Mazda SA boss sounds warning to imported bakkies

With the BT-50 gone, Mazda SA’s boss has warned that other imported bakkies trying to compete with locally built stalwarts will continue to face “immense” challenges…

Back in March 2024, Cars.co.za broke the news that the Mazda BT-50 nameplate had been discontinued in South Africa after an 18-year run, with the Japanese firm’s local division citing “an extremely challenging landscape for imported vehicles competing directly with locally manufactured products”.

And now the head of the Mazda brand in Mzansi has hinted that other imported double-cab bakkies could follow suit. Craig Roberts, Managing Director at Mazda Southern Africa, was speaking to Cars.co.za during a podcast interview at Naamsa’s South African Auto Week 2024 in Cape Town.

*A facelifted BT-50 has been revealed overseas but won’t come to SA.*

“I’m sitting in the [Cars.co.za podcast] booth here and I’m looking across at a Mitsubishi Triton – just using that as an example. So, in that [light-commercial vehicle] space, we have a number of importers that are bringing in a competing vehicle in, let’s say, that double-cab space,” said Roberts, gesturing towards the new Triton exhibited just outside the booth.

“I’m looking at Mitsubishi Triton and Stellantis has got a Peugeot Landtrek on display here this week. The challenges in that segment – which is 30% of our total market – are immense, in terms of local versus imported product,” he said.

South Africa’s double-cab market is dominated by bakkies built right here in Mzansi, with the Prospecton-made Toyota Hilux, Silverton-manufactured Ford Ranger and Struandale-produced Isuzu D-Max ruling the roost in this segment.

“That was the reason, one of the tough decisions that we made, was to discontinue BT-50. We were no longer manufacturing that [model] locally – it was a fully imported vehicle,” explained Roberts.

*The pre-facelift 2nd-gen BT-50 was built in SA by Ford.*

As a reminder, the 2nd-generation BT-50 debuted in South Africa in 2012, initially produced locally by Ford, alongside the Ranger on which it was based. However, Mazda Southern Africa switched to a Thai-manufactured version at the facelift in 2017, before the Isuzu-built 3rd-generation BT-50 (likewise brought over from Thailand but now based on the D-Max) touched down in Mzansi in July 2021.

“From a price-positioning perspective – once duties, etc. had been calculated into the business case – it just did not prove a competitive business case for us to continue importing that vehicle. I think my colleagues in the other brands that are still importing [in] that particular segment, or that particular type of vehicle, are experiencing exactly that,” Roberts suggested.

*The Landtrek was also on display at SA Auto Week 2024.*

For the record, the Nissan Navara is also produced in South Africa (in Rosslyn), as is the 2nd-gen Volkswagen Amarok (which is built by Ford in Silverton). The Mahindra Pik Up, meanwhile, is assembled at a facility in the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in KwaZulu-Natal.

Imported bakkies still playing in Mzansi’s double-cab segment include the aforementioned Triton and Landtrek. Stellantis, however, plans to start local assembly of the latter at a facility in the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape towards the end of 2025.

*The P-Series is perhaps the most well known of the current Chinese contenders.*

Other fully imported contenders here include the Chinese-made GWM P-Series, the Japanese-built Toyota Land Cruiser 79, the US-manufactured Jeep Gladiator and the French-produced Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster, along with several other Chinese products (the Foton Tunland G7, LDV T60 and JAC T-Series bakkies, for instance). The new Kia Tasman (to be imported from South Korea) is slated to join the fray in the 2nd half of 2025.

Buy a used Mazda BT-50 on Cars.co.za!

Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet (2024) Price & Specs

We have pricing for the new Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet, which is set to be offered in 2 forms at launch. Here’s what this open-top model will cost you in South Africa…

Wondering how much the new Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet will cost you when it launches in South Africa in the near future? Well, wonder no more because we have official local pricing for this new 4-seater open-top model.

Yes, we can confirm the local CLE Cabriolet line-up will mirror the coupé range in Mzansi. That means SA buyers will at launch have the choice between the rear-wheel-drive CLE200 Cabriolet and the all-paw CLE300 4Matic Cabriolet (perhaps the 6-cylinder CLE450 and Mercedes-AMG CLE53 will follow at a later stage).

