What if your V6 sports car was… a truck? We drive the Ford Ranger MS-RT
At first, it's hard to see a purpose for the new £52k Ford Ranger MS-RT, given that there are already seven models in the Ford Ranger line-up.
This starts with the no-frills, four-pot XL at £29k and extends upwards to the Baja-influenced Ranger Raptor at £51k, complete with 288bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, locking differentials, racing shocks and four-wheel drive.
Scan the specifications, though, and light dawns. For all the racy body bits and the claim of 'a motorsport aesthetic' for this pick-up truck's styling, the components that matter are the ultra-torquey 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6, the standard four-wheel drive, the 21in alloy wheels wearing 275/45 Continental performance rubber, the 3.5-tonne towing capacity and the butch-looking tow hook protruding from the girder-like rear chassis crossbeam.
The MS-RT seems destined to become the handsome prime mover in a rig that might include a large trailer, caravan or horsebox. Or maybe it will be found on the nation's boat ramps, helping yachts reach their natural habitat.
Verdict
Good
Distinctive looks
Strong diesel V6
Bad
Poor ride quality, but it's still a pick-up truck in the corners
Unintuitive gear selector
Pros
Looks unlike any other pick-up truck
Diesel V6 means there's go to match the show
Retains 1000kg load capacity
Cons
Some of the spoilers and diffusers are over the top
The MS-RT also has a load capacity of a full 1000kg, rather than the 600kg of the even racier Raptor, below which it sits on the price ladder.
Although it claims the same 'ultimate street truck' vibe as the Raptor, the MS-RT is different in many important ways.
First, the visuals. It has a uniquely sporty frontal treatment with different grille details and low-level air scoops that emphasise its 40mm-lower-riding suspension. There's a roof spoiler at the end of the cab, another on top of the tailgate and the rear underbody affects a diffuser – more show than go.
While it uses the same 10-speed automatic gearbox as other Ranger variants, the MS-RT has a diesel rather than a petrol V6, which means its fuel consumption is always 30% better than the petrol Raptor and it will cruise at least 150 miles farther on a tank.
Even so, it produces 20% more torque (443lb ft at 1750-2250rpm), although its power of 237bhp at a relaxed 3250rpm does give ground to the higher-revving Raptor's 288bhp at 5500rpm. But performance isn't far behind: the 0-62mph sprint takes 8.7sec, about a second slower.
Pros
Well-equipped
Good UI, with a mix of physical controls and a responsive touchscreen
Cons
Inside, the MS-RT uses the same pleasantly car-like collection of materials that give an aura of quality with long-life durability.
The sporty front seats, similar but different in design from the Raptor's, have exaggerated side bolsters and are faced with a combination of suede and 'non-animal leather', which works fine.
The central touchscreen is reminiscent of the Raptor's but the display directly ahead of the driver is simpler and less configurable.
Lots of Raptor toys – a variety of settings for steering effort, damper stiffness, angry exhaust note – are missing but you still get an excellent rear-view camera, speed limit sign recognition, keyless entry, active park assist, rain-sensing wipers and a variety of dash-selectable drive modes (Normal, Eco, Tow Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts and Sand).
There's also a familiar rotary selector for the various transmission modes (2WD, 4WD Auto, 4WD Locked), plus hill descent control.
Pros
Cons
Needs paddles for gearbox control
The engine is quiet, smooth, strong and nearly always unobtrusive, especially since its low-end shove means there's no point in revving it hard.
The auto 'box works well most of the time but doesn't have the control offered by the Raptor's column-mounted shift paddles. Instead there are three close-packed and near-invisible switches on one side of the central gearknob, meant to allow the driver to control the gearbox manually.
You feel for them in moments of need and invariably get it wrong, not least because it's difficult to remember which anonymous button does what. It's the Ranger's poorest control feature.
Pros
Improved handling compared to standard Ranger
Cons
Upgrades don't suddenly turn it into a sports car...
...but do make the ride very poor
If you're used to the quality damping and relatively soft ride of the Raptor, you won't much enjoy the ride quality of the MS-RT.
It takes a different direction, riding lower with less suspension travel and running deliberately stiffer dampers. This controls body roll well, takes advantage of the big, sporty tyres and sharpens the steering, but there's a limit to just how much a fundamentally cumbersome, 5.4m-long vehicle weighing 2.3 tonnes can benefit from agility tweaks.
The unladen ride is poor, especially at low speeds. The MS-RT crashes into potholes and picks up surface irregularities more than both its siblings and its rivals.
Things do improve if you go faster, but authentic comfort, even average comfort, is not this Ranger's strong suit.
Verdict
Good
Distinctive looks
Strong diesel V6
Bad
Poor ride quality, but it's still a pick-up truck in the corners
Unintuitive gear selector
It's easy to imagine plenty of buyers being attracted by the MS-RT's image, durability and good looks. No argument, it draws admiring glances, but we would advise any serious customer to take a good, long road test over typical UK roads before they commit.
Model tested:
Ford Ranger MS-RT
Price:
£52,141 (excluding VAT)
Engine:
V6, 2993cc, turbocharged, diesel
Transmission:
10-spd automatic
Driveline layout:
Front engine, longitudinal, 4WD with low-range
Model tested
Ford Ranger MS-RT
Price
£52,141 (excluding VAT)
Engine
V6, 2993cc, turbocharged, diesel
View all specs and rivals
Transmission
10-spd automatic
Driveline layout
Front engine, longitudinal, 4WD with low-range
Torque
443lb ft at 1750-2250rpm
Rivals Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster Toyota Hilux
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