Ford Ranger Tremor long-term update 4

I find myself in a very privileged position. Not only do I get to live out my passion for cars as a means of earning a living, but I'm also exposed to driving a wide variety of vehicles. I don't mention this to boast, but to provide some context as to why my experience with our long-term Tremor has been so impressive for me. 

You see, I'll often drive a car for a week, create my written and/or video review of it, and then hop stright into something else, and most recently I got out of an Ineos Grenadier, a hybrid Haval, a base model VW T-Cross and an all-electric Volvo, and then into the Ranger, after my collegaues had been spending time with it for a few months. I was immediately reminded why I hold the Ranger in such high regard. I want to share some nerdy details about the Temor and Ranger in general, including five things I like and haven't enjoyed about the Temor.

I like

1. Special suspension

The Tremor shares its trick suspension with the pricier Wildtrak X, which includes: 

• Bilstein Remote Reservoir Position-Sensitive Dampers: The "remote reservoir" part of this is critical. It means that a portion of the shock oil and gas is stored in a separate chamber, allowing the shock to handle more heat and work more consistently under extreme, prolonged off-road use. The position-sensitive aspect, as previously detailed, gives the Tremor its dual personality—compliant on-road and firm when you need it most.

• Upgraded Springs: The front and rear springs are upgraded to accommodate the wider track and taller tyres. This provides a firmer, more controlled ride and helps manage the vehicle's dynamics when loaded with gear for an overlanding trip.

• LT265/70R17 General Grabber AT3 tyres aren't just a cosmetic upgrade. The "LT" (Light Truck) designation means they have a stiffer sidewall and are built to handle heavier loads and more abuse than a passenger-rated tyre. This contributes to better stability and durability on rugged terrain.

Ground clearance and track width explained

The 26mm boost in ground clearance directly results from the suspension lift and the larger-diameter tyres. This is a massive functional improvement. It means the Tremor's lowest point (the rear differential) is raised, reducing the chance of it getting hung up on rocks or ruts. The 30mm wider track (due to the wheel offset) is equally essential. A wider track increases the vehicle's stability, both on and off-road. It reduces body roll on the pavement and makes the car less prone to tipping on steep side slopes when off-roading.

Translated into non-car-person-speak, the combination of these components makes the Tremor a true off-road performer, not just a cosmetic package; it's a genuine off-road bakkie that is also comfortable and easy to drive on the road.

2. Washable interior

The Tremor's vinyl flooring has been a hit with the content team. When we shot the Ranger vs. P500 video, it was a particularly miserable, muddy day. The bakkies were filthy inside, and the ease with which we were able to clean the Tremor's interior versus a bakkie with traditional carpets is insane! The floor is subsequently waterproof and far more durable than a standard bakkie. In fact, after a cleaning, the Tremor's interior looks new again.

3. Integrated off-road functionality 

The Tremor features two off-road assistance systems that I have found quite helpful:

• Trail Turn Assist: This system uses the brakes on the inside rear wheel at speeds below 19 km/h to reduce the bakkie's turning circle by up to 1.5 metres. This helped me navigate a tight off-road trail and even avoid a protruding rock when approaching an obstacle where my approach angle was very important.

• Trail Control: This "off-road cruise control" allows you to set a specific low speed (up to 32 km/h) and lets the vehicle automatically manage the throttle and braking. I used this in less technical areas and between obstacles where a consistent throttle application at low speed can yield a smoother experience.

  
  

4. SYNC infotainment

While I have grown to dislike infotainment systems that integrate too many vehicle functions, the Ranger's easy to live with, primarily because you can view climate and media functions simultaneously. 

 

5. Clever innovations

The easy-lift tailgate, integrated door handles, and rear side steps are easy to overlook, but once you've used them, you'll find yourself looking for them in other cars.

• Easy Lift Tailgate uses a torsion bar—a long, spring-steel rod—to assist lift, making the heavy tailgate easier to open and close with less effort.

A clever Torson Rod allows the usually heavy tailgate to be lifted with one finger

• The door handles on the latest Ranger sit on the inside of where you'd traditionally place your hand to push open the door, meaning when you reach down, you simply squeeze the handle and push in one motion, opening the door. It's my favourite door mechanism right now, and the fact that I have one of those is equally sad and boring, I know.
• The rear step integrated into the rear bumper has made life so much easier for someone as short as I am. I can now load things and hop on and off the rear of the bakkie far more easily.

I dislike

1.Part-time 4x4 vs full-time 4WD

The Tremor uses a "part-time" 4x4 system as a four-cylinder model. This means you must manually select between two-wheel drive (2H), four-wheel drive high-range (4H), and four-wheel drive low-range (4L). When in 4H or 4L, the system is locked, sending equal torque to the front and rear axles. For comparison, the six-cylinder Ranger models feature a full-time 4WD system. The key difference is the addition of a "4A" (4Auto) mode. The system uses a clutch-pack or centre differential in this mode to automatically distribute torque between the front and rear wheels as needed. This allows the vehicle to be driven in 4WD on any surface, including tar roads, as the system can slip to prevent driveline binding. This offers the best of both worlds, providing the security of all-wheel drive on slippery surfaces like wet pavement, and the ability to lock into 4H or 4L for more serious off-road conditions.

2. Rattles

Our Tremor has developed two rattles, one emanating from the dashboard behind the infotainment system and the other from the B-pillar. These have become rather irksome.

3. Pricing

I have struggled to reconcile the fact that the bakkie I'm driving around costs R1.0-million, and perhaps that's more a sign of the times than the Tremor's fault, but it's a tough pill to swallow.

4. Fuel economy

Take this with as big a pinch of salt as you can, because 10.2 L/100km is entirely reasonable for such a tall, heavy vehicle fitted with all-terrain tyres, but I have found running the Tremor as a daily becomes rather costly. I also realise that the person who can afford to, and then elects to buy an off-road-focused Ranger, will be more tolerant of its higher fuel economy versus the non-Tremor model with the same drivetrain, in which we have seen around 1.0 L/100km lower fuel returns.

5. The ever-present XLT

Throughout our time with the Tremor, which, feature and specification-wise, outside of the obvious off-road upgrades, is an XLT, I couldn't help but think that I would have been happier in an XLT with the single-turbo diesel and less complicated 6-speed automatic gearbox. Yes, some off-road ability would be lost, but the 2.0 SiT double cab XL 4x4 auto is a whopping R288 500 less than a Tremor, and is nicer to live with on the road, which is where many of us spend more of our time.