Can Ford’s fully loaded Ranger Platinum premium pickup deliver enough luxury and performance to compensate for the UK’s newly implemented tax changes for double cabs? Al Suttie tests it for a week.

Ford Ranger Platinum

List price: £49,280 excl. VAT    CO2: 270g/km    Economy: 27.4mpg    Test efficiency: 28.7mpg

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Monday

Ford has bookended its basic Ranger models with what’s turned up this morning, the Ranger Platinum. It takes a different tack to the Raptor that’s all about performance, with the Platinum majoring on comfort, refinement and luxury kit. Oh, and it also happens to qualify for VAT claim back thanks to its more substantial payload than the Raptor.

Tuesday

At the heart of the Platinum is a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel motor with 240hp and a hefty 600Nm of torque. It means 0-62mph takes a claimed 8.7 seconds, yet it feels much more leisurely unless I absolutely plant the throttle pedal. This is something that feels at odds with the laid back approach of this Ranger, so much better to waft along on its colossal torque band that peaks between 1750- and 2250rpm.

Wednesday

The easy-going nature of the Ranger Platinum is welcome this morning on an early drive into Glasgow. A couple of strange looks from other commuters as I happily drive in and through the Low Emission Zone, all while letting the 10-speed automatic gearbox slip from one gear to the next with no noticeable step. The considerable price of the Platinum is justified to a large degree by this level of refinement.

Thursday

Ford has tried to give the Ranger’s cab a feel of its luxury pickups sold in the US with the leather seats in the front of this model. They are super comfy and their heating is more than up to brisk morning in early spring here in Scotland. However, the rest of the Platinum’s cab looks and feels just too much like the rest of the range to stand out. Still, it’s very solidly screwed together and roomy.

Friday

Several of my son’s mates are impressed with the Ranger Platinum, and some of the parents too who happen to use pickups for work and family. A couple wander over during football training for a closer look and are impressed with the style and equipment, which includes the chunky 18-inch alloys, rinky-dink headlights, and 10-way electrically adjustable seats. They also like the electrically sliding load cover as pickup aficionados.

Saturday

For a vehicle that can tow 3,500kg and carry plenty in the rear bed, the Ranger Platinum does a particularly good job of dealing with bumpy roads when unloaded. Not all pickups manage this and it’s starkly shown when taking a mass of rubbish to the refuse tip. On the way there, the Ranger is just as smooth and gliding as on the way back when empty, though the size and attitude of the Ford means you tend to drive gently into corners regardless of load.

Sunday

Those seeking a fully loaded pickup to spoil themselves while also being able to take on fields and farm tracks will probably be able to swallow the Ford Ranger Platinum’s sizeable list price and the added burden of BiK payments that are now applicable to double cabs. To make that easier to choke down, the Platinum has returned 28.7mpg during my time with it, which is 1.3mpg better than Ford’s claimed average economy. Small victories.