PM Garage:

/ Ranger XL Sport Pack

Our opinions on a car we’ve cruised in, swerved, braked and parked.

THE FORD Ranger XL is now available with an optional ‘Sport Pack’, which plugs a gap in the line-up. I admit, it was quite a narrow gap – the choice of Rangers was already pretty comprehensive – but it’s an option that will appeal to enthusiasts who perhaps want a Ranger XL for their work, but who also want the ability to take their families to wherever adventure leads them, in a high degree of comfort and style.

Let’s kick off by saying the XL spec, unpimped, is no slouch. A host of impressive features and driver aids, and a tow bar, come standard on the base vehicle. But buyers who want that bit extra, and who choose the Sport Pack (at R16 500 on top of the base price), will get a gloss black grille, and upgraded 17-inch Panther gloss black castalloy rims, with larger-diameter 265/65 R17 tyres. Thrown into the equation too is a tubular sports bar mounted in the load bay, and a black rear bumper. Spend another R5 050 at the dealer and they’ll fit side steps, a feature that’s as visually appealing as it is practical.

One more way to boost your Ranger is by ticking the box for an optional eight-inch touchscreen, which introduces Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to the infotainment system. With this upgrade you can field calls from a Bluetoothconnected device, make use of text-to-speech functionality for messages, and enjoy WiFi hotspot compatibility.

To put the new Ford Ranger XL Sport through its paces, we joined the manufacturer on a back-route adventure from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit, via a little-known mountain track called Orrie Baragwanath Pass. Swallowing up swathes of slippery, uneven gravel roads, crawling in low-range up rocky tracks, and summiting tall peaks in the highlands of

Limpopo was all on the menu, and the Ranger, with the Sport Pack optional extras fitted, excelled by every measure.

Under the XL’s hood is Ford’s dependable 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi engine, which kicks out 118 kW and 385 Nm – ample for everyday driving, or adventures to far-flung places.

The Sport Pack can be selected for any of the XL models, whether it’s a single-, double-, or SuperCab. And no matter your choice, it comes with a four-year/120 000 km warranty, three-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance package, five-year/unlimited distance corrosion warranty, and a six-year/90 000 km service plan (which includes six services).

– Mark Samuel

Buyers who want that bit extra can choose the Sport Pack.