Ford Ranger Thunder A famous name returns to the Ranger line-up

FORD RANGER THUNDER

With the special editions now coming thick and fast, Ford revives a popular name for a Ranger with a mean and moody image and a range-topping spec list

WITH THE CURRENT Ford Ranger on its way out after a stupendously successful decade on sale in the UK, the niche models and special editions are coming thick and fast. The Thunder edition was announced just over a year ago; it’s limited to 1400 units here, out of a total of 4500 across Europe.

The Thunder name is not new to the range, but it’s been away for a few years. They’ve brought it back to add another level of style at the top of the model line-up; it’s based on the Wildtrak, which tops the regular range, and adds a variety of extras to make it stand out from the crowd.

These include Sea Grey metallic paint and various exterior details in a mixture of black and red. Among these are 18” alloys in a black gunmetal fi nish, as well as a black sports bar with a red stripe; the grille is black with red inserts, and the badging is black and red. You get the idea.

Truth to tell, the Thunder only feels moderately different to the Wildtrak. Its advent provides a good opportunity to remind ourselves of

The Thunder is limited to 1400 units, on the basis that that’ll be about how many Ranger buyers really, really like things that are black and red. You could try counting all the times the two colours are used around the vehicle’s body, but you’re bound to miss some. The same combination appears inside, too, most noticeably on the seats

what the Ranger has been, however, what it has become and how good it still is.

It’s powered by the 213bhp version of Ford’s 2.0-litre diesel engine, mated to a 10-speed auto box with Sport mode and manual override. Rather than paddles, the latter is controlled by a +/- button on the shifter, which is better than it sounds and becomes quite instinctive to operate – though trying to keep on top of ten ratios is enough to make your head spin, so it’s best just to leave it in auto.

Here, the aforementioned Sport mode makes a remarkable difference. It’s absolutely not just a token effort – you almost feel like you’re having to hold it back on B-roads, where its pace, if you give it too much on the loud pedal, is verging on the alarming. We’ve driven the same engine in the fabled Raptor model, which was quick enough – but we don’t remember it being as fast as the Thunder.

It’s shod with 265/60R18 tyres, which look the part without being suffi ciently low-profi le to harm the vehicle’s ride. That apart, it drives the way a Ranger does, with good, smooth steering and the sort of predictable body roll you can use to your advantage in corners. Refi nement is generally good, with the occasional shudder when you hit a big pot-hole in town but no fussing or noise on scrappy roads and a pleasingly peaceful experience on the motorway.

In terms of the cabin environment, it’s full of black leather with red stitching – the seats, steering wheel and dash top all get this treatment. The lower dash is hard, scratchy plastic, which is adequately thick but does creak and even move a little when prodded – the obvious answer being not to prod it, but when you’re buying a middle-aged one we’d advise you to listen out for rattles.

There’s still more black leather on the door inserts, which contrasts nicely with the gunmetal fi nish on the handles. This is carried on over to the infotainment shroud and passenger’s airbag cover, which again gives it a nice appearance that’s a bit to different to other models in the range.

That’s a good verdict all-round for the Thunder, in fact. It’s a bit different to other models in the Ranger line-up, but without actually being particularly different. It’s a package of styling tweaks that makes for a gently personalised appearance but doesn’t give it the highly individual character of, say, a Raptor or something that’s been done up by the aftermarket.

What it offers is the opportunity to own a high-spec Ranger with all the toys – and a little bit of added edginess on top. The gunmetal fi nish is extended outside to the alloy wheels, there’s a sports bar on the back and various details are picked out in red, from the front grille inserts to the badge on the tailgate.

The price for all this is £32,965 plus VAT and on-the-road costs, which compares to £31,625 for the Wildtrak. That gets you a dollop of individuality and what will be one of the last examples of the Ranger that put Ford on the top rung of the pick-up ladder in the UK – along with a vehicle whose name is a reminder of its ever-growing heritage. Cheap at the price?vise you to listen out for rattles. done up by the aftermarket.