Professional Pickup & 4x4 Magazine: Summer 2016 #01

WWW.PICKUPAND4X4.CO.UK

SUMMER 2016

?

NEW PICKUPS COMING SOON

SPECIAL EDITION ISUZU D-MAX

To the first edition of Professional Pickup & 4x4 magazine; the UK’s first magazine dedicated to pickup trucks and 4x4 commercials. If you’re anything like me, your pickup is your pride and joy and a lot of time is spent deciding which pickup is best for you, your business and your lifestyle.

This is where PP&4x4 comes in. Unlike the other magazines that write about pickups and 4x4 commercials, we’re dedicated experts with a rich history in running and operating them.

We have our own dedicated 4x4 course and heavy duty trailers, so we can comment on how these vehicles perform in the real working environment and not on a daily commute into the centre of London!

It’s an exciting time for the industry with more and more of us turning their backs on cars and vans and seeing the benefits of 4x4 commercials. Sales of pickup trucks have doubled in the past five years, and this trend looks set continue with the latest generation of pickups.

So, buckle up, and engage low range – this is going to be an exhilarating ride!

All the best,

Publisher Tim Campbell tim@pickupand4x4.co.uk

Liam Campbell Editor

Editor Liam Campbell liam@pickupand4x4.co.uk

19 | Road Test 4 | Industry News Catch up with all of the latest news from the pickup world.

8 | The Newcomers

We push the Ford Ranger Limited to its limits on an off-road course in Kent.

22 | Next Issue

12 | Know Your Limits FACEBOOK.COM/PRO.PICKUP.4X4

4

Additional Contributing Christian Hart, Robert Stuchberry Professional Pickup & 4x4 Magazine The Old Police Station Golden Hill Leyland PR25 3NN Telephone: 01772 286225 Professional Pickup & 4x4 is published by Commercial Vehicle TV Ltd. Registered company number: 08214195

14 | Head 2 Head Two of the sector’s newest metal, the Mitsubishi L200 and Nissan NP300 Navara, go head-to-head in battle.

Oliver McDonald

Calum Brown, Adam Frackelton,

A sneak peek into the autumn isA look forward to the next gener- sue, where we travel to Africa and ation pickups, including the debut Germany to test future models. models from Merc and Renault.

An investigative feature that looks at the lower speed limits that some pickups must obey.

Graphic Designer

@PRO.PICKUP.4X4 WWW.PICKUPAND4X4.CO.UK

14

Disclaimer: Whilst every effort is taken to ensure the contents of Professional Pickup & 4x4 are accurate, the publishers and printers cannot accept liability for omissions or errors.

19

3 | SUMMER 2016

NEWS

Isuzu launches special-edition D-Max Through a collaboration with offroad specialist Arctic Trucks, Isuzu is offering a special-edition D-Max called the AT35. Isuzu says the mean-looking D-Max AT35 is the most extreme pickup it has ever offered and is available from just £30,995 plus VAT. Building and adapting 4x4 vehicles for over 25 years, Arctic Trucks is one of the world’s leading experts when it comes to off-road vehicles. This is the first time UK customers have been able to purchase an Arctic Trucks pickup through an authorised dealership.

4 | SUMMER 2016

Upgraded running gear One of the most obvious alterations is the ride height. Arctic Trucks has raised the suspension by 125mm which increases the wading depth as well as approach, departure and break-over angles.

Fox Performance Series shocks have also been fitted all-round, which help deliver increased mobility over even the most rutted tracks and brutal boulders.

The AT35 sports all-terrain Nokian Rotiiva AT tyres help to create that rugged look and provide excellent grip in the most challenging and slippery of situa-

tions, the manufacturer claims.

Optional upgrades include the sports bar for a heavier-duty offroad look and the Arctic Trucks Truxedo that provides added security for cargo in the load bed.

Furthermore, off-road extras such as a 27-LED work light can provide widespread illumination under darkness, skid plates provide enhanced under-body protection, and an ARB tyre inflator with inline gauge help the most adventurous continue on their way.

