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FORD I
Page 48
Page 49
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DYOTA
It's unlikely that anyone buying a Ranger as a genuine working vehicle would choose the Thunder version we tested. With full leather interior and lots of shiny bits on the outside, it's definitely aimed more at the lifestyle sector than the working environment. But the underpinnings are the same as its less extrovert relatives, which is to say it's probably the toughest Ford you can buy in the UK. We recently came across an example with more than 120,000 miles behind it, almost all offroad, but it gave no signs to show the fact.
Even lesser Rangers present a civilised environment, with car-like standards of trim and comfort. One-tonne pickups as a breed have a reputation for skittish rear suspension when lightly laden, but nothing cures that better than a couple of tonnes hanging off the back. Handling was excellent, with no detrimental effects felt from the trailer.
The Ranger is the odd one out in this company by managing without a modern common-rail engine. It gives a little more power and torque than Toyota's similarlysized unit, but with a more peaky torque curve is slightly less drivable. Despite the extra half tonne of payload behind it, a shorter final drive ratio means it lap behind the Toyota by only four seconds, well ahead of the bigger pair. While engaging drive to the Ranger's front wheels is easy, changing range though the dogleg gate will require a fair amount of practice for a seamless, crunchless shift.
The test hill restart held no fears for the Ford, with just a little wheel hop on the steeper slope. You really need three legs for the hill start, though, as the handbrake didn't want to know. It failed to hold in either direction even on the more gentle 1-in-4. It was the Ranger that recorded the highest peak deceleration of 0.99g on its first 40mph stop.
Toyota
Although SUB rents vehicles in various specs, of all the vehicles, the Toyota Hi lux appeared in a form most likely to represent what a fleet operator would buy.A single cab in the basic trim level with 4x4 chassis are the headline facts, but even so, this is no plastic trimmed poverty special. EveryToyota sometimes feels a little bland, but they are always high quality, and this Hilux is no exception.
This may well be the last time we drive the current Hilux, as a new and more glamorous version will be launched in a few months. It was picked up from SHE 's Romsey depot with virtually no miles on the clock.The engine felt correspondingly tight, but still managed the quickest 0-50mph time of 26.7 seconds. 4x4 engagement was easy but the range-change, although simple, was still very stiff.
The secret of the Toyota's brisk performance, of course, is its much lower towing weight. With a trailer such as our 800kg Ifor Williams, this means a net trailer payload of just under a tonne-and-a-half.
Despite having the lowest recommended trailer nose-weight of the four, at 90kg, it also displayed the greatest amount of Duck's Disease, as its tail dropped by some 85mm. This had no obvious adverse effect on its road behaviour, though, as it handled its modest burden with aplomb.
On the test hills it also coped well, even allowing us to use second low for the restart on the I -in-4, and romping away in bottom gear on the steep one. It also scored Brownie points with its handbrake, but on the "controlled" hill descent. the weight was slightly greater than the engine could contain.
Although its peak figures on the 40mph emergency stops were lower than the Ford's, they remained more consistent throughout the fade test. The ABS had to work bard throughout.
Summary
Both pickups are arguably better suited to Lowing than for driving solo, but the Toyota's lower towing capacity might be a deterrent to some potential buyers.That apart, it is a perfectly capable machine. Being the new kid on the block (relatively), we expected the Ranger to be able to do the job, but not to shine as brightly as it did. Its extra payload saw it lose out to the less powerful Hilux in on-road performance. However, the difference under braking was almost non-existent, the Toyota having a 300mm benefit on the 20mph stop, and 400inin on the final 40inphstop.The Ranger also had totally controlled engine braking descending thel-in-3 slope and generally felt happier as an all-round towing machine. Its 2,800kg towing capacity makes it a realistic alternative to the "serious" models on the following pages. But, of course, that allnew Hilux arrives in the autumn so Ford's victory could be short-lived.