The light commercial vehicle (LCV), or known locally as bakkie, sector in South Africa is booming. New models and derivatives are popping up left, right, and centre, and it sometimes feels like hardly a week goes by without a new release. Ford is not sleeping on this and their two latest offerings couldn't be more different if they tried.
Related: New Ford Ranger Platinum and Tremor Coming Soon: Price, Specs and Release Info
Midsize LCVs account for 20.4% of total vehicle sales, making it the largest sector in South Africa. The popularity of the double cab can, therefore not be underestimated. Ford's two latest releases take the already popular Ranger and bolster its position in the market, catering for two decidedly different customers: the premium and the adventurous. The Ford Ranger Platinum and Ranger Tremor branch off in decidedly different sectors but manage to retain all the features that have resulted in over 20 000 Ford Rangers being sold in 2023.
A jaunt to the Western Cape to sample their latest creations saw us mix tarmac and gravel to test how well-suited these new offerings are for the African environment.
Ford Ranger Platinum
Where the Ford Ranger Wildtrak held the esteemed honour of being the premium double cab offering, excluding the fit-for-purpose Raptor, the Platinum slides in to offer a decidedly unique double cab experience with very little in the way of direct competitors. It takes the Ranger recipe and adds a multitude of luxury appointments to create a double cab that is as comfortable outside the private school as it is in front of a prestigious hotel.
The Platinum is distinguishable by its unique, model-specific grille with accented mesh and silk chrome surrounding trim, Platinum lettering across the leading edge of the bonnet, and the diamond-cut 20-inch alloy wheels. A fixed sports hoop rests behind the cabin and side steps below the body line, separated by additional silk chrome trims under the window lines. The Platinum also features Matrix LED headlights, formerly only available on Raptor models.
It also shares the (previously) Raptor-only 12.4-inch driver display with configurable layouts and the addition of the Rock Crawl function for the automatic All-Wheel-Drive system. Complementing this is the Pro Trailer Backup function, also lifted from Raptor and Wildtrak X models.
The Platinum uses the 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine that produces 184 kW and 600 Nm torque, allowing it to tow 750 kg unbraked and 3 500 kg braked and retaining the 944 kg payload rating. It's paired with the 10-speed automatic gearbox and aforementioned AWD system that includes a 4-Auto for peace of mind in uncertain conditions. Several drive modes are available, as well as a locking rear differential.
The 12-inch portrait SYNC 4A infotainment system supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and a multitude of USB charging ports; both USB-A and USB-C allow for charging of mobile devices, and wireless charging is resent for compatible mobile phones. Audio is plumbed through a 10-speaker B&O audio system with an amplifier and subwoofer.
Grey accents and leather are the order of the day inside, and the seats have a quilted design for a decidedly upmarket feel. Indeed, the interior of the Platinum is a classy affair, more akin to a luxury SUV than your run-of-the-mill double cab. The ride is slightly compromised by the 20-inch wheels and best suited to the flat stuff rather than the rough and tumble gravel roads of the Western Cape.
Ford Ranger Tremor
If creature comforts and luxury accoutrements are not quite your style, and you prefer the rough and tumble of the outdoors, then the Ford Ranger Tremor may be more your bag. Where the Wildtrak X took the Wildtrak and made it ready for the bush, the Tremor takes the XLT trim level and gives it the same treatment. Yes, the Tremor is essentially the replacement FX4 and will be a global model going forward.
The heart of the Tremor lies in the suspension. A set of Bilstein Position-Sensitive Dampers rest in the corners to provide a hardier setup for serious off-road challenges. They raise the ride height by 24 mm and increase the track by 30 mm. Combined with the sensible 17-inch alloy wheels and standard fitment General Grabber AT tyres in a 265/70R17 size, the Tremor is ready for adventure straight out of the box.
Complementing the suspension is a host of additional features. Rock Crawl mode is added to the AWD system, as is Trail Control, effectively a cruise control for off-road situations that will allow the Ranger Tremor to modulate the throttle as you focus on the steering when off road. The Trail Turn Assist function brakes the inside rear wheel, reducing the turning radius by up to 25%; ideal for tight tracks and rather handy when negotiating the Grabouw 4x4 course through the mountains. The Tremor also includes the Pro Trailer Backup control, making light work of tricky trailer situations.
The underbody of the Tremor is safeguarded with a steel front bash plate, underbody protection, transfer case guard, and fuel tank bash plate. The rear bin sees the addition of a bed liner and a load-bearing tubular, long-leg sports bar.
The interior includes the addition of a 12-inch infotainment system with off-road screens and a front-facing camera. In addition to this, the interior is designed to handle the mud and dust with a water-resistant vinyl upholstery with Tremor embroidery, and the carpets have been replaced with hard-wearing and water-resistant vinyl. While this may sound like a detraction, it's actually ideal for a vehicle with this intended usage, and the interior is every bit a Ford Ranger still, ie: well-equipped and logical in its layout.
You'll be able to differentiate the Tremor by its honeycomb grille and LED headlights with integrated auxiliary lamps in the grille element that protrudes into the headlight unit. The trims are finished in gunmetal grey and the wheel arch mouldings are also extended and finished off in the same grey. 3D badges at the rear and Tremor branding on the bins rest above the side box step, a handy feature carried over from Wildtrak examples.
Powering the Tremor is the 2.0-litre BiTurbo diesel engine producing 154 kW and 500 Nm. It's paired with the 10-speed automatic gearbox and AWD system. We found the Tremor to be exceptionally competent off-road and rather agreeable on road too, with the additional off-road features coming in handy when the going got tough.
Pricing
| Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 Platinum AWD | R1 119 000 |
| Ford Ranger 2.0 BiTurbo AWD | R977 500 |
Both variants are sold with a 4-year/120 000 km warranty and 4-year/unlimited km Roadside Assistance. It must be noted that the service plan is additional, and customer can choose from the standard service plan of 6-year/90 000 km for an additional R23 959.10 or spring for the premium service plan for R36 687.75 for the same 6-year/90 000 km duration but with additional benefits.