Pricing and availability Prices start from £30,995 plus VAT for extended cab models with double-cabs at £33,495 (the fivespeed automatic is a £1,000 premium). All models went on sale in May 2016 and come with Isuzu’s five-year manufacturer warranty.

This represents a £8,000 lift over the price of the current flagship model, the Blade, so it's a very pricey upgrade. These modifications could be retrofitted a lot cheaper, although this may invalidate the warranty and affect the residual values.

Korando Sports gears for combat

Following in the footsteps of Volkswagen and Isuzu, SsangYong is bringing out a special-edition pickup truck of its own in the new SsangYong Korando Sports DMZ. The South Korean manufacturer has also upgraded its existing UK trims, the S, SX and EX, and prices now start from an affordable £14,495 plus VAT. The SsangYong Korando DMZ gets its name from the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea, an area where vehicles need to be low-profile and tough.

SsangYong CEO Paul Williams spotted a couple on a recent trip to the country, and decided to replicate the design and offer them as a special-edition.

“The DMZ is a bit of fun”, explained Mr Williams. “We ordered a short run initially but they were instantly snapped-up by our dealers, so we think it could prove particularly popular with owner drivers.”

and is based on the EX grade, which features leather seats (heated and electronically adjustable for the driver), heated, electrically-adjustable door mirrors and rear parking sensors.

Very affordable list price Exclusive to the DMZ is the full camouflage paintwork, roof rails and 18-inch alloy wheels. It’s priced at £19,195, which is just £1,000 more than the equivalent

EX grade. All Korando Sports are powered by SsangYong’s own 2litre diesel unit, which produces 153bhp and 360Nm of torque.

The SsangYong Korando Sports isn’t the most practical pickup, with a very small 2 cubic metre load area and a 2.7 tonne towing capacity. However, it does offer good value for money and, with the rear independent coil suspension, offers great ride and handling.

Lots of standard equipment All DMZ models come with the five-speed automatic transmission 5 | SUMMER 2016

NEWS

Pickup sales continue to rise

This year is set to see more pickup trucks registered than ever before, with figures up 9.6 percent during the first five months of 2016. The strong demand has been attributed to further growth in the construction industry, affordable deals on outgoing models and more special editions.

More people turning to pickups Pickup trucks sales surpassed 40,000 units for the first time last year (40,588 in 2015 according to the SMMT), but 18,674 pickups have already been registered in the first five months of 2016 which represents a 9.6 percent improvement on the previous year.

There have been many explanations for this hike in demand over recent months. A lot of it has been credited to the health of the construction industry, which is expected to grow a further 3.9 percent in 2016.

But there are also factors within the pickup sector that have been sited. The past 12 months has seen a number of special-edition models introduced, like the Amarok Atacama and D-Max Centurion, which tend to sell well with owner-operators.

6 | SUMMER 2016

At the same time, a number of manufacturers are trying to clear their dealer stock of old models.

The Mitsubishi L200, Nissan Navara and Ford Ranger have all been updated recently and each manufacturer has offered huge discounts on the existing models.

The new models that have replaced them offer far superior levels of comfort, safety and refinement, which has opened up pickups to a new type of lifestyle customer who would have previously bought an SUV or large estate.

Falling 4x4 Commercial sales This is in stark contrast to the 4x4 Commercial market, which has experienced a sharp decline in the number of registrations (down 33.6 percent to 3,187). This is mainly due to Land Rover ceasing production of the Defender, which has long dominated the segment.

SMMT response Analysists attribute the pickup success largely to the prospering economy and, more specifically, the construction sector which is expected to increase by a further 3.6 percent in 2016. The SMMT, however, is warning of market

saturation and speculates that growth may start to slow.

“Although May was a record breaking month for the UK’s light commercial vehicle market, the pace of growth is easing and is indicative of the performance we anticipate this year following the very high levels of demand seen in 2015”, explained Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive.

“Providing there are no political or economic shocks to business confidence over the coming months, we expect the LCV sector’s good health to prevail during the remainder of 2016 as consumer appetite for online deliveries continues to grow.”

