Same truck. Different year. Again.
Ford has swept our Pick-up of the year title eight years running. Unbeatable streak? Maybe. But look at the vehicle and the obsession makes sense. You need a work mule? The Ranger does that. Craving adventure? It handles trails. Want to pretend you’re in an oversized rally car? Buy the Raptor. Need something that stays on pavement but feels sporty? There is the MS-RT. All bases covered. No excuses.
Diesel remains the heart of the beast. Always has. But plug-in hybrids changed the game last year. Zero emissions when the battery lasts. Same payload though—one tonne. Towing remains at 3.5 tonnes. Powertrain shifts rarely hurt utility, but here it didn’t matter at all. The Ranger stayed on top of the food chain.
Then came 2026. And the tax man.
New rules hit double-cab pick-ups. Hard. To qualify as commercial vehicles again, Ford had to make changes. Simple ones really. Remove the back seats. That’s it. A new variant appeared in the lineup, same shape, different classification.
But let’s say you keep the standard five-seater. The Ranger is still the best. Period.
Luxury exists at the top end. Budget versions exist at the bottom. Middle options fill the gaps between work and lifestyle. It drives like a car on the road. Easy. Predictable. Then you drop onto dirt and it handles it without breaking a sweat. Why choose between comfort and capability? You don’t have to.
Is it the ultimate truck? Probably not. It’s just the best one currently available. And for eight years now, nobody has managed to dethrone it.
The throne looks sturdy enough. For now. 🏆
