Completely new in every way, except in name.’ Those were the words from Ford that rang in my head as I settled in behind the wheel to tow test the new Ranger double-cab.
Let’s step back for a second. The previous-generation Ford Ranger was a fantastic towcar, with a brilliant engine. But that was a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel, an option now discontinued in the new line-up of Rangers. I had my doubts whether anything could be as good as that predecessor’s performance.
Back to the present: the cream of the crop in the new lineup is the 3.2-litre turbo-diesel, which develops a colossal 470 Nm of torque at 1500-2750 rpm. But alas, the first Ford Ranger test vehicle we received was the 2.2-litre turbodiesel double-cab 4x2 Hi-Rider with 1000 cm3 less capacity; the Hi-Riders in the fleet have the same frame as the 4x4 models. Hmmm, I thought, upon signing for the car, perhaps this was somewhat fortuitous for the 2.2, because if we’d received the 3.2 first, my performance yardstick might’ve been somewhat influenced by the more powerful performer. Was I to be disappointed?
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Let’s begin with what we all notice when we see a new vehicle driving down the road: the exterior. Ford has done, in my opinion, an outstanding job with the overall styling and finer aesthetic details. Great-looking bakkies like the VW Amarok and the Nissan Navara will no longer be, I reckon, the best turned-out on the block...
To read the full article, order a copy of the February 2011 issue of Caravan & Outdoor Life.