Pickup registrations by year Year

Registrations Increase

2012

24455

2013

29394

20.2%

2014

33823

15.1%

2015

40588

20.0%

2016*

18674*

9.6%

*Year to date figures for 2016 (January to May)

If you’re thinking of buying a new pickup soon, that decision is set to get a whole lot harder.

Between 2016 and 2018, there is expected to be no fewer than nine new pickup launches or upgrades; with four manufacturers (Fiat Professional, Mercedes-Benz, Renault and Peugeot/Citroen) entering the one-tonne market for the first time.

Globally, pickup trucks account for a third of all light commercial vehicles sales, and sales of the one-tonne pickups are growing rapidly in Europe, South America and Asia. In the UK, sales have more than doubled over the past six years, with sales increasing from 18,870 units in 2009 to over 40,000 in 2015.

Mitsubishi was first to kick-off this ‘latest generation’ of pickups in September 2015 with the Mitsubishi L200 Series 5. This is a heavily reworked version of the Series 4, and features a newly-developed 2.4-litre diesel engine.

This was shortly followed by the facelifted Ford Ranger and the all-new Nissan NP300 Navara in Spring 2016.

Apart from the new appearance and driver-assist systems, very little has changed on the Ford Ranger, whereas the Navara has been redesigned from the Ford Ranger. The fans’ favourite 3.2-litre Duratorq bottom up and is powered by a new 2.3-litre engine. will still be offered alongside the 2.2-litre.

8 | SUMMER 2016

FIAT FULLBACK Fiat Professional made the surprise announcement that it was to enter the European pickup market in 2014, and officially unveiled the new vehicle at the 2015 Dubai Motor Show. The Fiat Fullback may look familiar, and that’s because it’s a badge-engineered version of the Mitsubishi L200 Series 5.

Mitsubishi’s newly-developed 2.4litre turbo-diesel engine will provide the power ratings of either 150hp/380Nm or 180hp/430Nm, and offers a fuel economy of up to 42.8mpg combined. The load attributes are slightly compromised, however, with a towing capacity of just 3.1t and a load area measuring just 1,470mm by 1,470mm.

TOYOTA HILUX Since its launch in 1967, the Toyota Hilux has gone on to become one of the most respected vehicles, in terms of toughness and durability, in its class.

The eighth-generation Toyota Hilux will feature a new 150hp/400Nm 2.4-litre diesel engine, although fuel economy falls short of many rivals at just

40.4mpg combined. The big news regarding the Hilux is that the payload capacity will increase from a poor 2.8t to a join classleading 3.5t. PP&4x4 is heading to

Mitsubishi L200. The competitively-priced L200 has already become a common sight on UK roads.

Namibia in the summer to test the new Hilux in the extreme heat of the African desert. Check out the autumn edition to see how we got on.

Nissan NP300 Navara. The independent coil suspension at the rear provides great ride and handling.

9 | SUMMER 2016

VW AMAROK

Amarok in 2011, and 2016 is set to witness the first facelift. The Volkswagen made its debut to the German company released teaser shots of the new vehicle in Spring, full-size pickup market with the

and the first models are expected to hit VW Van Centres in the Autumn.

Very little has changed in terms of exterior styling, although the new model will have an upgraded 3.5t towing capacity and a new 3-litre V6 engine (with power outputs of 162hp, 202hp and 222hp; the latter of which can produce up to 550Nm of torque) has been drafted in to replace the 2-litre engine.

4Motion is still a standard feature and VW has also taken the opportunity to introduce a host of new safety and driver assist systems, like a 14-way adjustable ‘ergo comfort’ seat, park pilot and multi-collision braking.

RENAULT ALASKAN Like Daimler, Renault is another manufacturer that is seeking the expertise of its alliance partner, Nissan, to develop its first full-size European pickup. Based on the Nissan NP300 Navara, the Renault Alaskan will be the third pickup to be built at Nissan’s Barcelona plant alongside its Nissan and Mercedes-badged siblings.

Renault-Nissan’s 2.3-litre turbodiesel engine provides the power and it’s expected to have the same 158hp and 187hp power provide a more comfortable and can market first, with European ratings as the Nissan. The five-link safer ride. The Renault pickup will models going on sale in around coil suspension at the rear will be released on the South Ameri- September 2017.

