Used car comparison: Ford Ranger vs Toyota Hilux
They are two of the best workhorses on the market, but which one makes a better used buy?
The Cazoo editorial team
Published on 09 May 2025 | 3 mins read
The pick-up truck segment is becoming even more popular here in the UK.
They offer tough and rugged off-road capabilities, while having large rear load beds to carry all sorts of stuff around with you.
Two of the very best on the market are Ford's Ranger and Toyota’s Hilux. They both come with a variety of different specifications, while managing to be strong, dependable, and practical.
But, which one makes a better used buy? In this article, we put two of the best pick-up trucks back-to-back to see if the Ford Ranger vs Toyota Hilux can be settled once and for all over which one is best.
Styling
Starting with looks, long gone are the days when pick-up trucks just looked slab-sided and had no charisma to their designs.
Now, many modern counterparts share design cues from their passenger vehicle siblings. The Ranger is the better-looking of the two trucks in this test with its reversed C-shaped front headlights, bold front grille, side steps and model-specific lettering on the tailgate. You can even get a hardcore ‘Raptor’ version which gives you beefier tyres, extra ground clearance and optional side graphics.
The current Hilux has been around since 2016, meaning the design is nearly a decade old, and it shows. You still get the rugged lower plastic body protection and pronounced front end, but the overall design looks a lot more discreet than the Ford. But, at least there is a sportier GR Sport variant which lifts the design somewhat more with larger wheels, GR badging and a new honeycomb effect front grille.
Practicality
This is what all pick-up trucks are about and both cars excel in this area.
The Ranger comes with a choice of Single or Double Cab body styles, but if you go for the latter, it comes with rear seats, which provide plenty of space inside for occupants. Most Rangers come with a one-tonne payload, with the XLT version managing to carry up to 1,099kg, however the performance-focused Raptor can only carry up to 652kg in the petrol or 760kg in diesel form.
Meanwhile, all models can tow up to 3,500kg, while the Raptor has a towing capacity of up to 2,500kg.
In comparison, the Hilux is available with three different body styles, consisting of Single, Extra and Double Cab on offer. However, just like with the Blue Oval, you’ll have to step up to the Double Cab if you want usable rear seats. Space in the back is good enough with excellent levels of head and legroom for occupants, and all Hiluxes have a payload of 1,000kg, while the Single and Extra Cab versions push this up to 1,030kg. Meanwhile, the Japanese truck has a towing capacity of 3,500kg – which puts it on par with the Ranger in this area.
Driving experience
Out on the road, you sit very high in the Ranger, giving the driver a commanding view of the road ahead. The ride is smoother than most pick-up trucks and the engines provide a great amount of torque and performance.
However, the vehicle does feel fairly large for UK roads, but luckily you do get front and rear parking sensors as standard, which helps out when manoeuvring around town.
The latest Hilux is by far the best iteration yet when it comes to the driving experience. Firstly, the ride is a lot smoother and composed of the models from yesteryear and the handling is a lot more precise and accurate than before. However, the pick-up falls down when it comes to refinement, as at higher speeds - such as when on the motorway - there is a lot of wind and road noise that enters the cabin.
Running costs
The Ranger comes with a wide choice of engine options that offer respectable running cost figures.
The entry-level 2.0-litre four-cylinder Bi-turbo diesel engine can do a claimed 33.6.mpg when equipped with the manual transmission and Single Cab body style. If you opt for the Double Cab variant, it comes with a 10-speed automatic gearbox, which does a claimed 32.1mpg when driven carefully, while CO2 emissions stand at 220g/km.
There is a 3.0-litre V6 that is only offered with an automatic gearbox a returns a claimed 27.9mpg, while the Raptor is the least efficient, utilising the same 3.0-litre unit, but with increased power to 388bhp and will only return a claimed 20.5mpg and pumps out 315g/km of CO2.
In contrast, the Hilux is offered with just two diesel engines. The former is a 2.4-litre unit that returns a claimed 28.5mpg and emits 259g/km of CO2, while the latter is a 2.8-litre diesel that can do a claimed 30mpg and churns out 250g/km CO2 – making this Japanese counterpart a lot thirstier and dirtier than the Ford.
How much do second-hand examples cost?
Looking at the second-hand market, there are loads of Ford Rangers available. Three-year old examples with less than 30,000 miles on the clock start at around £23,500 (inc. VAT). These models feature the entry-level 2.0-litre engine, but if you want a 3.0-litre V6, look to spend around £40,000 (inc.VAT) for a two-year-old Wildtrak example. However, prices for the flagship Raptor are even more costly with low mileage cars starting in the region of £43,000 (inc.VAT).
There are more examples on the second-hand market of the Toyota Hilux with slightly higher mileages. A 2021 example with 55,000 miles on the clock featuring the 2.4-litre engine can be yours for just over £26,000 (inc.VAT) while cars with less than 30,000 miles with this engine go for £29,000 (inc.VAT).
If you want the larger 2.8-litre engine, expect to pay around £30,000 (inc.VAT), but higher mileage examples hold onto their money well with a 43,000 mile example on the market for £29,000 (inc.VAT).
Which one should you buy?
In conclusion, both of these pick-up trucks are great commercial and family workhorses.
The Ranger is great to drive, returns decent fuel economy and looks good wherever it goes on the road. However, it’s rather pricey to buy, even on the second-hand market, and the sheer size can make it tricky to manoeuvre on our roads.
The Hilux doesn’t drive as well, looks outdated, isn’t as refined as the Ranger and is thirstier when it comes to running costs. However, its excellent reputation for dependability, reliability and durability means that if you want a pick-up truck that will last a lifetime, look no further than the Toyota Hilux.