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Ford has taken utility and fun to a whole new level. Whether you opt for the single or super cab, the latest iteration of the company’s Ford Ranger bakkie will be sure to impress you.
For the media launch, Ford provided journalists with what proved to be an in-depth experience of the Next-Generation Ranger’s power and technology: we spent three days driving through widely differing terrain from Johannesburg to Gqeberha.
The 1 200km journey allowed our group to experience the true capabilities of the new bakkie first hand.
This road test included an unusual element: making humanitarian stops along the way. Our convoy of about a dozen Ford Rangers set off from Johannesburg with all types of cargo: trees, fertiliser, pipes, and water tanks for community projects that Ford supports in the Eastern Cape.
We spent the first night at Gariep Dam on the Orange river in the Free State about 50km from Colesberg. The small town and the huge dam, South Africa’s largest water reservoir, share the same name.
The following day, we traversed arduous terrain to reach Tsitsikamma, a village about 60km south-west of Queenstown.
The vehicles’ load capacity and handling ability on the demanding roads proved beyond doubt that the single and super cab Next-Gen Ranger is fit for purpose on a farm.
Orange stunner
Farmer’s Weekly had the opportunity to drive the new mouth-watering Wildtrak super cab, boasting a 154kW 2-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine with a 10-speed automatic gearbox and 4×4 capability.
It was a stunner, its ‘Cyber Orange’ colour neatly accentuating the design aesthetics.
The exterior exudes boldness, thanks to a front mesh grille finished with the signature Boulder Grey treatment, which is also on the mirrors, front bumper and rear bumper.
The load box side-step comes standard on the Wildtrak, along with roof rails, rear sports hoop, aluminium box tie-down rails and LED front fog lamps. Exterior mirrors have puddle lamps for all-round access illumination.
Everything about the Wildtrak speaks to practicality and ingenuity, making this vehicle both a workhorse and a highly capable means of escape to off-the-beaten-track holiday destinations.
The rain-soaked Katberg pass couldn’t stand in our way as we headed for Alice, where we delivered water tanks to a local school.
Spacious cabin
The Wildtrak offers a remarkably refined drive and its 2,0-litre motor is generously responsive, but it’s in the spacious cabin where I truly discovered the meaning of ‘Next-Gen’.
The high-tech and comfort innovations will please both Ranger fans and drivers new to the marque. A 12-inch (305mm) colour multifunction touch-screen display with an intuitive user interface, offers a range of connectivity, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The smart keyless entry and push-button start system provide still more convenience, as does the Wildtrak’s electronic park brake, which automatically puts the transmission into ‘park’.
The only niggle for me in this Wildtrak and its single-cab cousins was the lights switch console, which I thought could have been more ergonomically placed.
So comfortable and capable was the vehicle that, when we eventually reached Gqeberha, I felt we could have continued on to Cape Town and back to Johannesburg effortlessly
