Ranger models launched

garden refuse remover, tows caravans, boats and trailers with ease and anything else you may want to do with it.

The monthly sales figures bear that out with the two heavyweights slugging it out for the number one position on a regular basis.

And with the New Ford Ranger having just been launched, the battle is set to intensify even further.

When Volkswagen came out with a two litre turbocharged engine for its Amarok, the jokes abounded on all platforms ... Remember only milk and coke come in two litres and every variation on the theme you could think of ?

Turns out the joke is pretty much on them with the engine having proved itself over and over again.

Why mention the Amarok though? Because Ford has now also brought out their version of a two litre diesel turbo charged engine and thanks to the groundwork done by one of their competitors the sounds in the echo chamber are a lot less.

There are two versions slotted under the bonnet; a four cylinder bi-turbo as well as a single turbo unit.

The bi-turbo will power the Ranger Wildtrak and pushes out 157kw and 500Nm. It’s also coincidently the same power unit that drives the soon to be launched Raptor.

The single turbo engine is offered in the double cab XLT 4x4 and 4x2 range and you get 132kw and 420Nm.

Hoe nou? I hear the naysayers mumble. Moenie worry nie.

Ford have heard you and the regular 3.2 five cylinder Duratorq engine is still available in Wildtrak and XLT double cabs as well as the Supercab range.

So too the 2.2 litre TDCI engine in its two existing variations. The regular auto and manual gearboxes also remain. However, what you won’t get is the new 10 speed automatic box, and believe me you want that.

With a wide spread of ratios and real-time adaptive shift-scheduling it’s an auto box ideally suited for the two engines as we found out during the launch in and around the mountain passes and freeways of George.

Cruising along gently in tenth and pushing the pedal to do a passing manoeuvre it effortlessly jumps up three gears without missing a beat and just as quickly settles back again.

It also has something called Progressive Range Select that has a Select Shift Transmission allowing you to lock out selected gears when towing, in wet conditions or climbing a steep gradient.

The exterior has been tweaked and at first glance there’s little to tell between the two models, but I suppose if you’re going to have a whole new power unit and drivetrain you may as well add a grille bar to divide it in to two and a slightly beefier bumper.

Inside it’s still a very comfortable and attractive.

Driving manners we found have improved measurably thanks largely to the relocation of the anti-roll bar to a new position behind the axle and four damper rates depending on each model as opposed to the previous generation’s single front damper.

We drove the single turbo 4x4 model first and reckon this would be the one to go for simply because it is fantastic value for money at R570 200.

It has everything you want including offroad biased tyres which were tested.

The Ranger is very much still a 4x4 and despite the 10 speed box it still has a good old fashioned transfer case that allows you to toggle between 4H and 4L via a dial on the centre console. And if things get hairy there’s the option of a rear differential lock. With 230cm of ground clearance and a wading depth of 800mm you’re in for some decent offroad fun.

A welcome addition for overlanders and people often off the beaten track and standard across the range is Tracks4africa on Ford’s SYNC3 infotainment system, definitely one of the most user friendly systems in the market. It’s Apple Carplay and Android Auto friendly as well.

The Wildtrak is certainly one of the most upmarket double cabs in the market and it’s understandable that so many of them are sold and I reckon with the upgrades it will continue to be a market leader.

With the smaller turbo kicking in at low revolutions we did notice a slightly easier climb crawling up the track.

Often it’s the small things that can change a potential customer’s mind and it’s not necessarily something that’s as obvious as the EZ lift tailgate that has a torsion rod fitted in to the tailgate that makes it 70 percent easier to close and dampens it when opening.

As you would expect safety features abound depending on specification level with electronic stability control, traction control, adaptive load control and roll over mitigation.

So, stand back, grab a cold one and watch the bakkie sales war that has just stepped up a notch.

All models come with a fouryear/120 000km warranty, threeyear/unlimited distance roadside assistance and five-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty and a sixyear/90 000km service plan.

RANGER DOUBLE CAB PRICES 2.2 TDCI Base 5MT 4x2 R350 000

2.2 TDCI XL 6MT 4x2 R409 400

2.2 TDCI XL 6AT 4x2 R428 800

2.2 TDCI XL 6MT 4x4 R455 300

2.2 TDCI XL 6AT 4x4 R474 700

2.2 TDCI XLS 6MT 4x2 R455 100

2.2 TDCI XLS 6AT 4x4 R508 400

2.0 SIT XLT 10AT 4x2 R514 300

2.0 SIT XLT 10AT 4x4 R570 200

3.2 TDCI XLT 6MT 4x2 R542 600

3.2 TDCI XLT 6AT 4x2 R571 400

3.2 TDCI XLT 6MT 4x4 R604 800

3.2 TDCI XLT 6AT 4x4 R617 300

3.2 TDCI Wildtrak 6AT 4x2 R609 800 2.0 BIT Wildtrak 10AT 4x2 R632 300 2.0 BIT Wildtrak 10AT 4x4 R678 200