As a reminder, the CLE family effectively replaces the 2-door (coupé and cabriolet) versions of both the C-Class and the E-Class as part of the Stuttgart-based firm’s efforts to streamline parts of its portfolio.

So, what sort of sticker prices are we looking at here? Well, thanks to our hawk-eyed friends over at duoporta.com, we know the CLE200 Cabriolet will start at R1 515 350. For the record, that figure includes a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan but excludes CO2 emissions tax (with the latter depending on tyre size and maxing out at R11 921 for this derivative).

The CLE200 Cabriolet’s turbocharged 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine delivers 150 kW and 320 Nm to the rear axle via a 9-speed automatic transmission. However, the powertrain also includes a 48-volt system with an integrated starter generator, capable of adding 17 kW and 205 Nm. Expect this derivative to complete the obligatory 0-100 kph sprint in 7.9 seconds (half a second tardier than the coupé), before running out of puff at 236 kph.

Meanwhile, the CLE300 4Matic Cabriolet will kick off at R1 573 651, with CO2 emissions tax for this derivative topping out at an additional R13 432 (again, dependent on the selected tyre size). While this powertrain likewise features a 17 kW/205 Nm mild-hybrid set-up, the forced-induction 2.0-litre petrol engine has been tuned to deliver a heftier 190 kW and 400 Nm.

Thanks to this extra oomph plus the off-the-line traction benefits of all-wheel drive, the CLE300 4Matic Cabriolet should see off the 0-100 kph dash in approximately 6.6 seconds (making it 4-tenths slower than the coupé version) and top out at 250 kph.

The CLE Cabriolet comes with a multi-layer fabric soft top, which is available in black, red or grey. According to Mercedes-Benz, the roof opens and closes in 20 seconds up to a road speed of 60 kph. The German brand’s so-called “Aircap” electric wind-deflector system and “Airscarf” heating system ship standard.

Inside, you’ll find a free-standing 12.3-inch digital instrument display as well as an 11.9-inch central display. Interestingly, the latter display can be electrically tilted to prevent distracting glare when the soft top is down.

How much does the Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet cost in SA?

Mercedes-Benz CLE200 Cabriolet – R1 515 350

Mercedes-Benz CLE300 4Matic Cabriolet – R1 573 651

The prices above include Mercedes-Benz’s 2-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and its 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan, though exclude CO2 emissions tax.

Jetour X70 Plus Review: Should you buy it?

The Jetour X70 Plus is a new 7-seater SUV from the recently launched Jetour brand. In this video, Jacob Moshokoa takes a closer look at the X70 Plus including features, performance, practicality and pricing. Should you consider the new Jetour X70 Plus? Watch the video!

The X70 Plus is priced at under R500 000 it’s a rather enticing proposition for cash-strapped South African consumers. At this price point, there are very few 7-seater SUV options, but you can look at the Suzuki Ertiga/Toyota Rumion as well as the Mitsubishi Xpander for people-carrying capability, but none of them are as luxuriously appointed as the X70 Plus.

The X70 Plus is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine with 115 kW and 230 Nm and mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Watch the video!

Buy a new Jetour X70 Plus on Cars.co.za

Buy a used Jetour X70 Plus on Cars.co.za

Toyota files to trademark ‘Tacoma’, ‘Tundra’ and more in SA

Toyota has applied to trademark a raft of badges – including Tacoma and Tundra – in South Africa, despite the fact several of these models aren’t factory-built in RHD…

Well, this is interesting: Toyota has applied to trademark several badges in South Africa, including “Tacoma”, “Tundra” and “Highlander”. These models are, of course, not currently factory-built in right-hand-drive form.

Having spotted a report from carsales.com.au on Toyota’s recent trademark activity in fellow right-hand-drive market Australia, we decided to find out if similar applications had been made in South Africa. And we found plenty (13 in total, though we suspect our list is not at all exhaustive)…

*The Toyota Tundra, seen here fitted with a TRD Rally Package.*

Before we go on, we should point out – as we always do in such instances – that an application to protect a badge in a given market is by no means a guarantee that the automaker will use the nameplate in question. Sometimes, the company is simply safeguarding its intellectual property.

