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Let me begin by saying, I’m not really a bakkie (pick-up) kind of guy. To me their existence seemed reserved for those whose life and work required a vehicle that is a workhorse. Capable vehicles but rudimentary to drive by comparison to a sedan or hatchback. But I guess that isn’t the point.

Bakkie buyers have the choice of either a Toyota Hilux, VW Amarok, Isuzu KB and Ford’s Ranger. I believe Fiat has an option on the way too. Not sure how well an Italian will fair amongst these bullies?

I’ve driven a few bakkies in the past and felt their engineering development skewed toward function with little love or attention given to form – their designs appear dated, interiors basic at best and on-road dynamics poor or merely a function of their job.

I’m told they sell thousands of them. Yes, thousands. In fact, the Hilux sales make up a major percentage of the Toyota’s total units sold. That’s a good thing you see – because, like Toyota, Ford also manufactures the Ranger range in South Africa at their Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, while the Duratorq TDCi engines are manufactured at the Struandale Engine Plant in Port Elizabeth, two of 66 Ford plants placed around the globe. It is nice knowing that if you buy a Ranger or Hilux, which both sell in high numbers, you’re supporting the local economy. Ford also exports the Ranger from South Africa to 148 markets in Africa and Europe.

When the new Ranger arrived for me to review I immediately noticed its mass – damn this bakkie is big. Impressive in its stature, the Ranger double cab sits both wide and tall on its chunky off-road takkies. From the front, the facelifted Ranger has lefts its bad-boy Eurocentric facial features behind and replaced it with an all-American look. It’s fabulous looking. It’s got a proper American truck look about it that we’ve seen in movies for years.

On the inside the Ranger is a much grander place to be in than ever before – without taking away from the Ford brands fantastic upgrades- the cabin is so good it looked borrowed from a Jeep. Very Americano with a large central touch screen that manages the cars electronics. In addition, the top-specification new Ranger, Wildtrak redefines the segment with a wide range of first-in-class driver aids including Lane Keeping Alert and Lane Keeping Aid, Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Alert, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Driver Impairment Monitor, as well as Front and Rear Park Assist.

It is quiet too - engineers fitted the new Ranger with advanced sound-deadening materials and improved insulation for one of the quietest and most comfortable cabin interiors in its class.

As you would imagine, the Range is a great off-roader with an exceptional 800mm water wading depth, and with 230mm of ground clearance. It is designed and engineered to handle the most extreme terrains with ease. It is also capable of carrying up to 3 500kg, an impressive payload capacity!

There are over 30 derivatives of the Ranger. Driven either by Ford’s mighty 3.2-litre Duratorq TDCi five-cylinder diesel engine that tops the range with 147kW of power and 470Nm of torque or an economical mid-power 2.2 Duratorq TDCi engine. The revised 2.2-litre four-cylinder Duratorq TDCi benefits from a raft of upgrades in the interests of performance, refinement and efficiency. The peak outputs of the high-power derivative climb from 110kW on the previous model, to 118kW while torque is boosted by 10Nm to an impressive 385Nm. A less powerful version of the same engine, available in certain models, produces 88kW and 285Nm. If petrol engines are your preference Ford’s dependable 2.5-litre Duratec petrol engine is on offer, providing 122kW of power and 226Nm of torque.

Depending on the model derivative, the new Ranger is equipped with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, or a five-speed manual on the mid-output diesel and petrol versions.

Pro’s

• Great looking
• Solidly built
• Hi-tech interior
• Large model selection
• Quiet
• Capable workhorse

Con’s

• Firm day -to-day ride
• Thirsty fuel consumption (3.2) I recorded a figure of 11.8l/100km with a combined highway and urban driving cycle

Pricing

Pricing ranges from R212 900 for the 2.5l Ranger Bakkie and tops out at R596 900 for the 3.2l Double Cab 4x4 Wildtrak Automatic.

Service and warranty

All models are sold with a four-year/120 000km comprehensive warranty, five-year/100 000km service plan (excluding Base derivatives), three-year/unlimited km roadside assistance and five-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty.

Service intervals are every 20 000km on both petrol and diesel derivatives. All 4x4 vehicles sold include a free 4x4 training course.

My choice

2.2l Double Cab XLT Automatic (newly introduced)

www.ford.co.za