Ford has, pardon the pun, picked up its fourth International Pick-Up of the Year Award (IPUA) in 15 years with the Ranger Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (Ranger PHEV). This marks the first time that a hybrid drivetrain has been honored by the IPUA jury.
The election of the overall pick-up truck winner for 2026-27 was decided after an extensive on-road/off-road test program held in Bulgaria last month. Here, the 4x4 Double Cab candidates in contention, namely the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster, the Foton V9 Hybrid, and the Maxus T60 were put to the test.
The routes chosen, were centered around the municipalities Samokov and Sapareva Banja and includes the hills of Rila, the highest and one of the most beautiful mountain in Southeast Europe. The route also passed hrough Borovets, one of the oldest and most famous ski resorts on the Balkan Peninsula. The highest peak in the Southeast Europe Musala (2,925 meters) towers from above while Belchin and Sapareva Banja is a popular tourist destination with a number of thermal mineral springs. Nearby at Samokov is the new Lara Racing Track, under construction, the first FIA Formula 3 track in Bulgaria.
The 4x4 off-road exercise started from the base of Saint Peter (1,191 meters) in the Verila mountain region, passing through rough, tough and demanding roads pass across the hills and forests near Belchin and Klisura villages and on to the finish in Tsari Mali Grad, the ancient Thracian and Roman fortress, now a museum.
As it transpired, Ford accumulated most marks with the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster second and the Foton V9 third.
“In delivering outstanding, class-leading performance with even greater efficiency and lower fuel costs for everyday journeys, the new Ranger PHEV seamlessly combines a 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engine with a 75 kW (102 horsepower) battery-powered motor. A choice of EV driving modes means you can drive on petrol, battery power, or a combination of the two. And with 281 horsepower, 697 Nm of torque, and up to 3500 kilograms maximum towing capacity – there’s no compromise to the iconic toughness and hard-working capability of Ford Ranger,“ explained Jarlath Sweeney, Chairman of the IVOTY & IPUA.
On complementing the winner, one of the judges said: “The Ford Ranger PHEV competed against a diverse bunch of competitors (and good and interesting ones) for the IPUA award 2026-2027. But in the end, the Ranger proved to be the best all round and it has a smart driveline. If BEV’s not (yet) possible, go for PHEV.”
This is the fourth occasion that the Ford Ranger in various incarnations has won this prestigious award, firstly in 2013, then in 2020, and the title was shared with the Volkswagen Amarok in 2024.
