This week Ford marked the launch of two new models for its wildly popular Ranger lineup locally – the Platinum and Tremor. We were on-hand for the South African launch of the vehicles at a two-day long event in the Western Cape, getting time behind the steering wheel of both newly released options.
Trying the Platinum and Tremor both on- and off-road, we got more familiar with the capabilities of these new Ranger models, as well as how Ford has been more consistent in terms of delivering bakkies locally to a higher standard and quality.
While we’re not the biggest fans of bakkies at Hypertext, after two days behind the wheel of these new offerings, it became clearer to see why the Ranger models are so popular in SA, and that the Ford brand has different options to match up with any taste or use locally.
With that in mind, here’s what we learned about the new models.
Starting with the more expensive of the two, the Platinum (pictured above) which starts at R1 119 000 for the Double Cab 3.0L V6 4WD 10AT flavour, is designed as an option for those who like the look and feel of the Everest SUV, but perhaps want a vehicle with a but more utility.
“The new Ranger led the South African double cab segment in 2023, and for good reason thanks to its exceptional all-round capabilities whether used for work or play, along with its car-like driving characteristics and outstanding safety,” highlighted Doreen Mashinini, GM for Marketing at Ford South Africa of the new vehicle.
“Ranger Platinum now takes the bakkie segment into uncharted territory by providing the exceptional levels of luxury, comfort and refinement normally associated with premium sport utility vehicles, or SUVs,” she added.
We must admit that the Platinum stylings, especially with the chrome elements, help to define this model as being a little more premium within the Ranger lineup.
The interior is also immaculate from a styling perspective, with quilted leather seats, a generous 12.4″ LCD infotainment display, and solid trims and finishes, all leading to an environment comparable to many luxury 4x4s out there.
Driving along the Cape coastal roads, the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine found in the Platinum, which is the same as seen on the top specced Wildtrak model, delivers a satisfying amount of grunt and power.
It also feels particularly at home while cruising around the 100km/h mark, as well as picking up the pace for overtaking when needed. We weren’t towing anything during this test drive, but it feels like there is more than enough power in this regard, with the engine yielding 184kW and 600Nm of torque.
We also did a little off-roading with it, sticking to dusty tracks and gravel-filled sections for the most part, with the intelligent 4×4 system on board proving quite capable.
That said, the other new Ranger model feels a little gripper and purpose-built when it comes to the heavier off-roading stuff.
It is here that we can switch to the aforementioned Tremor (pictured above), which is a bit of a jack-of-all trades, although we must admit that the off-roading capabilities of the vehicle are where it shines best.
“The new Ranger raised the bar for comfort, practicality, performance and safety, and we are broadening both its appeal and capability even further with the addition of the Ranger Tremor. Tremor is aimed at customers who require enhanced capability and confidence in conquering challenging off-road conditions, as well as owners that typically customise their vehicle for overlanding adventures,” noted Mashinini.
“Although the Tremor has all of the enhanced off-road capabilities shared with the Wildtrak X, it is based on the XLT series which makes it a more affordable option that is ideally suited to the most adventurous exploits and hard-working environments,” she explained.
It is clear then that Ford sees the Tremor as the more pricing-friendly, do-a-little-bit-of-everything option with the Ranger lineup, and quite frankly after the two days, it is the one of the two new models that we felt more drawn too. That may also have to do with the fact that it starts from R977 500 for the Double Cab 2.0L BiT 4WD 10AT version.
The engine does not have the same kind of power as the Platinum, so on the road it may not be able to pull away in traffic in the same fashion, but the 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine is more than capable for our off-roading needs thanks to 154kW of power and 500Nm of torque.
Sticking with the off-roading, the 4×4 capabilities of the Tremor are genuinely impressive, handling intermediate-level tracks well. There is also a good amount of data that is presented to drivers, along with an intuitive camera system that gives you a nice view of your surroundings when visibility may be an issue.
As such, when it comes to 4×4, the Tremor has been set up by Ford to deliver as much success as possible. We were particularly smitten with the Rock Crawl mode and how it handles obstacles.
Add to that the vinyl floors, loadbox, and black detailing on many of the accents and badge, the Tremor has a stance that we think many South Africans will quickly be enamoured by.
If we were to recommend any of the Ranger models to someone, this would be near the top of the list right now.
