The Ford Ranger has added another trophy to its cabinet, with the new plug-in hybrid PHEV model named the International Pick-up Award (IPUA) winner for 2026/27. It’s the fourth time in fifteen years that the Ranger has taken the title, and the first time a hybrid pickup has ever won it.
The result follows an intensive on- and off-road evaluation programme in Bulgaria, where the Ranger PHEV went up against a varied field including the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster, the Foton V9 and the Maxus eTerron 9 and T60 Max contenders. According to the jury, the Ford proved to be “the best all round”, with one judge noting that “if BEV’s not (yet) possible, go for PHEV.”
Jarlath Sweeney, Chairman of the IVOTY and IPUA jury, praised the hybrid Ranger for delivering “outstanding, class-leading performance with even greater efficiency and lower fuel costs for everyday journeys.” He pointed to the combination of a 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and 75kW electric motor as an example of how electrification can enhance, rather than dilute, a working pickup, especially given the truck’s 281hp, 697Nm, and 3,500kg towing capacity.
Ford Pro Europe general manager Hans Schep accepted the award at the Solutrans show in Lyon. He said the win shows how the electrified Ranger builds on the model’s established reputation: “We deeply value the recognition the jury has now given to the electrified plug-in hybrid model, demonstrating the consistent excellence and innovative spirit that defines the Ranger lineage.”
Schep added that capability remains the deciding factor for most customers: “The Ranger PHEV doesn’t just match the uncompromising performance our customers expect from a Ranger – it elevates it.” Features such as Pro Power Onboard, which allows users to power tools and equipment directly from the truck, were singled out as examples of practical hybrid benefits in real job-site scenarios.
This PHEV accolade follows previous IPUA wins for the Ranger in 2013, 2020 and 2024 (the latter shared with the Volkswagen Amarok). It cements Ford as the most successful manufacturer in the award’s history, and reinforces the Ranger’s position as Europe’s best-selling pickup for the past decade.