PSA PICKUP

Like all the other newcomers to changes to the base vehicle, it will the market, the French manufac- feature a distinctive front-end dePSA (the parent company of Peu- turer will be partnering with an sign. geot and Citroen) announced that existing manufacturer, rather than it would be launching its first ever developing the vehicle in-house. full-size pickup at the unveiling of The most likely candidate is the the Peugeot Expert and Citroen Toyota Hilux and, although PSA Dispatch in March 2016, but dewill not be making any technical tails have so far been sketchy.

10 | SUMMER 2016

MERCEDES-BENZ GLT Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles, and therefore it was only a matter of time before the German company entered one of the automotive industry’s fastest growing sectors.

The Mercedes-Benz GLT is expected to go on sale in 2018 at the earliest and will be based on the Nissan NP300 Navara. It will feature an additional engine to the Nissan’s 2.3-litre unit; possibly the 3-litre V6 that powers the G-Wagon.

ISUZU D-MAX On the outside, the facelifted 2017 Isuzu D-Max differs only slightly to the current generation, but the mid-life refresh has given the engineers at Isuzu an opportunity to introduce a new engine and new technology.

We’ve witnessed a lot of downsizing over recent years, and Isuzu has taken this trend one step further. It will be offering the new D-Max with a 1.9-litre turbo-diesel engine which will return up to 43mpg on the combined cycle, while the utilitarian five-speed automatic could be replaced by a new six-speed.

In the cab, the model receives a new eight-inch touchscreen display and the Isuzu Connect World app, which offers insights into

GREAT WALL STEED

driver behaviour, smartphone screen mirroring and satellite navigation.

be fitted to Chinese versions only meets the Euro-4 emission standard.

While the Great Wall Steed may only make up a small proportion of UK pickup sales, the beefy and more imposing look of the 2017 facelift (launch date yet to be announced) will certainly help the Chinese manufacturer increase its sales.

There is very little information on which engine will feature under the bonnet, though. The current 2.5litre is very poor on fuel economy (32.8mpg) and is only Euro-5 compliant, and the new 2-litre that will

11 | SUMMER 2016

Professional Pickup & 4x4 can officially reveal that not all pickup trucks now have the same speed limits. After long discussions with manufacturers and the authorities, we now understand that a number of pickups are too heavy to be classified as ‘dual-purpose’, and therefore must obey the lower LCV speed limits.

It has long been believed that all pickup trucks were classed as dual-purpose vehicles which, along with car-derived vans, are subject to passenger car speed limits.

However, the Department for Transport’s (DfT) terminology reveals that not all modern pickups qualify for dual purpose status.

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, published by the DfT, defines a dual purpose vehicle as “a vehicle constructed or adapted for the carriage both of passengers and of goods or burden of any description, being a vehicle of which the unladen weight does not exceed 2040kg”.

50mph on single-carriageways and 60mph on dual-carriageways – 10mph less than cars.

Manufacturer response Many of the manufacturers that we spoke to were completely unaware of this anomaly in the law.

“We are currently researching the extent to which the responsibility lies with the customer to know the law or whether it should be our dealer network advising customers”, explained Laura Parker, the commercial vehicle press officer for Ford.

Affected trucks Toyota Hilux Ford Ranger Volkswagen Amarok N.B. Not all trim levels are unaffected; the restrictions usually only apply to the higher spec models.

Contact your local dealer to see if your vehicle is affected.

Unaffected trucks Mitsubishi L200 Nissan NP300 Navara Isuzu D-Max Great Wall Steed SsangYong Korando Sports

Authorities unaware The DfT was also unaware of this The affected pickups are restricted legislation and, despite conceding to 50mph on single-carriageways that the legislation was outdated, said there are no current plans to change the limit.

