one that particularlywarrants the need for everyone to drive a 4×4. Despite this, you don\u2019t have tolook far before spotting a Ford Ranger on the road. In 2016, 2017 and 2018 theFord Ranger was the UK\u2019s most registered pickup truck, beating the competitionby a significant margin. In 2018, the Ford Ranger represented almost athird (30.9%) of all new pickup truck registrations in the UK with a total of16,440. Left in the dust, the Mitsubishi L200 sat in second place at 9,246 andthe Nissan Navara in third with 9,243, according to PickupAnd4x4.co.uk. 2017 and 2016 saw a similar pattern with the Ford Ranger thrashing the competition once again, easily beating competing models such as the Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi L200, Toyota Hilux and Isuzu D-Max, as well as more luxurious pickups such as the Mercedes X-Class and the VW Amarok. The numbers don\u2019t lie!Part of the reason why the Ranger comes out ontop is because of the wide range of options and variations. The pickup isavailable in 2-seat, 4-seat and 5-seat configuration and you can also choosefrom a 2.2-Litre 148bhp diesel engine or a 3.2TDCi 197bhp diesel engine. Nextyear we\u2019re expected to see the more economical 2.0-Litre turbo EcoBlue enginebecome available with the improved 10-speed automatic transmission. The FordRanger is also one of the only pickups to be rated a full 5-star Euro NCAPsafety rating.CustomisationPickup trucks are made to be practical. They\u2019re built to be able to carry large items of various shapes and sizes. Be it a Christmas tree or some old dismantled furniture, pickup trucks are created for any and all scenarios. The Ford Ranger not only capably handles any cargo you need to haul, but it does it with style. The grizzly aesthetic of the Ranger has become a significant selling point for the truck and Ford recognised this with the all-new Raptor, revealed in 2018. From factory, the Raptor is de-chromed and offers black alloy wheels which is exactly the cool, lean and mean aesthetic that buyers demand!Much like the Mercedes \u201cG Wagon\u201d and Range Rover, the Ford Ranger has accidentally gained a reputation for itself as a showpiece. These cars are no longer just workhorses, they\u2019re also fashion statements. The G-Class Mercedes and Range Rover started off life as rugged off-roaders, but nowadays they\u2019re mainly bought for the status of driving a big \u201cflashy\u201d car. This is also becoming true for the Ford Ranger. There\u2019s no denying that big cars are trendynow and Ford is seeing the benefits of this trend. Custom Ford Rangers are being sold for wellover \u00a340,000 by car customisation specialists. Companies such as Projex Design UK have modified thealready-gorgeous ranger with things such as LED lights, painted black trim,Alcantara and leather interiors and cool body kits. The Projex Ranger is pricedat a cool \u00a350,000 and is completely blacked out, from end to end. Anothercustom Ranger sold by Deranged is on sale for \u00a337,500 (excluding VAT) andfeatures a matte grey vinyl wrap, LED lights, satin black roll bars, paintedgrille, mirrors and door handles, upgraded subwoofer speakers and painted blackalloys. Whips like this only exist because there\u2019s a demand for them. Flashy Rangers are the new thing and they\u2019re awesome. Do you own a cool Ranger or Raptor? Tell us all about it in the comments!"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Rise of the Ford Ranger","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/rise-of-the-ford-ranger\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]