Road Review: Ford Ranger (2016) 3.2 XLT

With the bakkie wars heating up, we’ve decided to go for another drive in the current king of the segment, the 2016 Ford Ranger, to find out if it will be able to maintain its top spot  as Toyota rolls out its all-new Hilux.

Built at the Silverton plant in Pretoria before being exported to 148 different markets, Ford Ranger manages to avoid the curvy sheet metal that has recently afflicted all modern bakkies . Aggressive from all the right angles, this American brute looks like a bully on the streets. Thankfully, while its rugged exterior persona exudes exactly what we would expect from a bakkie, the interior design tells a different story. It’s beautifully finished layout is driver focused and hints towards a more premium feel to give a sedan like quality. Gone are the days of the harsh seat covers and naked interior that once graced the bakkie market and hello luxurious technology filled cockpit with more buttons and gadgets than Batman’s belt.

Yes, Ford has made it their job to fill the cabin with useful goodies like the 8-inch Sync Media player, which allows you to stay connected while on the go. This intuitive system is a revelation to use and with voice command and steering controls, Ranger’s connectivity is equal to that of the latest Ford Everest.

Systems like lane departure warning, voice command and active cruise control will be among the many new experiences for veteran bakkie owners, even new Hilux fails to match Ranger’s dazzling array of technology.

Other offerings include a host of safety features like ESP with Traction Control, Hill Launch Assist, and rear park assist. All help to utilise and navigate the great outdoors with easy. A deep understanding of its customer has resulted in a charging port in the load box and bin illumination.

The handling is decent with a light steering and impeccable off-road credentials; the Ranger is the perfect adventure companion. Very little seems to be able to unsettle the mighty Ford. It’s no wonder it’s become the best-selling bakkie in our market.

Packing a punch, the new Ranger boasts the fuel conscious 3.2-litre diesel powertrain that houses 147kW of power and some 470Nm of torque. It certainly isn’t shy and can tug a full 1142kg maximum payload along with ease. I did struggle slightly with the clutch as it seemed to pop up on pull-off, but once I got used to it, the six-speed manual is a breeze. But perhaps an automatic version would be better suited for this vehicle.

Ford has certainly raised their game in the bakkie department. The Ranger can’t seem to put a foot wrong, on and off the road. It’s the type of lifestyle vehicle so many manufacturers are trying achieve and even with new competitors on the horizon, The 2016 Ford Ranger is still amongst the best to drive with the manliest design and crammed with technology expected of a passenger car. It wins our vote.