“The 2,040kg limit is derived from two imperial tons and its news to us that some pickups have gone over this”, a spokesperson for the DfT told us. “We don’t intend to change them for the time being …and 60mph on dual-carriageways 10mph slower on certain roads but if, hypothetically, someone is This means that pickups with an caught out and they challenge it – unladen weight of over 2,040kg we would inevitably have to redemust abide by standard LCV speed fine the classification”. limits. This is 30mph in built-up areas and 70mph on the motorway like passenger cars, but

50

60

12 | SUMMER 2016

HEAD TO HEAD

Humble beginnings Both vehicles have a long history serving farmers, construction firms and other demanding industries in the UK for almost 30 years, which means they are no strangers to hard graft. The Navara can trace its heritage back to the Nissan D21 pickup which hit UK dealerships in 1986, while the L200 has kept its same name since its launch in 1988.

Most the early sales were made up of single-cabs and even chassis cabs and were as comfortable to drive as an old Grey Fergie tractor.

14 | SUMMER 2016

Changes in the tax laws at the turn of the millennia opened pickup trucks to the lifestyle sector, and it’s a telling sign that neither manufacturer is offering a singlecab.

In the cab Both vehicles are firmly targeting the lucrative lifestyle sector and the Barbarian and Tekna, are the most luxury trim levels. In terms of layout and dashboard design, both vehicles have opted for the smart and functional approach, with a black dashboard

and console with chrome detailing.

The heated and six-way adjustable seats on the L200 offer greater comfort and more legroom, as it has the longest cab in the class.

The visibility is far better on the L200 (the view is obscured on the NP300 Navara due to the very high bonnet) although the NP300 has more storage spaces.

Both vehicles are similarly specced and come with fully-adjustable heated leather seats, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone climate control, cruise-control with speed

Over the past 10 years, the Mitsubishi L200 and Nissan Navara have been two of the best-selling pickups in the UK. A new generation of both models has been launched in the last 12 months, with the respective manufacturers claiming far greater levels of comfort, refinement, practicality and efficiency.

However, which one has what it takes to come out on top? We pitch the flagship trim level of each model, the L200 Barbarian and Navara Tekna, together in our gruelling head-to-head test…

limiter, reversing camera with sensors and a seven-inch touchscreen display with steeringmounted controls and Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary connectivity.

There are slight differences, however. The L200 comes with blue ‘Barbarian’ LED lights in the foot well, while the NP300 gets the new around-view monitor, which projects an ‘aerial-view’ of the vehicle which is useful when parking in tight spaces.

Winner: L200

Practicality At the business end, the NP300 Navara emerges as the clear winner. The load bed measures 1,578mm long by 1,560mm wide (and 1,130mm between the wheelarches) compared to the L200’s 1,470mm square (1,085mm between the wheelarches) - which makes it one of the smallest load beds in its class.

Very little separates the two in terms of payload (1,052kg for the NP300 and 1,050kg for the L200), although the NP300 is capable of

towing 3.5 tonnes compared to the L200’s meagre 3.1 tonnes.

Winner: NP300 On the road The NP300 Navara is powered by a 2.3-litre (188hp/450Nm) which has powered Nissan, Renault and Vauxhall vans since 2010, while the L200 features a newlydeveloped 2.4-litre (176hp/400Nm) engine.

Despite the lesser output, the L200 feels a lot quicker off the mark and will outperform the Navara in a 0 to 62mph sprint 15 | SUMMER 2016

Technical Data For the purposes of a more direct comparison, we’re taking figures from the manual version of the NP300 Navara, and not the seven-speed automatic that was tested.

NP300 Navara

L200

2,298cc, 4-cyl turbodiesel 188hp @ 3,750rpm, 450Nm @ 1,500 2,500rpm Six-speed manual, 4WD 10.8s (0-62mph) Double wishbone with coil spring front; fivelink coil spring rear 296mm ven. discs front; 295mm drums rear 1,578mm x 1,560mm load bed (l x w) 3.5t towing/1,052kg payload 12.4m turning circle 44.1mpg combined 30.4° approach/25.6° departure angles 25,000 mile / 24 month service intervals 5 year, 100,000 mile warranty £24,250 plus VAT

2,422cc, 4-cyl turbodiesel 176hp @ 3,500rpm, 400Nm @ 2,400 2,600rpm Six-speed manual, 4WD 10.4s (0-62mph) Double wishbone with coil spring front; elliptic leaf springs rear 294mm ven. discs front; 295mm drums rear 1,470mm x 1,470mm load bed (l x w) 3.1t towing/1,050kg payload 11.8m turning circle 42.8mpg combined 30° approach/22° departure angles 12,500 mile / 12 month service intervals 5 year, 62,500 mile warranty £23,799 plus VAT

(10.4 versus 10.8 seconds) due to the lower power availability and lighter chassis.

