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2022 marks a big year for Ford when it comes to its new Ranger range. For the company, the next-generation Ford Ranger marks a big step forward for the vehicle lineup but at the same time, forced the brand to undergo some drastic changes. For starters, Ford had to completely overhaul its car plant in Pretoria to accommodate this new car. In late November, the company announced that it had officially shipped its last-gen Ranger and was ready to begin production of the new lineup. That lineup is now available…. Well, Ford says that you should start seeing the cars in dealerships soon and you can start custom ordering your Ranger from the official website as well.
Watch my full hands-on with the new Ford Ranger in a video below
In true Ford fashion, the company wanted me to try out its new tech while driving it across the mountains in Cape Town South Africa. The car is indeed Built Tough as Ford claims and the experience gave me some good insight into the various parts at work on the car. From the striking new design to the Wildtrak’s new 360-degree camera. Ford gave me the full rundown of everything these awesome next-gen Rangers have to offer.
Ford has definitely made the smartest Ranger to date and the company can be proud of what it has achieved. The new Ranger comes in four variations starting with Base, XL, XLT and Wildtrak. The Ranger Raptor is also there but that won’t be until next year.
Every Ford Ranger comes with a 4 year/120,000km warranty and a 4 year/unlimited roadside assistance plan. The Base Ranger starts at R486,000 and the top Wildtrak can cost up to R953,000. There are 13 models in total but technically, there are hundreds of different builds you can use thanks to Ford’s built-to-order approach.
Base
- 2.0L SiT Double Cab 4×2 6MT R486,000
- 2.0L SiT Double Cab 4×4 6MT R528,600
XL
- 2.0L SiT Double Cab XL 4×2 6MT R529,900
- 2.0L SiT Double Cab XL 4×2 6AT R544,400
- 2.0L SiT Double Cab XL 4×4 6MT R607,300
- 2.0L SiT Double Cab XL 4×4 6AT R621,900
XLT
- 2.0L SiT Double Cab XLT 4×2 6AT R592,700
- 2.0L SiT Double Cab XLT 4×4 6AT R669,800
- 2.0L BiT Double Cab XLT 4×2 10AT R702,300
- 2.0L BiT Double Cab XLT 4×4 10AT R782,100
Wildtrak
- 2.0L BiT Double Cab Wildtrak 4×2 10AT R778,300
- 2.0L BiT Double Cab Wildtrak 4×4 10AT R867,700
- 3.0L V6 Double Cab Wildtrak 4WD 10AT R953,500
You can bring the Ranger out with a variety of package options available when you order it. The Base model, for example, comes with an optional R13k package that overhauls the exterior of the truck and replaces the fugly wheels with alloy rims and even packs in better seat covers. Then you can take your Wildtrak and increase its wheel size to 20 inches, throw in additional 12V power outlets and much more.
The best news here is that even if you don’t opt for the best Ranger with the best add-on package, even the base model boasts some amazing features and technology. For example, the base model comes with an 8-inch driver display and a 10-inch vertical infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base model also has vinyl seats for easy cleaning, climate control, multi-function steering wheel and hill assist.
I think Ford has done a great job here with some much needed features in the entry-level model. Sure, the exterior design is a bit different from the XLT but usually, brands charge you a lot of money for displays and smart systems alone.
Of course, if you have the money to spend, the Wildtrak is loaded with stitched seats, adjustable front seats, ambient lights that can be changed with an app, a 12-inch display, a Bang and Olufsen 10-speaker sound system, a 360 – degree camera, active park assist, cruise control and more. But the in-between offers some great options for those who don’t have a million rand to spare. Ford says there are 200 approved accessories to choose from as well. The possibilities are endless.
When it comes to engine and power, the base model Ranger is powered by a 125KW 2.0L Single Turbo Engine. You can choose between 4×2 or 4×4 configurations. XL models come with a 125KW 2.0L SiT Engine and are also available in 4×2 or 4×4. The base model has a newly developed six-speed manual gearbox while the XLT has six-speed manual or automatic options.
XLT are the double cab models. The base XLT also has the 125KW 2L Single Turbo Engine but also has the 154KW 2L Bi-Turbo with a 10-speed automatic transmission instead of the base 6-speed transmission. They also have 4×2 and 4×4 options.
Finally, the Wildtrak comes in both 4×2 and 4×4 configurations with a 2.0L Bi-Turbo engine and 10-speed automatic transmissions. However, the best of the best Wildtrak is a 184KW 3.0L V6 Diesel Engine with an all-wheel-drive system and 10-speed automatic transmission.
So what about the next generation of these Rangers? Well, powerful engines aside, the trucks are incredibly stylish and easier to drive than ever before. I’m not an off-road driver and Ford took me all over the Western Cape to test the truck. Switching between different driving modes at different parts of the ride was easier than ever and the giant displays gave me great insight into what I was doing.
The Wildtrak’s new 360-degree camera is a kind of new voodoo work and accurately displays the vehicle’s surroundings as you drive. It helps more than you expect as rocks and other obstacles are clearly indicated while driving.
Ford went for a simpler tech approach with these Rangers and it shows. The driver display details my driving mode and what wheel setting I’m using. It also showed speed, warned me if I was drifting out of the lane and yelled at me without both hands on the wheel. The infotainment display worked flawlessly with Apple CarPlay and I could easily connect and provide my GPS navigation to the unit.
The giant display also helps with parking assist, the 360-camera, temperature control, and lighting and even gave me the option to see what degree my truck is sitting and which way my steering wheel is facing.
The entire system also packs USB C and USB A charging ports and the wireless charging pad on the Wildtrak and XLT. They also charged my iPhone through the case. This is good news for people who don’t want to take off their cover every time they plug their phone in to charge.
I can’t express enough how useful this charge is. I know it’s not revolutionary but I packed all my battery packs to keep my iPhone charged because I record all my videos on it and I haven’t used it once. Instead, Ford keeps the phone charged at all times. The ease of just putting it in front of you and not plugging it in is a real blessing.
I probably haven’t touched half of what these cars have to offer because there’s a lot to unpack here. Ford has changed every little thing to make them a new experience. But after three days behind the wheel, I have to admit that these Rangers are truly next-generation and that Ford has successfully created a premium truck that’s incredible to drive, looks great and style. I also get into the car with my extra long legs, adjust the seats and make my driving comfortable. That’s saying a lot given that I’m 2 meters tall.
I would like to thank Ford South Africa for the opportunity to test drive this truck. Sorry about the flat tire. I swear that rock just jumped out at me. I can’t wait to see what the company does for the Raptor..
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