FORD RANGER 2,0 BIT 4X4 10 AT STORMTRAK
Your eyes are not deceiving you, our XLT FX4 is morphing into the Stormtrak for the next six months. Is this late-model runout more than a “sticker princess”?
Tell me if you agree with this assertion: the high-water mark of many a great model occurs just before the line-up is about to be replaced. What do you think, CAR readers, does that make sense? Ask yourself this, is it better to get the first of the new or last of the old generation? It’s been a long-standing debate in the CAR office and we’ve tested a fair few cars over the decades that support the theory.
Pros and cons abound on either side, of course. The new car will almost certainly pack more punch, claim to consume less of the world’s resources in daily running, have better NVH suppression and come fitted with some new miracle tech that revolutionises the way it rides and steers. If the R&D engineers were thorough, it may even lap the Nürburgring or complete the Baja 1000 off-road course pointtwo of a second faster than its predecessor. And, of course, it’s new, which is a big deal for most people – we’ve all got Netflix and we all sift through the New & Popular category on the homepage because new is popular.
But the new one is going to cost you more – possibly a lot more in the current economic climate – and as is the modern trend with hipster-friendly downsized engines, it may be better in theory but not necessarily in the real world, sacrificing throttle response and good old-fashioned driver involvement to satisfy emission regulations. If you recall from last month’s Bakkie Shootout, the power-to-weight and driveability of the current Ranger was something the team and our bakkie expert Gerhard Groenewald rated very highly. We don’t yet know what to expect from the all-new Ranger because Ford has been incredibly tightlipped on the subject.
Just like our Stormtrak, by comparison, the last of the old will undoubtedly be a bit lowtech once the new one comes out. Although, to be fair, Sync3 infotainment is still an excellent system by current standards. The last of the old will come adorned in go-faster addenda, upsized wheels and wear limited-edition paraphernalia. Check all of the above. In the case of our Lightning Blue Stormtrak, the black stickers are somewhat hidden, so this makeover is more subdued than most. These special editions can be worth more money in the future when it comes time to sell as well. And, crucially, late in a model cycle, there’s a greater chance of any production deficiencies being ironed out versus the new vehicle that uses all sorts of expensive, complicated and unproven techniques. We’re not implying that will be the case with the all-new Ranger, mind you, but like anything, you get better with practice. So, latemodel T6 Ranger Stormtrak or all-new 2022 Ranger? The next six months will reveal all.