It may be smaller, but the roar from Nissan’s 2.3-litre is certainly louder during acceleration but once it’s up to speed, the Navara is king. It’s more refined, there’s less road noise and the independent rear coil suspension negotiates the bumps and divots of the road a lot better.

The NP300’s steering is more direct, while the L200 tends to wallow and, at times, feels disconnected although it’s a lot lighter so, combined with the tighter turning circle, means the L200 is a lot more manoeuvrable and easier to park.

Winner: NP300 Navara Off the road Driving off the beaten track, the Mitsubishi L200 comes into its element. The chassis is 100kg lighter than the NP300 which means it feels more agile, although the approach (30 versus

30.4 degrees) and departure (22 versus 25.6 degrees) angles and ground clearance (205mm versus 223mm) aren’t quite as high.

The 4-wheel drive system is also better on the L200. The fly-onthe-wheel system allows you to 2WD Hi to 4WD Hi at speeds of up to 62mph, and there are two additional settings (4WD Hi with locked centre-diff and 4WD Low with locked centre-diff) for more extreme operations, while the NP300 just has three settings (2WD Hi, 4WD Hi and 4WD) but an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD).

Winner: L200 Total life costs While the L200 is cheaper to buy (Nissan NP300 Navara Tekna manual £24,250 plus VAT; Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian manual £23,799 plus VAT), the NP300 Navara will work out cheaper over the life of the vehicle.

Residual values, which has the biggest impact on total life costs,

are far better on the NP300 Navara. Fuel economy is also superior, at 44.1mpg combined (According to official NEDC cycle) compared to 42.8mpg on the L200, although this is still a respectable figure.

Service intervals are twice as long on the NP300, at two years or 25,000 miles compared with one year or 12,500 miles. Both vehicles come with a five years manufacturer warranty, although this is limited to 62,500 miles on the L200 and 100,000 miles on the NP300.

Winner: NP300 Navara

The NP300 Navara and L200 are both respectable vehicles in their own right, but it’s the NP300 that runs out as winner. There are many areas where the L200 comes out on top; it boasts a more spacious cab, better visibility, tighter turning circle, its quicker off the mark and better off-road.

However, the NP300 triumphed in many of the key areas for pickup operators. It’s a lot cheaper to run with better residual values and fuel economy, the warranty has a much longer mileage limit, there is a larger load area and towing capacity and its far more comfortable to drive.

Winner: Nissan NP300 Navara

ROAD TEST

The new generation of pickups that are currently being rolled out are offering far superior levels of comfort, refinement and productivity than previously seen in the sector. The previous Ford Ranger was seen as the most desirable pickup, but is the light facelift it received earlier in the year enough to keep the Ranger ahead of the newcomers?

Liam Campbell pushes the high-spec Limited to its limits on and off the road.

19 | SUMMER 2016

ROAD TEST

When the third-generation Ford Ranger was launched in 2011, it set the precedence in so many different areas. It was the first pickup to offer a 3.5t towing capacity, electronically-selectable 4WD system, car-like levels of comfort and refinement and fuel economy of over 35mpg.

Attractive appearance On the outside, the Ranger sports a new tough-looking and aerodynamic front-end design, and Limited edition models stand even further out from the crowd with a chrome grille and tubular sports bar, 17-inch alloys and plastic side steps with metallic inserts.

Smart and functional cab The Ranger has, what we consider, one of the best pickup cabs; its smart, functional, comfortable and offers good all-round views with a raised driver’s seat and low windows and dashboard. There are leather seats which are heat20 | SUMMER 2016

ed and eight-way adjustable in the front.

What really impressed us, however, was the infotainment system.