So, what did we discover? Well, over a couple of weeks from the end of October 2024 into the first half of November 2024, Toyota’s head office in Aichi, Japan filed to trademark the “Tacoma”, “Tundra”, “Sequoia” and “Sienna” badges in South Africa. These models are all sold in left-hand drive in North America.

*The Sequoia is based on the Tundra platform.*

As a reminder, the Tacoma and Tundra are Toyota’s Texas-built pick-up trucks (the Tacoma is similar in size to the Hilux), while the Sequoia is a full-size SUV based on the latter and likewise produced at the firm’s San Antonio facility. The Sienna, meanwhile, is a minivan manufactured in Indiana as well as in China (where it’s known as the Granvia, a badge incidentally registered in SA back in 2020).

We then found applications to protect the “Highlander” and “Venza” names in Mzansi. The former is an SUV made in Indiana and sold as the Kluger in Australia (interestingly, we found a recent local trademark filing for “Kluger”, too), while the latter is a Japanese-built crossover that’s also known as the Harrier in some markets.

*Toyota’s latest-gen Alphard, as sold in Japan.*

Digging a little deeper, we furthermore unearthed trademark applications (all filed within the same short period) for various nameplates familiar from Toyota’s domestic market of Japan – which is, of course, a right-hand-drive country. These badges include “Alphard”, “Century”, “Noah”, “Sienta”, “Vellfire” and “Voxy”.

Of course, all of these trademark applications by Toyota are just that – applications. So, they certainly don’t indicate that the brand’s local division has any active plans to launch these products in South Africa. But it’s nevertheless fascinating that Toyota’s head office has seen fit to expand the protection of these nameplates to our market…

Ford SA won’t get into ‘price war’ with Chinese brands

The head of Ford in South Africa says the Blue Oval brand won’t get into a “price war” with the Chinese, suggesting such a scenario would result in “a race to the bottom”…

Neale Hill, President of Ford Motor Company Africa, says while it’s “important to be competitive from a price perspective”, the Blue Oval firm won’t engage in a “price war” with Chinese brands as this would quickly devolve into “a race to the bottom”.

Speaking to Cars.co.za at Naamsa’s South African Auto Week 2024 in Cape Town, Hill said the Chinese were “always going to be a threat to the global market”.

“We are seeing an influx of Chinese competitors. The reality is, they were always going to come. I was fortunate enough to have lived in China in 2009 and could see what was going on. The installed capacity that they were putting in was always going to be a threat to the global market.

“They’re innovating very quickly – they’re extremely nimble – and they are going to challenge the industry. We cannot be a dinosaur and not react and not innovate. We have to make sure that as a brand we continue to provide the real value to our customers of what a company that is 120 years old globally – and 100 years old in South Africa – means,” he told us.

Hill, who has been with Ford for nearly 34 years, suggested that the Dearborn-based brand would differentiate itself not only through its products but also thanks to its service offerings.

“We have to fight for our slice of the market. Is it going to be tough? Yes, it is. But if I look at the engineering, the services that we’re offering our customers, and the convenience? That’s where we can win.

“Your products, at the end of the day, are going to be very similar. Whether it’s built in China, designed and engineered in China, or done so in America or elsewhere in the world, you’re still selling a product. But it’s how you back it up and how you support your customers that’s going to be a key brand differentiator,” he added.

When asked if this customer experience was more important than price, Hill said: “Price determines value for money. We’re changing the conversation to value of ownership”.

“Price can be easily matched. The quality of the product that you’re providing and the ownership experience that you’re providing is a lot more long lasting that the price you pay. For example, if I can tell you that you don’t need to come to a dealership to have your car serviced; I’ll bring a technician and a mobile service unit to your house and I’ll service it in your driveway – and I’ll be done in 40 minutes. That makes a difference,” he said.

Hill went on to say that should established brands engage in a “price war” with the market’s new Chinese entrants, the customer would benefit only in the short term.

“Price is always going to be a challenge to meet. I think all of us recognise that as soon as you get into a price war, it becomes a race to the bottom. Yes, the consumer wins – in the short term. The question is, what do they get when they trade their vehicle in and when they go onto the next vehicle, have they actually got value in the vehicle that allows them to continue that ownership cycle and that ownership experience?

