The Ford Ranger (T6) Thread

Fleet update: Ford Ranger XL Double Cab is surprisingly enjoyable to drive

Of course, the XL doesn’t have all the trimmings of the larnier Ranger models. The seats are cloth, for instance, and the driver’s chair has no height adjustment. You also have to start it using a conventional key rather than a push-button. Just like a real bakkie..

But by those standards it is still rather well stocked, with standard amenities including electric window and mirrors and an 8.0-inch (20.3cm) vertical touchscreen as well as a digital instrument cluster. Our vehicle also came with optional cruise control.

The cockpit feels modern without being overly digital, as far as I’m concerned.

Overall it’s a very sensible package in a market where most bakkies have become outrageously overpriced.

The Ford Ranger XL Double Cab is also competitively priced against rivals such as the Nissan Navara SE Plus (R572,500), Isuzu D-Max LS (R585,100) and Toyota Hilux 2.4 GD-6 Raider (R602,100).

Just a pity you have to pay extra for Ford’s service plan though.

 
SA-built bakkies split 2024 International Pick-up Award

For the first time in its 14-year history, the International Pick-up Award (for 2024) has been split between 2 bakkies – and they’re both built in South Africa…

And the 2024 International Pick-up Award (IPUA) goes to … 2 bakkies! Yes, the 20-member international jury said it found it “impossible to separate” the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok during the judging process, opting to instead split the honours between these closely related and South African-built bakkies.

It’s the first time the trophy has been shared since the establishment of the International Pick-up Award back in 2010. Interestingly, the 2 nameplates now each have a trio of wins under their respective belts, with the Ranger having triumphed in 2013 and 2020, and the original Amarok having succeeded in 2011 and 2018.

As a reminder, Ford builds the Ranger and its VW twin at the Silverton facility (for both local consumption and export, the latter with a focus on Europe) in South Africa, which is also the only factory in the world producing this 2nd-gen Amarok. In late 2024, this plant will furthermore become the sole production facility for the upcoming Ranger PHEV.

“Following the IPUA 2023 Group Tests, held in Greece last month, it was impossible to separate the 2 models from each other, as both the new Ranger and Amarok were co-developed and are made at the Ford factory in South Africa. Although a collaboration project, each manufacturer has managed to maintain their unique styling and driving traits, [to] which customers will testify,” said Jarlath Sweeney, chairman of the IPUA jury.

The latest-generation Ranger launched in Mzansi in double-cab form at the end of 2022, with the single- and extended-cab body styles coming online early in 2023 (and the high-performance Raptor – which is imported from Thailand – arriving in February of this year). Local sales of the 2nd-gen Amarok, meanwhile, started in March 2023.

 
‘Hard working’ Ford Ranger Tremor coming in 2024: SA details released

If you want to walk on the wild side like you’re in a Wildtrak X, but you don’t want to part with more than a million rand, the Ford Ranger Tremor could soon answer your prayers.

Set to launch in South Africa during the first half of 2024, the Tremor was first shown to South Africans at Ford’s centenary event in November alongside a slew of upcoming products including the Territory, Mustang and Ranger Platinum.

Ford South Africa has released more information on the local specification of the Ranger Tremor, although pricing remains under wraps until launch. But we do know it will slot beneath the Wildtrak X, while offering much of its off-road capability as Ford SA’s marketing GM Doreen Mashinini confirms:

“Although the Tremor has all of the enhanced off-road capabilities shared with the Wildtrak X, it is based on the XLT series which makes it a more affordable option that is ideally suited to the most adventurous exploits and hard-working environments”.

The Tremor has already been launched in the UK, where it costs 20% less than the Wildtrak X, although it’s not known whether the local positioning and spec mix will be similar.

 
New Ford Ranger Tremor: Initial SA Details Released

Ford has released fresh details on its new Ranger Tremor ahead of a local launch in 2024, billing this latest derivative as a “more affordable” alternative to the Wildtrak X…

Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa recently confirmed it would further expand its burgeoning bakkie range with the launch of the new Ranger Tremor in 2024. Now the Blue Oval brand has released initial details on this off-road-ready double-cab derivative, which it bills as a “more affordable” alternative to the Wildtrak X.

As yet, Ford has not confirmed a price for the Ranger Tremor, though it’s worth keeping in mind the Wildtrak X is a 7-figure bakkie, currently priced at R1 013 000. Since the Tremor – which was revealed for Europe back in March 2023 – is based on the XLT grade, we’d speculate a starting price on the near side of R1-million (for the record, the 2.0 BiT XLT 4×4 double cab is currently pegged at R833 800).

That said, the new likewise Silverton-built Ranger Tremor scores all the “enhanced” off-road capabilities of the Wildtrak X, including a full-time 4-wheel-drive system, the so-called “Trail Turn Assist” feature (ostensibly allowing the bakkie to deal with tighter off-road turns) and the self-explanatory Pro Trailer Backup Assist with Trailer Reverse Guidance (which has since been rolled out to the Wildtrak X and Raptor, and will be standard on the upcoming Platinum, too).

The list of standard kit also includes a steel bash plate, steel underbody protection (for the engine, transfer case and fuel tank), 2 front-mounted tow hooks, cast-aluminium side steps and a tubular sports bar. The suspension system features Bilstein position-sensitive dampers along with a 24 mm increase in ground clearance and a 30 mm wider track.

 
Long-term intro: Ford Ranger Wildtrak X is made for adventure

“Do you really need a million rand bakkie?”

It’s a question we’ve been asking ourselves after spending the good part of a year with our long-term Ford Ranger XL, which costs little more than half of that amount and provides a great deal of bakkie for the money, and surprising refinement too.

Yet given how many Wildtrak models we see on the roads, there is clearly a demand for a Ranger with all the trimmings, and with that in mind Ford recently swapped our back-to-basics XL with the recently-launched Wildtrak X model.

Shortly after taking delivery of our new Frozen White long-termer with its Cyber Orange accents, we also got to spend a week with a Wildtrak 3.0 V6 diesel, leading to another obvious question: if you are spending a million on a bakkie, which is your best Ranger option?

The Wildtrak X, stickered at R1,013,000 at the time of writing in December 2023, costs just R13,000 less than the aforementioned V6 Wildtrak. Instead of the latter’s bigger engine the X sticks with Ford’s four-cylinder bi-turbo diesel, which offers 154kW and 500Nm.

 
Ford Ranger review

WHAT'S THE VERDICT?

“Ford held more than 5,000 customer interviews when developing the Ranger... there's little for buyers to complain about”

We’re told that Ford conducted more than 5,000 customer interviews and carried out dozens of workshops when developing the new Ranger, and on this evidence there’s going to be little for any future buyers to complain about.

It drives competently, the cabin is far posher than before, and there’s more room for passengers and payloads alike. Sure, pickups are generally seen as a work tool rather than a family wagon, but spend some time in the new Ranger and it doesn’t take long to convince you it could easily do both.

www.topgear.com

Ford Ranger Review 2023 | Top Gear

More street savvy than most alternatives, a pick-up that can work hard, play hard and take whatever you throw at it
www.topgear.com www.topgear.com
 
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