The UK’s best-selling pickup gets electrified: Ford Ranger PHEV

Having topped sales charts for the last eight years, the Ford Ranger is aiming to maintain its dominance by introducing a hybrid powertrain option.

Hybrid workhorse vehicles are a relatively sparse offering on the UK market, with many manufacturers making the jump directly from ICE to electric power — for better or worse. This makes the announcement of the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Ford Ranger a bit of a head turner, representing a unicorn in the LCV world where it joins the ranks of the Hybrid Ford Transit Custom and not much else.

Any new Ranger is a big deal, considering the model accounts for over 55% of the UK’s pickup market share so far in 2024. But catching our eye even more so, it seems the PHEV powertrain is all pros and no cons: maintaining ‘full Ranger towing, payload, and off-road ability’ while adding extra torque and boosted range — as long as you have access to a charging point that is….

The star of the show — the all-new PHEV powertrain — combines a 2.3-litre petrol engine, a 10-speed automatic gearbox, and a 75 kw electric motor with 11.8 kwh battery. The result? A bulky 690 nm of torque to out-grunt every other production Ranger in existence, a handy 275 hp, and a targeted pure-electric range of over 27 miles.

The almost four hours required for a full battery charge may raise some eyebrows. But, considering it’s using a 16-amp at-home charger, we reckon this remains practical for those lucky enough to have the facilities.

The PHEV variant is the first Ford Ranger to pack ‘Pro Power Onboard’ technology, effectively allowing the pickup to double as a mobile power bank. Rather than using an external generator, up to 6.9 kw of tools or gadgets can be charged or powered via outlets in the truck’s load box.

Despite hauling the weighty built-in battery tech, the hybrid Ford Ranger can still match the one-tonne payload of its petrol- and diesel-powered siblings, and is able to tow the same impressive 3,500 kg — putting that extra torque to good use.

We’ve got a real taste of the Ford Ranger’s capabilities when DriverReviews host Vicki Butler-Henderson put the Wildtrak through its paces, so it’s a relief to see the PHEV can replicate this performance. ‘Off-road confidence’ is provided by the e-4WD system, rear differential lock, and dual-range transfer box (to choose between high and low gearing). 

Small suspension tuning tweaks have been made to ensure there is no comfort or performance trade-off when the tarmac runs out, compensating for the unique PHEV chassis and weight distribution. These all-terrain features were backed up by a set of Continental Cross Contact LX 2 tyres during the showcase, boosting the Ranger’s on- and off-road stats. 

The PHEV powertrain will be exclusive to the Ford Ranger Stormtrak edition. This enhanced trim brings with it some sleek 18-inch alloys, a honeycomb grille, assertively styled LED headlamps, and a standard feature list packing a handy 360-degree camera for navigating tricky spots. 

With the PHEV Ford Ranger expected to land in early 2025; could the additional functionality tempt you to pick one up? 

Hero image credit: Ford