New Ford Ranger unafraid of danger

Ford’s pride & joy, the brand new Ranger, is as much fun as it is fearless.

All ‘pick-ups’ are not created equal: You get humble, work-horse bakkies that  act as a means to an end. Then you get glamorous bakkies that never see much action but serve to stroke the owner’s ego. A combination of both is the ideal.

The sexiest new bakkie on the block is undoubtedly the new Ranger. Just look at that masculine, chrome-lined face, with its ‘flared nostrils’. Just a few weeks ago we attended the launch of the Ford Everest, with which it shares most of its skeletal system. Compared to the Chevy Trailblazer, the Everest feels like a significantly more luxurious SUV. And it’s the same story with the Ranger. The Isuzu KB is a great bakkie, but the Ranger is much easier on the joints.

The latest Rangers are powered by four different engines: The new 2.2 litre Duratorq turbodiesel engine with 118kW and 385 Nm of torque, a new 3.2 litre Duratorq turbodiesel engine with 147 kW and 470 Nm, a 2.5 litre Duratec petrol engine with 122 kW and 226 Nm, and a smaller 2.2 litre turbodiesel with 88 kW and 285 Nm.

At the local launch which kicked off at Cape Town International Airport, we nabbed the range-topping Wildtrak model, which doesn’t feel like a bakkie AT ALL. Can it be mistaken for a uni-body SUV ? It sure can. It is only when you look out the back window and you notice the absence of a boot, that you remember that this is, in fact, a pick-up truck, as the Yanks so fondly refer to vehicles of this sort.

Right away, my co-driver and I fired up the Bluetooth audio streaming which forms part of Ford’s SYNC 2 system, standard in all XLT derivatives upwards. The sound quality is impressive, and the lovely new 8-inch touch screen (also seen in the Everest) is responsive. The interior is modern, rugged and practical. It echoes the square masculinity of the Ranger’s exterior. The leather-like ‘soft topper’ with orange stitching over the dashboard makes the cabin feel accommodating and modern, and touches of brushed aluminium lift it to premium level. With as many screens and buttons to be found everywhere, one will need a bit of time to figure it all out. But once you have that sorted, there is plenty of enjoyment in store. Ford says that one should be able to feel Ford’s “Fun-to-Drive DNA” in the Ranger, and they’re definitely onto something. The Electric Assisted Power Steering (EPAS) is firmer at cruising speeds and body-roll is limited. The ride quality is so smooth, the six-speed auto-box may as well be in a sedan, and safety wise you may as well be driving a Volvo, given the amount of futuristic new safety systems.

After we arrived in the picturesque Matroosberg area near Ceres, we took the Rangers on a little 4 x 4 track. Our Wildtrak made easy work of the course, even though I hadn’t been on a track in ages. Ford proves that even novice off-roaders won’t embarrass themselves unnecessarily, if they happen to be in a Ranger, of course. Changing from 2 x 4 to 4 x 4 (High or Low) mode is as easy as turning a rotary dial, and for more challenging conditions, one simply presses the Diff Lock button for more traction. The 3.2 litre turbodiesel engine (147 kW / 470 Nm) is not going to blow your hair back, but it is agreeable enough. In the Ford Everest it feels a little sluggish, but in the lighter Ranger it has a bit more grunt.

After some muddy shenanigans, we were told we’d be “having dessert on top of the mountain”. I noticed that crooked little path earlier, snaking its way to the top at a ridiculous angle, and commented to my co-driver that I’d rather die than drive up there, as I am very much afraid of heights. I insisted that he drive (up as well as down), and soon we were traversing very difficult terrain, this time in a Ranger Double Cab XLS 2.2 TDCi 4 x 4 with a six-speed manual gearbox. As hair-raising as it was, I was never doubtful of the Ranger’s abilities. The way down was even more nerve-racking, but thanks to Hill Descent Control (and my scarf over my eyes) we made it down, without me having any panic attacks.

We then proceeded to a leisurely afternoon Karoo drive on various road surfaces. Still in the manual 2.2 litre Ranger, we enjoyed the beautiful scenery, paying special attention to the Ranger’s newly tuned suspension, which feels dynamic and car-like. The XLS is fitted with Ford’s SYNC 1 infotainment system, and even though the interior is not as dolled up as the XLT and Wildtrak variants, I like its modern simplicity. The manual gearbox is remarkably slick for a bakkie. This is probably the model I would go for if I needed something practical. The seats are a little bit harder on this model, but supportive.

Ford has gotten everything right in the Ranger – its ease of use is remarkable, considering what it is capable of off-road. 

Pricing to be released next month.