The 2019 Ford Ranger has made landfallin South Africa and we attended the updated bakkie's local launch in the Southern Cape. While changes to its exterior are minimal, the Rangerhas received a substantial mechanical overhaul. The faceliftrepresents a big leap forward for both themodel… and the bakkie segment as a whole.

The Ford Ranger is bakkie available in single-, crew-and double-cab configurations. It's been on the market for some time in South Africa and has been a finalist in the #CarsAwards –powered by WesBank. The Ford Ranger is sold in 149 countries and a substantial number of those vehicles are assembled right here in Pretoria, South Africa.

The bakkie market receivesnew orupdated models fairly regularly, so Ford has had to raise its game in the segment.The 2019 Ford Ranger has been subjected to an in-depth overhaul and while changes appear minimal, we can assure you there is a lotof new goodness under its sheet metal.

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What's New?

Aesthetically speaking, there are some slight trim changes both inside and out. The bigchange pertains to the powertrain and the updatedmodel marks the debut of all-new 2.0-litre bi-turbo and single-turbo diesel engines. There's also a new transmissionin the form of a 10-speed automatic 'box. In terms of suspension, the setup has been completely revised with the goal of improving the Ranger's on-road refinement and handling.

Inside, the 2019 Ford Ranger boasts a darker and more premium-look Ebony Black finish. Ford claims the painted surfaces in its revised bakkie's interior have been given greater shine and depth…

The Wildtrak cabin loses some of the pre-facelift version's orange accents and gains a darker finish for a classierlook.

Powertrain

These new 2.0-litre turbodiesel engines are assembled at Ford's engine plant in Struandale, Port Elizabeth. The 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine can be found on the new-spec Ford Ranger Wildtrak and it willalso power the eagerly anticipated Ranger Raptor version, which is due to be launched in May 2019. The motor's peak outputs are 157 kW and 500 Nm, with maximum torque available around the 1 750-rpm mark.The new 2.0-litre (single) turbodiesel engine hasoutputs of 132 kW and 420 Nm, again with maximum torque coming in at 1 750 rpm.

The benefits of the new engines are numerous. Not only are they quieter and more refined than the current offerings–they offer lower levels of vibration (which reducesNVH). Speaking of existing engines, the 5-cylinder 147 kW Wildtrak is still available, as is the trusty 2.2-litre TDCi

Then there's the new 10-speed automatic transmission. It's not a new gearbox per se, because it does duty in the F150 and Mustang models. Ford claims its transmission is smart (it can adapt to changing conditions, to ensurethere's no hunting for gears and the correct ratio is always selected).

According to Ford, the benefits of the 10-speed automatic are:a fuel economy improvement of up to 9% comparedwith the current 3.2-litre Wildtrak engine, plus the 'box is said to be capable of locking out selected gears, which should be advantageouswhen towing or climbing a steep gradient.

The new 2.0-litre bi-turbo engine produces no less than 157 kW and 500 Nm.

Reworked Suspension

The current bakkie's traditional ladder-on-frame setup is not the most conducive to ride comfort, but Ford has reworked the Ranger's suspension to improve on-road pliancy. The anti-roll bar has been repositioned to behind the axle, which improves roll control, which, in turn,facilitates lower front spring rates. There are now 4 damper rates based on individual derivatives and the standard tyre pressure has been reduced from 2.4to 2.1 bar.

Specification and Features

The challenging and tough 4×4 course which we completed with ease in the new Ford Ranger

We had the opportunity to drive the Ford Ranger Wildtrak and Ford Ranger XLT derivatives, which are both comprehensively specced given their respective price points.Wildtrak boasts an impressive level of safety tech, such as adaptive cruise control with forward-collision alert, lane-keeping alert and lane-keeping aid, plusautomatic high-beam control. The new Ford Ranger also boasts keyless start as well as a new engine-start button.

As is the case with virtually all modern Fords, the Ranger benefits from the latest SYNC3 infotainment system. Not only does it offer an intuitive and easy-to-use 8-inch touchscreen interface–navigation and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibilityareincluded.An interesting addition to the range is the Category 1 Thatcham alarm, whichis now standard across all Ranger XL, XLS, XLT and Wildtrak derivatives.

On road, the Ford's cabin is markedly quieter thanks to the addition of noise-cancelling technology, which has been carried across from the Ranger'sAdventure SUV sibling, the Everest. Special lamination has been fitted around the B-pillar to further keep the noise intrusion to a minimum.

Our XLT Ranger in low range, ready to tackle the summit

What's it like to drive?

We had the opportunity to drive updated Wildtrak and XLT derivativeson a variety of surfaces, plusthe route includeda sojourn through the immense Outeniqua mountain range.The Ford's 4×4 capability remains impressive and, for the record, the Ranger offers up to 800 mm of water wading depth and 230 mm of ground clearance. The 10-speed transmission works in conjunction with a low-range transfer case, hill descent controland difflock. You can switch from 2Hto 4Hon the go, which is handy, and we used all of those functions to traverse the majestic mountains.

To call the route we drove a"road" would be remarkably kind. The route was recently impacted byfire damage, rock falls and water erosion;it was barely passable. Yet somehow, the Rangers took it all in their stride.The 10-speed auto 'box does a fine job of keeping the engine in the sweet spot of its torque delivery (its electronic mapping is excellent). When youtraverseextreme terrain, responsiveness is key… and the Ranger delivers.

Open-road cruising allowed us a chance to evaluate improvements to the Ranger'srefinement levels. The suspension update, in particular, has improved ride comfort substantially;there's less of that wallowing sensation when road quality deteriorates. It's still a bakkie though and a leaf spring setup will never provide a perfect ride quality. We anticipate that if you put some weight over the rear axle, bump absorption would be even better!

And boy, the new engines are refined. The single-and bi-turbo 2.0 motors are punchy, with responsiveness galore thanks to that adaptive 10-speed transmission. It never "hunts for gears", becausethe clever software doesa sterling job of selecting the right gear at the most appropriate moment.

With 500 Nm on tap, the bi-turbo motor bodes well for the forthcoming Ranger Raptor. It delivers considerable shove with little effortand in-gear acceleration, inparticular, is potent. While some commentators have been unconvinced about this engine's suitability forthe Raptor, we think it has sufficientgrunt for what the vehicle is designed to do. It's going to take something special for another bakkie to match the Raptor's off-road prowess.

The new suspension setup has resulted in improved on-road manners

Summary

If you are in the market for a new bakkie, particularly a double cab, should the updated Ranger be nearthe top of your list? Most definitely. If you're looking to replace your current Ranger, the newcomer's well worth a look. Don't be put off by 1 fewercylinder and a smaller displacement in the Wildtrak, it offers commendable performance, plusit's quieter and more rounded than the outgoing model. We think the pick of the bunch is the XLT, which offers a fair balance of spec, performance and value for money.Given the array of improvements in this new Ranger, we expect that Ford South Africa will continue selling these bakkiesin vast numbers.The improvements make the 2019 Ford Ranger one of the most complete bakkies on sale in South Africa. Not only have some of the previous issues been addressed, but the overall package is comprehensive, safe and capable.

Be it XLT or Wildtrak, the Ford Ranger is going to prove popular amongst existing customers and newcomers alike

Ford Ranger Price in South Africa (April 2019)

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