SA Roadtests
South Africa
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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Many of the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.
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Posted: August 26, 2019
The numbers
Price: R582 700
Engine: 1996 cc, CRDI, DOHC, 16-valve, four-cylinder with single turbocharger
Power: 132 kW at 3500 rpm
Torque: 420 Nm between 1750 and 2500 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 10.8 seconds
Maximum speed: 180 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 9.8 l/100 km
Turning circle: 12.7 metres
Tank: 80 litres
Payload: 1011 kg
Tare: 2044 kg
GVM: 3200 kg
GCM: 6000 kg
Maximum towing mass within GCM: 3500 kg
Ground clearance: 237 mm
Standard tyre size: 245/65R17
Spare: Full size steel
Maximum wading depth: 800 mm
Approach/departure rampover angles: 28/27/24 degrees
Warranty: 4 years/ 120 000 km, with 3 years’ roadside assistance
Service plan: 6 years/90 000 km at 15 000 km intervals
Rangers; there are 34 if you include the muscular Raptor. We won’t try to describe them all so here’s a summary: Three diesel engines, two of which come in plain or potent; three cab styles; four gearboxes; six trim levels; 4x2 and 4x4.
Apart from new grilles for XLT and Wildtrak, the main changes are, first, Ford’s new 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine that comes in single-turbo developing 132 kW/420 Nm or twin-turbo producing 157 kW and 500 Nm. Second is a new 10-speed automatic transmission that’s available only with this motor. The old 2.2 and 3.2 engines with attendant gearboxes; five- and six-speed manual and six-slot automatic, remain.
Here’s the lowdown on the new stuff: The engine is a 1996 cc, inline four with iron block under aluminium head, dual overhead camshafts, 16 valves and some engineering tweaks. The camshafts are mounted in a sealed, one-piece module that bolts to the top of the head; they are driven by a belt-in-oil system that produces less friction than traditional setups; the intake balances air equally between cylinders; mirror-image porting creates balanced airflow into combustion chambers while bi-directional swirl - clockwise in cylinders 1 and 2, counter-clockwise in cylinders 3 and 4 - optimises fuel burn, improves consumption and increases torque while reducing emissions.
To meet Euro6 standards, the EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) system routes gasses through a channel in the cylinder head, saving space and weight. The urea-, or Ad-blue- injected SCR (selective catalytic reduction) catalyst and particulate filter are mounted close to the engine for quicker warm-up.
The gearbox stems from a co-operation with GM. Ford developed this ten-speed, 10R80, longitudinal transmission while GM penned a nine-speed transverse unit. Each can use the other ‘box but will write its own programming for individual models.
Abstract from Wikipedia: “A triple-clutch assembly on a dedicated intermediate shaft, placed in the middle of the architecture, replaces two ordinary clutches and is key to packaging the 10-speed transmission into the same space as previous (6- or 8-speed) units. It provides small steps between gear ratios, improving performance and maximising engine power during acceleration. A wide ratio spread and lower numerical top gear ratio reduce engine revolutions at highway speeds, resulting in improved efficiency.”
The combination appears in five double-cab Rangers. The 132-kW motor is fitted to XLT 4x2 and 4x4, while the more powerful version goes into Wildtraks and Raptor. Our test unit was a 132-kW 4x4 XLT.
XLT trim provides seven airbags; easy-lift tailgate that locks remotely; tow hitch; spare wheel lock; dual-zone air conditioning; leather upholstery with manual adjusters; electronically locking rear differential; hill descent; hill launch; roll-over mitigation; active load control; trailer sway control; side steps; auto-on headlamps and wipers; front and rear foglamps; DRLs; ABS with EBA, EBD, traction control and ESP; Sync3® connectivity with satnav; cruise control with limiter; keyless entry and starting; parking sensors front and rear, 17” alloy wheels and reversing camera.
The experience: The new gearbox is very smooth with barely-perceptible shifts, even under hard acceleration. There is no discernible kick-down, which was slightly disconcerting but one could learn to accept it. It’s billed as being “better than dual clutch” but we’re not yet convinced.
A few local trails, ridden purely for enjoyment, posed no real challenges. The specs are all there and we’ve driven a variety of Rangers before.
New suspension with relocated front stabiliser bar, softer front springs, lower tyre pressures and revised, model-specific dampers felt much as we remembered the previous model. It rode like a magic carpet over embedded stones and washboard along our favourite gravel roads at speeds of 60 km/h and higher, but the plot failed at 40. That was when, being kind, we slowed to avoid covering pedestrians in a dust cloud. Things changed to tooth-rattlingly uncomfortable until we could accelerate once more. But perhaps all cars are like that.
Finally, passenger accommodations are comfortable, there is plenty of in-cabin storage and all the most wanted electronic gadgets are provided. XLT level is definitely not utilitarian and possibly accounts for its popularity among business and leisure vehicle buyers.
Test unit from FMCSA press fleet
We drove a 2.2 XLT 4x2 in 2017.
We also drove a 2019 2.0 Raptor
And an FX4 in 2021
This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.
I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.
If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.
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SA Roadtests
South Africa
ctjag8