There were tarred and dusty roads which the various next-gen Rangers handled very well. Even when driving up and down mountain passes which had several rumble strips and ruts, the Ranger was able to hold its own.
Then came perhaps the most pot-holed road I have ever seen or driven on. I thought the roads in KwaZulu-Natal were bad. But there was a connecting stretch of road that had hundreds of pot-holes literally, from the small ones to the one that you can drop a fishing line into.
It was bad as it was treacherous as I picked my way at speeds as low as 10-20km per hour. Yet, the overall drive was remarkably smooth in all the next-gen Rangers we tested. Whether in a single or super-cab, single or bi-turbo or even in the in-demand Wildtrak, The Rangers stood up to the various challenges we threw at it
That said, perhaps the most satisfying part of the three-day journey was when the convoy stopped at the Adelaide Primary School in the Eastern Cape to drop off various items from JoJo Tanks, weed-eaters and other like equipment to a deserving cause. Ford lit up the eyes of many a primary school kid and the principal and the staff. A most worthy cause indeed.
The flexible and modern interior design is similarly taken to the next level, featuring a more upright instrument panel with its distinctive coast-to-coast design that conveys spaciousness, toughness and sense of purpose.
Comfort and refinement are the overriding themes, with the use of high-quality materials and surfaces delivering a smart and functional interior environment – whether the vehicle is used for work or leisure.
The versatile Super Cab models offer additional secure storage space behind the rear seats, which can be conveniently accessed by via the rear-hinged doors.
Ford’s latest-generation Sync 4A system is standard across the next-gen Ranger line-up, including the Single Cab and Super Cab models. It is fully integrated into the 10.1 or 12-inch centre screens, providing voice-activated communications, entertainment, information and settings.
The range of connectivity options built into the next-gen Ranger is exemplary, incorporating wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as USB-A and USB-C ports on all models. A wireless charger is standard on the Wildtrak and optional on XLT models.
As with the recently launched next-gen Ranger Double Cab line-up, the new additions to the range are available with updated versions of Ford’s proven 2l single turbo and bi-turbo in-line four-cylinder diesel engines.
“We are delighted to expand the range with the start of production of the practical Ranger Single Cab and spacious Super Cab models that fulfil the needs of small to medium businesses, large fleet operators, farmers and private customers,” says Doreen Mashinini, general manager for marketing at Ford South Africa.
Included in the purchase price is a four-year/120,000km warranty, four-year/unlimited distance roadside assistance and a five-year/unlimited distance corrosion warranty. The recommended service interval is 15,000km or annually. Customers have the option of purchasing service or maintenance plans for up to eight years or 165,000km.