“So, yes, it is important to be competitive from a price perspective, but I think it’s also looking at the holistic package that you’re putting in front of the customer. How the vehicle performs, how the vehicle drives, but also the support that you get in terms of looking after a customer.

“What we are trying to do is … be competitive on price – it’s also about the features and what we put into our vehicles – but it’s also going to be about the holistic package that goes beyond just the price that you pay when you buy the car,” Hill said.

Year to date over the opening 10 months of 2024, Ford has registered 27 088 new vehicles (21 381 of which were Ranger bakkies) in South Africa, representing year-on-year growth of 7% and seeing it rank 4th – a position higher than it achieved in 2023 overall.

Nissan Magnite (2024) Price & Specs

The facelifted Nissan Magnite has arrived in South Africa a little over a month after its global reveal in India. Here’s a closer look at the updated range’s pricing…

Revealed globally as recently as October 2024, the mildly facelifted Nissan Magnite has already touched down in South Africa.

Interestingly, the local range has been pared back slightly, from 13 to 9 derivatives. The outgoing line-up’s pair of Kuro variants fall away (though perhaps they’ll make a comeback at a later stage), as do the manual-equipped versions of the 1.0 Acenta Plus and the 1.0T Acenta Plus.

*The refreshed Magnite has already arrived in Mzansi.*

In early October 2024, the pre-facelift portfolio had pricing bookends of R240 000 to R377 800, though Nissan SA quietly hiked these figures to R244 800 and R385 400 towards the end of last month. The refreshed range, however, runs from R246 200 to R410 700. Scroll to the bottom of this page to check out pricing in detail.

Some derivatives are only slightly more expensive than before, while others have attracted a more significant premium. For instance, the Magnite 1.0 Visia 5AMT is now priced at R263 200, representing a hike of either R1 300 or R6 400, depending on which of October’s price lists you use as a base.

*Note the updated model’s new 2-tone alloy wheels.*

Meanwhile, the flagship Magnite 1.0T Acenta Plus CVT now costs R410 700, which makes it R25 300 or R32 900 pricier than before (again, hinging on which of the previous pricing structures you use as a comparison).

Still, while we’ve yet to lay our hands on a detailed specification sheet, it certainly appears the Japanese firm has added some extra standard kit to its Magnite. For example, all derivatives now boast 6 airbags as opposed to the dual front items used across the outgoing line-up, while some variants gain a remote engine-start feature, a “walkaway lock and approach unlock” function, a cooled glovebox and an on-board air ioniser.

*Pre-facelift on the left and refreshed version on the right.*

The styling updates, however, are minor. The boomerang-shaped daytime running lights are untouched, for instance, while the headlight clusters appear largely unchanged, too (though perhaps benefit from an internal structure tweak).

Black trim now frames the grille (though the chrome-effect side caps remain), but the biggest change up front is the adoption of a new, more angular lower-bumper design. In addition, certain versions feature fresh dual-tone 16-inch alloy wheels.

*High-spec derivatives switch to dual-tone faux-leather upholstery.*

Inside, Nissan claims to have “refined” the Magnite’s cabin and “improved seat comfort”, with the high-spec derivatives now featuring brown-and-orange leatherette trim for the dashboard, seats, interior door panels, parking brake lever, steering wheel and front armrest.

Mechanically, the facelifted Magnite is seemingly unchanged. As such, the Japanese automaker again offers a naturally aspirated 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine – which makes 53 kW and 96 Nm – as the entry-level motor, available with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or an automated manual transmission (AMT) with the same number of cogs.

*The Magnite is again offered in naturally aspirated and forced-induction form.*

There’s also a 74 kW turbocharged version of this 3-pot mill, which we believe again generates 160 Nm in the case of the 5-speed manual gearbox and 152 Nm for the continuously variable transmission (CVT).

As a reminder, South Africa is key market for the Magnite, since this baby crossover has taken over from the since-discontinued NP200 half-tonne bakkie as Nissan SA’s best-selling product. Year to date (at the end of October 2024), as many as 8 630 units have been registered in Mzansi, taking the nameplate’s overall tally since launch to around 26 000 units.

How much does the facelifted Nissan Magnite cost in SA?

