Toyota may wear the overall sales crown in South Africa, but on our platform, the Ford Ranger is king. Our 2026 Mid-Year Industry Report shows 11,365 used Rangers changed hands in the first half of 2026 alone, compared to 8 809 Hilux units. That's a gap of nearly 2 600 units. The Ranger has been the best-selling used vehicle in South Africa for some time.
So why does the Ranger consistently outsell the Hilux on the used market when Toyota takes top brand honours overall? Here are five reasons.
A 2021 Ford Ranger Stormtrak; many of these are available on AutoTrader!
1. Tech-first lifestyle appeal
The Ranger has always leaned harder into lifestyle tech than the Hilux, and it shows in how used buyers shop.
- Infotainment & connectivity: The current range runs Ford's SYNC 4A system on a 10.1-inch or 12-inch portrait touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard across the board. The system supports over-the-air software updates, natural-speech voice recognition, and an integrated digital owner's manual.
- Remote access: Through the FordPass Connect modem and app, owners can remotely check vehicle status, view tyre pressures, activate zone lighting, and remotely start the car to pre-set climate control.
- Trim specs:
- Wildtrak: Adds a 360-degree camera with off-road viewing modes, wireless charging, and a B&O premium sound system.
- Raptor: Features a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and Baja mode.
- Competitor comparison: The Hilux SRX gets an 8-inch touchscreen, reverse camera, and four speakers. While Raider and Legend trims upgrade to 12.3-inch screens, the Ranger's tech story starts lower in the range and runs deeper.
A Ford Ranger in Platinum trim, showing off its luxurious cabin.
2. A derivative for every budget and every buyer
The 2026 Ranger double-cab range spans 13 derivatives, priced from R624,900 to R1,307,300. That breadth creates a constant pipeline of trade-ins at every price point.
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | New price |
| XL | 2.0L SiT diesel | 6MT / 10AT | 4x2 / 4x4 | R624,900 – R739,600 |
| XLT | 2.0L SiT diesel | 10AT | 4x2 / 4x4 | R703,900 – R793,500 |
| Sport | 2.3L EcoBoost petrol / 3.0L V6 diesel | 10AT | 4x2 / 4WD | R844,900 – R1,001,300 |
| Wildtrak | 2.3L EcoBoost petrol / 3.0L V6 diesel | 10AT | 4x2 / 4WD | R904,700 – R1,076,800 |
| Tremor | 3.0L V6 diesel | 10AT | 4WD | R1,045,600 |
| Platinum | 3.0L V6 diesel | 10AT | 4WD | R1,187,000 |
| Raptor | 3.0L V6 twin-turbo petrol | 10AT | 4WD | R1,307,300 |
- Price-point accessibility: A buyer with R350k can find a clean pre-owned XL, R700k steps into a Wildtrak, and R900k reaches a Raptor.
- Lineup updates: The 2026 update added the 2.3L EcoBoost petrol engine to Sport and Wildtrak trims, phased out the 2.0L bi-turbo diesel, and made the 3.0L V6 diesel standard on the Tremor.
A 2025 Ford Ranger Tremor; many of these are listed on AutoTrader as well.
3. Built in Silverton: parts supply and repair costs
The Ranger is manufactured at Ford's Silverton assembly plant in Pretoria, which serves as the global hub for the current-generation Ranger.
- Capacity: Installed capacity of 200 000 vehicles annually, producing up to 720 vehicles per day across three shifts.
- PHEV operations: Exclusively builds the Ranger PHEV for global markets, supported by a dedicated battery assembly facility (62 000 packs/year capacity).
- Local supply chain: Sourced from 58 South African suppliers (12 in the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone), using over 1,800 local parts to lower repair costs and ensure high availability. Ford has invested roughly R33 billion in its SA operations over the past 14 years.
- Import exception: The Raptor is imported from Thailand; all other pre-owned models are locally produced.
The Ranger Raptor is the only Ranger that doesn't get assembled locally.
4. Resale value that rivals the Hilux
Used Rangers command high resale prices while maintaining steady trade-in volumes:
| Metric | Ford Ranger (average used) | Toyota Hilux (average used) |
| Average price | R512 668 | R480 919 |
| Average mileage | 79 049 km | 107 434 km |
| Average model year | 2021 | 2020 |
- 3-year value retention: Volume derivatives (e.g., 2.0L XLT) retain 70–73% of their original value, per our resale comparisons. Halo trims (Wildtrak, V6 Sport) hold 68–71%.
- 5-year segment baseline: Bakkies retain 52–58% of value overall, with both Ranger and Hilux occupying the top of that band.
- Trade cycle: Lower average mileage at the point of sale indicates Rangers are traded in sooner, keeping pre-owned stock newer and prices firm. For a breakdown of running costs, read our Hilux vs Ranger comparison.
The Hilux and Ranger have been archrivals for many years.
5. It works as hard as it plays
The Ranger spans multiple use cases, serving as a commercial workhorse on weekdays, an overland 4x4 on weekends, and a family urban vehicle in between.
- National scope: Our report shows the Ranger as the top-selling used model across all nine provinces, proving consistent demand across urban, rural, commercial, and recreational sectors.
- Core takeaway: Where the Hilux sells primarily on durability and brand reputation, the Ranger wins pre-owned buyers spending personal budgets through higher specifications, versatility, and broad price coverage.