The eight-inch touchscreen display comes with voice-activated and steering wheel-mounted controls and Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary connectivity. Cruise control, air-conditioning and parking sen-

sors are also standard features on the Limited trim level.

On the road Ford’s 198hp 3.2-litre five pot Duratorq engine was previously the most powerful on the market, but this has since been beaten by Volkswagen, who has announced that the new 3-litre V6 in the Amarok will produce up to 224hp.

It doesn’t feel particularly nippy (0-62mph in 10.9 seconds which is slower than the new 176hp L200 and 188hp NP300) and the engine is very loud even during light acceleration, although it cruises effortlessly and silently at 70mph on the motorway. The steering feels responsive and there’s plenty of feedback, and there’s very little body roll going into the bends.

Off the road The Ranger has a similarly notable performance off-road. Despite the heavy chassis, the Ford feels nimble off-road thanks to the impressive 4WD system (2Hi, 4Hi and 4Low) which works in conjunction with electronic stability control and traction control.

There is also hill descent control but we found that, because the first gear ratio was very low, it would descend down hills at a controllable speed anyway. The maximum approach angle of 28 degrees is fairly low, but the departure angle of 28 degrees, ground clearance of 229mm and

wading depth of 800mm are among the best in the industry.

Load area Moving towards the back of the vehicle, the Ford Ranger packs some impressive dimensions. The load bed is measured at 1,549mm long by 1,560mm wide, and loads are kept more secure by the 511mm high side walls.

There is a 1,050kg payload, which is around the industry standard for this spec, and the towing capacity is still rated at 3.5 tonnes.

There is a 12v socket for power tools provided in the load area, along with a load bed liner and six lashing points.

Summary The Ford Ranger is no longer the most comfortable, hi-tech or even most powerful pickup on the UK market but it is, nonetheless, still a very good all-rounder. It has respectable driving manners, its good off-road, there’s a decent load area, 3.5t towing capacity and, with the Limited trim, there is a lot of standard kit and it looks the part too.

However, its noisy during acceleration, it’s quite thirsty at 34mpg combined and, because of the heavy chassis, it’s slower than the 2.3-litre NP300 Navara and 2.4litre L200 on the 0 to 62mph sprint.

Technical Data 3,196cc, 5-cyl turbodiesel 197hp @ 3,000rpm, 470Nm @ 1,500 -2,750rpm Six-speed manual, 4WD 10.9s (0-62mph) Double wishbone with coil spring front; elliptical leaf spring rear Ven. discs front; drums rear 1,549mm x 1,560mm load bed (l x w) 3.5t towing/1,050kg payload 12.4m turning circle 34.0mpg combined 28.0° approach/28.0° departure angles 18,000 mile / 12 month service intervals 3 year, 60,000 mile warranty £25,226 plus VAT

21 | SUMMER 2016

NEXT ISSUE

We drive across some of the most challenging terrain in the world, in the seventhgeneration Toyota Hilux.

The Hilux is seen as the toughest pickup, but how did it get on in the hostile Namib dessert?

Read all about our African adventure in the Autumn edition, which comes out in September!

@PRO.PICKUP.4X4

JOIN US!

FACEBOOK.COM/PRO.PICKUP.4X4

It’s been a busy summer for us, but testing the new 3-litre V6 Amarok out in a German quarry is something we just couldn’t turn down!

In the next issue, the Amarok tackles 45 degree ascents and descents, axle articulations and water crossings. Read the next issue to see how it got on!

JUST ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FOUR QUARTERLY ISSUES By credit/debit card: 01772 286225 By cheque: Make cheques payable to Commercial Vehicle TV Limited, and send to Professional Pickup & 4x4, Cocker Bar Farm, Cocker Bar Road, Leyland, Lancashire.

PR26 7TA.

22 | SUMMER 2016

Why not have the only publication dedicated to pickup and commercial 4x4 operators delivered straight to your door?

to Professional Pickup & 4x4 Magazine (four quarterly issues) for just £9.95 (usually £14.95).

Keep up to date with all the latest industry news, advice, As an introductory offer, we’re road tests, head to heads and offering an annual subscription much more…