Ranger v Hilux v D-Max

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Malxwal

Malxwal

Well-Known Member
In the market for a new truck, so have been off test driving a Ranger Wildtrak 2.0 auto, a Hilux Invincible 2.8, and a D-Max V Cross.

I am leaning towards the Ranger, but it's hard to move away from Toyota after so many years of driving one. The Isuzu is actually smoother to drive than the Hilux, but is behind both Ford and Toyota on oomph (albeit it's perfectly nippy).

Anybody been down this road of late, or any personal review of the off-road capabilities of any of them ?

I feel SWMBO will prefer the Ford too, but that's not a deciding factor.
 
long_range_rob said:
I’d see what you can get without a six month wait first.
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The wait is not an issue, I was aware of the current situation. It also means I can't jump into any decision. I've a 14 plate Hilux 3.0 auto Invincible to sell, but that shouldn't be too hard.
 
I’ve just ordered a v cross for March as I want the winter out my barbarian to save the new truck. Toyota are getting expensive now and I heard that all toyotas made before the new 2022 plate will need to go in and get a emissions change as they don’t comply for the next 5 years emission level🤷 Rangers seem nice just to big for what I want so we went for the v cross for a change and I got a good deal
 
Tried them all and settled on a Toyota Invincible X. Swerved at least 2 price increases since placing my order in March on the BASC 19% discount scheme. Due for delivery mid January as a 2022 model due to delays. Get the VAT back as well and you are laughing.
 
VIGILAIRE said:
Tried them all and settled on a Toyota Invincible X. Swerved at least 2 price increases since placing my order in March on the BASC 19% discount scheme. Due for delivery mid January as a 2022 model due to delays. Get the VAT back as well and you are laughing.
Click to expand...

Snap got it few months ago love it.
 
Malxwal said:
In the market for a new truck, so have been off test driving a Ranger Wildtrak 2.0 auto, a Hilux Invincible 2.8, and a D-Max V Cross.

I am leaning towards the Ranger, but it's hard to move away from Toyota after so many years of driving one. The Isuzu is actually smoother to drive than the Hilux, but is behind both Ford and Toyota on oomph (albeit it's perfectly nippy).

Anybody been down this road of late, or any personal review of the off-road capabilities of any of them ?

I feel SWMBO will prefer the Ford too, but that's not a deciding factor.
Click to expand...

Why not a VW Amarok?

Hammers the **** out of all of the above.
 
The rangers are absolute sh*te Malc, sorry….but having had one from new that ended up having to get a new motor I wouldn’t have another, the dealership up here is abysmal (just look at the reviews for Arnold shark) and the motor itself didn’t last well for the low mileage I had it.

It won’t have diff lock unless you spec it that way and the underbody protection is extra…

Out of three I know of that were bought new (2 3.2 WT’s and 1 2.2 limited) at the time, one is still owned by the original owner but he has had issues and is about ready to shift it.

Unfortunately you are picking the best of a bad bunch.

The ranger will come with continawful tyres on it that a Ford Fiesta would be embarrassed of.

The good points are the 3.2 does tow well, and it copes ok off-road with descent tyres on it.

Regards,
Gixer
 
A friend of mine is the go to mechanic in a tourist based/farming community and there are a fair few fellas there that like to have the best yoke that can comfortably pull a trailer full of animals and also be presentable for Sunday Mass. We were chatting one day when I asked him about the Ranger he said it looks brilliant, it is brilliant, and is a very reliable all around machine that would do everything. I asked him next about the Hilux and he said "Ah Jasus you can't really compare the two of them, the Ranger will take you over any mountain road or path in comfort but see that mountain there la, the Hilux will drive up and down that in winter."

The old Suzuki Jimny would hold its own with anything modern for the rugged stuff, but the embarrassment factor for the family getting in and out of it at the church would make it a difficult choice.

I'd go with the Hilux.
 
All the keepers are on d maxes diwn this way now and they like them and seem to be hard wearing, the v cross is nicely finished inside and to be honest it’s going to be a car rather than a work truck
 
I honestly don’t think there is a good pick up at the moment, I have a Mk2 Ranger, 2005, as my shooting/dogs/logs truck, and would not swap it for anything modern. I could buy a new truck tomorrow, just ordered a new SUV for bestest, but my old Ranger will stay with me.
 
Rasputin said:
Discontinued thanks to the stupid emissions laws or that would have been my weapon of choice. Who doesn’t love a 300bhp tuned truck.
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They are fine if you get the V6 one - and pay an additional 10 grand over the others…but if it’s the normal one it won’t do any better than the others…and has its own take of problems!

They are a better on road drive and more car like I’d say…

Regards,
Gixer
 
caberslash said:
Why not a VW Amarok?

Hammers the **** out of all of the above.
Click to expand...

I wanted the Amarok V6, but following the Mrs reading the tech sheets for a part time family vehicle - only the Ranger has any form of crash protection behind the front seats from all of the above.

Had a Ranger now for nearly two years and it’s done everything I’ve asked of it.
 
The Ford Ranger whilst usually coming tops in reviews, isn't living up to it in the real world. I have heard numerous stories of mechanical issues with them and dealers that don't give a damn. The 3.2 is also heavy on fuel, especially when towing.

Toyota are getting expensive, but then again isn't everything, and I don't think they're without issues either.

I have a 2015 Isuzu DMax Utility, had it for three and a half years and put 50k miles on it and it has been totally reliable in that time. Used as my only vehicle for my garden/log business and every day car, returns about 30mpg. Major flaw with them, even seems to be with newer models as well (otherwise why would Isuzu even offer a rechip?????!!!) is they are very high geared. Very sluggish pulling away in first, off road in first gear was difficult without it stalling and if you have to back off the revs going uphill, it won't pick speed back up unless you change down the box. It will cruise at 70mph all day long on the motorway which is the flip side. Just needs more ooomph lower down.

As others have said, the days of a truck being a truck are gone - they're now over spec'd, over gizmo'd, over priced cars!

Bring back the 1970s/80s - Series Land Rovers, early HiLuxes, UMM Transcats, G Wagen, Daihatsu Fourtraks, Subaru MV...........
 
Last edited:
If you are looking for a refined pick up and have some time, wait for MY22 Ranger. You won’t be dissapointed.
…but both Hilux and D-max are also very good vehicles.
 
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