Ford Ranger review: the mid-size pickup that drives like a car
3.9/5MotorsSouq Editorial Team
The Ranger Wildtrak is the mid-size pickup to buy in Bahrain if a full-size F-150 is more truck than you need — it tows and off-roads competently while parking and driving with far less bulk in daily traffic. The 2.3-litre EcoBoost is not as effortless as a big V6, but paired with the 10-speed automatic it copes well with sand, causeway runs and highway merges alike. Buy Wildtrak or above; base XL/XLT trims trade away too much of what makes this generation good.
Pros
- More car-like on-road manners than most mid-size pickups
- Genuine low-range and locking rear differential for desert use
- 2.3L EcoBoost balances torque and fuel use well
- Easier to park and drive daily than a full-size truck
Cons
- No V6 option in GCC markets
- Base XL/XLT trims lose much of the appeal
- Bed size smaller than a full-size F-150
- Cabin plastics still trail passenger-car quality
Ford redesigned the Ranger from the ground up for this generation, sharing significant engineering with the Bronco rather than carrying over the previous truck's chassis unchanged. The result is a mid-size pickup that behaves noticeably more like a modern SUV on tarmac than the model it replaces, while keeping the low-range transfer case and locking rear differential that a Gulf desert trip actually calls for.
The 2.3-litre EcoBoost four making 270 hp and 475 Nm is the sole GCC petrol option, and it suits the truck well — enough torque low in the rev range for sand recovery and highway overtaking, without the fuel bill of a full-size truck's V6. The 10-speed automatic is the same well-sorted unit Ford uses across its truck range, and it shifts more confidently here than the outgoing Ranger's six-speed ever did.
On-road manners in Bahrain
This is where the new Ranger separates itself from most mid-size pickup rivals. Steering weight is more car-like, the cabin is noticeably quieter at highway speed, and the ride over Bahrain's rougher back roads is settled rather than jittery even unladen — a common complaint with leaf-sprung trucks running empty.
Work and play
Wildtrak's raised ride height, wider track and locking rear differential make it genuinely capable on the sand tracks south of Sakhir, while the double-cab bed remains practical for anyone who actually uses a truck for its intended purpose. Parts and service support in Bahrain has grown alongside the Ranger's popularity, and it shares enough components with the Everest SUV sold in other Ford markets to keep the supply chain healthy.