Ford’s rock solid Ranger has been given a fresh face and more power
It’s been 8 long years since the Ford Ranger (T6) was first debuted and Ford Motor Company has just unveiled their revised Ranger for 2019.
This is actually the second ‘facelift’ the Ranger has received in its lifecycle, and very likely the last before an all-new Ranger appears sometime in the future. For the new model year, it retains its familiar shape but gains some minor exterior revisions, trim updates for the interior, new driver assistance systems, and most importantly, some new powertrains.
The most noticeable changes on the exterior of the Wildtrak, are a new front bumper, a new grille and foglights, xenon headlights and LED DRLs, and new paint options like Diffused Silver and Blue Lightning. Its new face also brings it more into line with the soon-to-be-launched Ranger Raptor. The changes to the bumpers have gifted it a 29-degree approach angle and 21-degree departure angle, and together with a class-leading wade depth of 800mm, it had made the new Ranger one of the most off-road capable pickups in its segment.
While Ford has not revealed the motor line-up for South Africa, in Europe, they have binned the 147kw 3.2-litre TDCi motor in favour of the 157kw 2.0L EcoBlue bi-turbo diesel engine from the Raptor, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Thanks to the bump in power and torque, it now boasts a towing capability of up to 3500kgs and payload capacity of just over 1250kgs. Compared to the 3.2-litre Wildtrak, it matches its towing capacity, but trumps it payload capacity of just 938kgs.
Ford of Europe also says goodbye to the popular 118kw 2.2 TDCi, which makes way for two turbodiesel variants displacing just 2.0-litres, and outputting 96kw and 125kw. While there is no confirmation yet from Ford South Africa, the 2.2 TDCi is expected to continue and be joined by the 125kw variant of the 2.0-litre motor. More interesting, is that the most powerful variant of the new US-spec Ranger has a 2.3-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine which outputs 201kw and 420nm, put can only pull 3400kgs and a payload limit of 845kgs. However, this will not be made available to South Africa.
Another big deal for Ford is that updated Ranger is the first pickup in Europe to offer Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection and Intelligent Speed Limiter technologies as standard. Other optional safety tech includes Active Park Assist, while Keyless entry and Keyless-Go, Lane-Keeping Alert and Lane-Keeping Aid, Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Alert, Traffic Sign Recognition also feature. However, many of these have been available on the South African spec Ranger already.
Ford South Africa is expected to launch the facelifted Ranger (and Ranger Raptor) in the first half of 2019.
Also worth a look: the Ford Transit Custom and the Ford Escort Mk1 RS Returns as 800kg Track Weapon.
FAQ
Q: What does the Ford Ranger cost in South Africa?
The Ford Ranger lineup starts from around R389,900 for the base 2.2L Single Cab, while the popular Wildtrak 3.2L Double Cab sits at approximately R679,900, making it competitive with rivals like the Toyota Hilux and Isuzu D-Max in the premium bakkie segment.
Q: Is the Ford Ranger worth buying over the Toyota Hilux?
The Ranger offers better towing capacity at 3,500kg compared to the Hilux's 3,200kg, plus superior off-road angles and an 800mm wading depth, but Toyota's reputation for reliability and stronger resale values make it a tough call depending on your priorities.
Q: What engine options are available in the Ford Ranger?
The Ranger offers a 118kW 2.2L TDCi engine in most variants, with the flagship Wildtrak getting a 147kW 3.2L TDCi five-cylinder, though Ford is introducing new 2.0L EcoBlue engines producing 96kW, 125kW, and 157kW outputs depending on the variant.
Q: How reliable is the Ford Ranger compared to other bakkies?
The Ranger has proven itself over eight years on the market with generally solid reliability, though it doesn't quite match the Toyota Hilux's legendary durability record, and service costs tend to be slightly higher than Japanese rivals at around R3,500 per major service.
Should You Buy It?
The best premium bakkie under R700,000 in South Africa is still the Ford Ranger Wildtrak at R679,900. It delivers serious off-road capability with that 800mm wading depth, genuine 3,500kg towing capacity, and enough luxury features to make the daily commute bearable. Yes, you'll pay slightly more for services than a Hilux owner, and the resale won't be quite as strong, but if you need a bakkie that can handle serious work and weekend adventures without breaking the bank, the Ranger delivers the goods. Just avoid the base models if you can stretch your budget, the Wildtrak is where the real value lies.
