Ford Ranger Stormtrak first drive – Limited-run Ranger for the fans

Stormtrak, like Wildtrak?

Ford South Africa has been on a bit of a mission of late, cementing the idea that it is here to stay from a local production perspective with an over $1-billion investment used for upgrades to its Silverton-based production facility which will build the all-new Ranger and its mechanical twin, the next-generation Volkswagen Amarok from 2022 onward.

With special editions and new Ranger variants coming through regularly, we knew that it was only a matter of time before we saw either the Wolftrak or Stormtrak versions of the Ranger released locally, as they have been done in other markets. While the former will not be joining the model range, the Stormtrak most certainly has, in relatively limited numbers, depending on demand, of course.

As you may expect, the Stormtrak is based on the hugely popular Wildtrak but has some added features and aesthetic items. From a design perspective, like the Thunder, the Stormtrak gets a black mesh front grille with red inserts, a black lower bumper insert, 18-inch alloy wheels, model-specific decals, ‘Stormtrak’ badges on the lower end of the front doors and the tailgate, black roof rails and a Power Roller Shutter. The interior will be familiar to those who have been in a Wildtrak, but special additions include red stitching throughout the cabin, red illuminated scuff plates and Stormtrak logos on the front seats.

Driving Stormtrak

The launch event took place in Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape and its surrounding areas. We hopped on board a Lucid Red Ranger; a colour only available on the Stormtrak models and headed for our overnight stop near Storms River. This drive was predominantly on tar, allowing us to refamiliarize ourselves with the adaptive cruise control and Lane Keep Aid systems while also seeing if the 2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel engine and 10-speed gearbox is as punchy as key rivals, as we recently drove a few lifestyle double cabs before the event.

When we switched to the passenger seat, we connected our phone and tried out the Android Auto functionality, which is quick and seamless in the SYNC 3 infotainment system, thankfully. We also used the FordPass app, which allowed us to access details about the vehicle such as service requirements, fuel level, tyre pressure and to see the vehicle’s location. While the service is ultimately useful when you are not with the vehicle, it was our first experience with Ford’s version of the technology, so we tried it out for interest’s sake.

Even though we did not need the rear load bay, we also tested the electric roller shutter, which can be opened and closed via a button inside the bakkie, on the vehicle’s key or in the load bin itself, the system works very well and is incredibly convenient. The load bay also comes equipped with a divider and a bedliner with a 12V plug point, effectively turning the load bay into a massive, secure boot that can be switched back to a traditional bakkie load bin when needed.

The following day our task was to cross the Baviaanskloof, with a route that included a few hundred kilometres of gravel road driving. For those looking for a breath-taking and indeed, remote road trip location, we’d highly recommend it. The natural beauty is stunning, with scenery that changes from dense forest to mountainous and eventually, typical Karoo vistas, complete with the requisite shrubs, it’s a visual feast.  The often rough, corrugated dirt roads in the region were dealt with quite easily by the Stormtrak, which has a very well sorted suspension set-up, without the twitchy rear-end one may experience in many bakkies on loose, gravel roads. Following the other vehicles in front of us, we had a chance to see just how busy the suspension is, absorbing all the imperfections, meaning that body control remains excellent.  Our long day of driving brought us to a town called Steytlerville where we would spend the night before an early start.

The third and final day saw our convoy head towards Cradock via Jansenville and Pearston which meant more gravel road driving, this time with rougher terrain, including one unintended jump, which again highlighted some impressive suspension characteristics from the Ranger. After a lunch stop, we found some tar road again and headed towards the Addo Elephant national park before making our way back to the airport, concluding a memorable drive and indeed, an apt test of what the Ranger is capable of. Our conclusion of the powertrain is that it certainly is not the most potent nor the most efficient with our final consumption figure for the trip averaging 9.9 L/100km, however, the gearbox and engine work very well together to eliminate lag, making progress quite effortless and in keeping with the rest of the package, which feels more SUV than a bakkie, in the traditional sense.

Pricing

Ford Ranger Stormtrak 4x2	R 790 300
Ford Ranger Stormtrak 4x4	R 846 500

 

* All Stormtrak models are sold with a 6-year / 90 000 km service and a comprehensive 4-year/120 000 km warranty.

Verdict

The Stormtrak commands a R40 000 premium over the Wildtrak upon which it is based, however, it does come with added features such as the electronic roller shutter and the aesthetic enhancements, however, throughout the drive we found ourselves thinking that the cheaper 2.0 SiT 4x4 XLT is likely all the Ranger you will ever need.

Those looking for a flagship Ranger will note that the Stormtrak is also close to the Ranger Raptor in terms of pricing, leading us to recommend either saving the money and opting for the Wildtrak, or spending a bit more for the more capable and desirable Raptor derivative if you are after top-spec models, of course.

Having spent a considerable amount of time behind the wheel of the Stormtrak across a variety of terrain served as a reminder of just how good the current generation Ranger has become in almost all scenarios. As a lifestyle vehicle that can go nearly anywhere while providing relative comfort and luxury, it is certainly worthy of being placed on any buyer’s shortlist, although, we cannot quite believe that we are approaching the age of the R1.0-million double cab bakkie.