FORD RANGER PHEV

Heavy electrification makes popular pick-up a tax-buster once again

- STEVE CROPLEY

Until this April, diesel-powered double-cab pickups, despite their bulk, made practical and economical transport for many people. As long as they had 1000kg of carrying capacity, they were treated as light commercial vehicles for taxation purposes, which meant their benefit-in-kind rates were low for business users and their hefty CO2 outputs didn't matter much. Now they're classed as cars (although registered businesses can still claim the VAT back), which means the CO2 matters much more. And it was high for diesels.

The plugin hybrid version of the Ford Ranger is rated at just 70-72g/km, which goes close to halving your BIK bill. This means the new variant - tested here in Wildtrak trim but also available as an XLT or a Stormtrak - becomes viable again for many people. Which is important for Ford, since just over half the double-cab pickups sold in the UK last year were Rangers.