Shortly after the release of the tremendously well-received Tremor, Ford released the Ranger in top-spec Platinum trim. If you want your bakkie to do double duty as a luxury family SUV and a thoroughbred workhorse, is the new Ranger Platinum the bakkie that should decorate your driveway? We had this Ranger in Hermanus last week and put it to work immediately as a family carpooler and gardening companion.
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Styling
The Ford Ranger Platinum is all about sophistication and style, not just about a handsome face. With its unique grille featuring sleek silk chrome accents and those stunning 20-inch alloy wheels, its presence is intimidating yet glamorous. The adaptive Matrix LED headlights (as seen in VW/Audi products and on the Ford Raptor) look great and provide excellent visibility, making night driving a lot more pleasant, especially if your vision in low light is poor.
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Interior
When you open the door of the Ranger Platinum, you’re greeted by a cabin that says "you have arrived". It looks more like the top-spec Ford Everest SUV inside than a bakkie, and that was the thinking behind it. South Africans are a hard bunch to please, because they want their bread buttered on both sides; and the Platinum-spec Everest obliges.
Related: Ford Ranger Tremor Review
The seats are wrapped in premium quilted leather with cool accent stitching, and they’re supportive in all the right places. The front seats have 10-way power adjustments, complete with heating and cooling functions. And let’s not forget the heated steering wheel for those chilly mornings. Ambient lighting lets you set the mood inside, and we found ourselves changing it often just to make things interesting.
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The large, 12.4-inch high-definition portrait-layout touchscreen (also in the Raptor) is easy to use - thanks to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto you have all your favourite apps at your disposal, and it's wireless. Many wireless systems are prone to be glitchy, but not in the Ranger, and in Platinum trim, there's a 10-speaker sound system thrown in too. The kids insisted on subjecting us to their Gen-Z music taste, but each occupant (including the two Gen-Xers) also got a turn to play and enjoy our eighties favourites over the sophisticated (standard) Bang & Olufsen speakers.
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Space and Comfort
When it comes to space, the Ranger Platinum doesn’t hold back. There’s plenty of legroom and headroom for everyone; we loaded three lanky teenagers into the back and only my 1.75-metre tall 15-year-old in the middle was in need of more legroom due to the centre tunnel, but he put a leg on each side and didn't complain. And there are three 3-point seatbelts on row two, so if you need to strap in a third passenger in the middle, they don't have to make do with an awful lap belt. We expect that parents with more than two kids probably won't opt for a double-cab family bakkie, so despite the middle seat being surprisingly wide, the rear-centre armrest with two cupholders will probably be in use more often.
The addition of a three-point plug as well as two different types of USB ports for rear passengers are always welcome when the kids are in the back, so they can plug in if in need of power. Up front, there are two more USB ports for different charging cables. And the centre armrest cubby in front is massive.
As with most double cabs in SA, there is a double-cubby-hole up front and pop-out cupholders too, but the charging pad that fits a smartphone is a definite cabin highlight. It charges quickly and efficiently.
To see all standard spec in the Ranger Platinum, click here.
Performance
Under the hood, you’ll find a buttery-smooth, 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine that packs a punch with 184kW of power and a generous 600Nm of torque. This means it can handle everything from city driving to off-road adventures with ease. The 10-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly, making for an effortless drive.
I enjoyed using the chunky automatic gear selector (or e-shifter) - it just feels so substantial in your hand. Side buttons enable "manual" gear shifts.
The Drive
Our two separate road trips comprised the smooth and maintained tar of the Overberg's finest roads between Hermanus, Greyton, Caledon and Stanford, with only a short detour via the Mountain View dirt road when we couldn't take the N2 to Cape Town due to an accident on Sir Lowry's pass. Since all the V6 models are in permanent all-wheel drive, switching to 4 Auto (4A) proved to be the best way to ensure the best balance of traction and fuel efficiency.
Safety
Safety is a big deal in the Ranger and therefore the least of your worries. It comes loaded with features like Adaptive Cruise Control, which can stop and go with traffic, plus lane centering to help keep you in your lane. There are airbags between the front seats to protect passengers during an impact, along with dual front, side, and curtain airbags for comprehensive protection.
The innovative headlights also feature High Beam Boost, which uses additional LEDs to increase light output by 30%. Additionally, the Dynamic Bending Lights automatically adjust the headlights' direction based on your vehicle's speed and steering, providing better visibility in corners.
It's also a champion tower of up to 3.5 tons and offers a skill set that includes standard Trailer backup assistance with Trailer Reverse Guidance.
"Pro Trailer Backup Assist takes the guesswork out of reversing the vehicle with a trailer, as the driver simply uses the rotary Selectable Drive Modes controller on the centre console to position the trailer where required. Trailer Reverse Guidance provides informational graphics and up to seven camera views to help the reverse the trailer while the driver uses the steering wheel to control the direction." - Ford SA.
Fuel Consumption
The Ranger Platinum's fuel economy is impressive, in part because you never need to work the engine hard. The V6 Ranger begs you to flatten your foot, and if you do, there's an immediate but smooth thrust of power. However, usage never went over the 9 to 10 L/100km mark. The range on one tank is around 850 km, depending on where and how fast you drive.
Competitors
In a crowded bakkie market, the Ranger Platinum stands out with its advanced high-tech talents. Its main competitors are VW Amaroks in 3.0TDI V6 Aventura (R1 228 100) and Panamericana (R1 170 400) trim. The Ranger-based Amarok is also built by Ford at the South African assembly plant in Silverton.
Related: Isuzu D-Max X-Rider Review, 2024.
Ford ensured that the Platinum model would have something over its VW cousins, like 9 airbags (VWs get 7), more USB ports (the Ford has two more in the back), heated/ventilated seats, and matrix (directional-turning) LED headlamps, despite being more affordable than both the Amaroks.
The latest bakkie to impress is the new GWM P500, which was overall winner at SABOTY's second annual SA Bakkie of the Year competition, wearing a price tag of only R999 900. This petrol-electric hybrid bakkie is specified to the hilt and has 255kW of power and 648Nm of torque on tap. It also boasts an impressive list of skills.
Price
If you’re interested in taking one home, the Ranger Platinum starts at R1,120,100 . This price includes a solid warranty package—four years or 120,000 km—plus roadside assistance for four years as well. There are also service plans available if you want to keep things hassle-free down the line.
The Verdict
While the P500 looks impressive and has proven to be capable, Ford fans won't easily bite on a GWM hook, no matter how enticing the worm, as it will arguably seem as a bit of a downgrade. As for Toyota, the Hilux is also getting towards the end of its life cycle and is begging for a makeover. And while Isuzu's higher-spec bakkies are good-looking and modern, the on-board tech just does not compare.
If your budget stretches to the Ranger Platinum's price tag, what are you waiting for?
