In 2024 we’re told not to settle. To work a bit harder and reward ourselves with the things we feel we deserve, and not simply what is easy to obtain. And often, when referring folks to car derivatives, I’ll aim in the middle of the range – maybe an automatic with basic trim or a manual with plenty of toys. It really depends on who’s asking. Not this time, and not for me. See, the Ford Ranger Platinum presented me with a dilemma. What do you do when the flagship model is the only one you want to marry? My brain just wasn’t happy to process the prospect of a million rand bakkie but more and more vehicles have made the journey north of a bar. Just recently, we drove the GWM P500 double-cab, and while that car is marginally larger and has a (again marginally) higher performance output, it is also a Chinese product. That’s not a dig, I’m usually one of the first to commend the Chinese offerings, but my point still stands – the Platinum spec Ranger at R1,19mil is in good company.
BUT WHAT OF THE RAPTOR?
I keep saying flagship, despite the fact that the Raptor costs an extra R100,000 – but I can barely consider it part of the Ranger models. The Raptor is whole different sort of beast, with a fiery V6 turbopetrol with 292kW underfoot and with it a whole different assignment. It is certainly an option, if you choose violence each morning, but if you’re in search of a bakkie that has you wanting absolutely nothing in terms of comfort, luxury, features and technology then the Platinum spec as you covered. My test model boasts Ford’s 3l V6 turbodiesel to the tune of 184kW and 600Nm, genuinely enjoys all the adornments of a premium SUV with silk chrome exterior accents contrasting against the dark carbonised grey metal. Upfront, striking Matrix LED headlamps bookend the large grille, while 20-inch alloy wheels come standard. The cabin features lush leather trim, 10-way power adjustable heat and cooled front seats. And then there’s the large 12.4-inch instrument cluster ahead of the driver, which you’ll only encounter here and in the Raptor. And since it sits above the Tremor and Wildtrak models, you’ll notice that it incorporates many of their perks as well, such as Pro Trailer Back-up Assist with Trailer Reverse Guidance, which has also been added to the Raptor and Wildtrak X as standard. Also common, the 12-inch centre touchscreen display that dominates the dashboard. It features the latest SYNC 4A infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus wireless charging, SYNC Off-road screen, 360-degree camera system, and the premium B&O sound system with 10 speakers. And if you need more charge-ability on the go, a 400W inverter is built into the Platinum, with 240-volt and 12-volt power outlets positioned on the rear of the centre console and in the load bay. There is also dual USB points for both front and rear seat passengers so, you’re verily covered.
And as mentioned earlier, the Ranger Platinum features reams of driver aids (Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Lane Centering, Active Park Assist with autonomous parallel and perpendicular parking, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System etc. Ford has endowed it with seven drive modes – Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, Sand and Rock Crawl. And then lastly, safety. The Platinum is the first Ranger model to be equipped with airbags between the front seats – to prevent the occupants colliding with each other in an impact. This is in addition to the standard dual front, side- and curtain airbags, along with the driver’s knee airbags, making for an experience that’s as safe as it is premium.
This wasn’t meant to be a review, rather just a meandering column on the merits of buying a bakkie at the (admittedly penultimate) top of the list. But it felt as though it required substantiating, explaining even – how I could possibly recommend something this rich, when it has a load bin? Well, my answer is twofold. Firstly, we live in an enlightened realm known as Mzansi, where we’ve long come to appreciate the usefulness and value of a double-cab. They’re big, have utility and complement our lifestyles like nothing else. Secondly, consider what cars actually cost at the moment (a lot!), then run all of these factors into a ‘Reality Calculator’ TM (copyright pending) and suddenly you’ll understand that the Platinum derivatives is indeed worth more than the sum of it’s parts. For that lofty sticker price you get a powerful, wieldy and useful vehicle that is comfortable, well-appointed and quite handsome too. It’s loaded to the gills with the tech of its peers, shifts all ten of its own gears and ultimately embodies that most famous of rhetorical questions. “What more could you want?”