Nissan Magnite 1.0 Visia 5MT – R246 200

Nissan Magnite 1.0 Visia 5AMT – R263 200

Nissan Magnite 1.0 Acenta 5MT – R277 300

Nissan Magnite 1.0 Acenta 5AMT – R294 400

Nissan Magnite 1.0T Visia 5MT – R309 700

Nissan Magnite 1.0 Acenta Plus 5AMT – R323 900

Nissan Magnite 1.0T Acenta 5MT – R340 100

Nissan Magnite 1.0T Acenta CVT – R370 500

Nissan Magnite 1.0T Acenta Plus CVT – R410 700

The prices above include a 6-year/150 000 km warranty and a 3-year/30 000 km service plan (with intervals of 10 000 km).

Find a used Nissan Magnite on Cars.co.za!

3-row Kia Carens coming to South Africa in 2025

The Kia Carens is scheduled to launch in South Africa in 2025, with this crossover-styled 3-row MPV likely to arrive in facelifted form. Here’s what we know so far…

While Kia South Africa’s product plans for 2025 are headlined by the new Tasman bakkie, there’s another interesting model patiently waiting in the queue for a local introduction next year: the Kia Carens.

Yes, the South Korean automaker’s local division has confirmed to Cars.co.za that the Indian-built Carens is scheduled to launch in Mzansi at some point in the 2nd half of 2025. That timing lines up neatly with a recent Autocar India report that suggests production of the facelifted Carens will commence in May 2025.

Based on that, it seems highly likely our market will receive the as-yet-unrevealed refreshed version of this crossover-styled 3-row MPV rather than the pre-facelift model pictured here. So, expect updated exterior styling, tweaks to the cabin design and perhaps a few fresh features, too.

What do we know about the Anantapur-built Kia Carens? Well, back in August 2023, Kia SA quietly registered 2 units of the 4th-generation Carens, soon thereafter confirming to Cars.co.za these were brought in “for homologation, study and consideration”.

However, at the time, the company added that the Carens – a nameplate that was briefly offered in Mzansi in 2nd-generation form, before exiting the local market around 2009 – would “not be introduced” to South Africa. For whatever reason, that stance has now changed.

As a reminder, the current Carens was revealed at the end of 2021, built on a stretched version of the Seltos platform. Measuring 4 540 mm from snout to rump (so, slightly longer than the current Sportage), the 3-row family vehicle boasts a generous 2 780 mm wheelbase. Unlike its decidedly MPV-shaped predecessors, the KY-series Carens features a distinctly crossover-inspired exterior design.

In India, this model is offered in both 6- and 7-seater guise, pitched as a rival to the likes of the Suzuki Ertiga, Suzuki XL6 and Hyundai Grand Creta. It’s available with a choice of 1.5-litre engines, each driving the front axle: a naturally aspirated petrol unit (with a 6-speed manual gearbox), a turbopetrol motor (with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission) and a turbodiesel mill (using either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque-converter automatic cog-swapper).

Of course, powertrains, local specifications and indeed pricing have yet to be nailed down for South Africa, with more information likely to be released closer to this model’s anticipated arrival in the 2nd half of 2025. As an aside, before then we can also expect the facelifted Sorento and Carnival to make local landfall, likely in the opening half of next year.

December 2025 – Featured Content

Is the new Volkswagen Tiguan good enough to win back market share in the hotly contested family car/medium SUV segment? Jacob Moshokoa reviews it.

It’s fair to say that the legacy brands who have enjoyed market domination in South Africa for decades have never faced an onslaught of competition quite like the last few years, as a deluge of Chinese brands have captured significant market share in recent times.

The new Volkswagen Tiguan is here!

The Volkswagens of this world have a proper fight on their hands as brand loyalty seems to become a thing of the past as South African consumers are seemingly pursuing value over the badge on the nose.

With this new Tiguan, Volkswagen has made a refreshing change…they’ve practically kept the price the same (or less!) than the outgoing model.

This represents a significant shift in the modus operandi of the legacy brands and it’s one that we welcome and we’re sure the South African consumer will too.

VW have also not been shy with the specification, another area where the Chinese brands tend to shine.

So, will this all work? Jacob Moshokoa reviews the new Volkswagen Tiguan for us, and we’ll keep an eye on the sales figures to find out.

Buy a new Volkswagen Tiguan on Cars.co.za

Buy a used Volkswagen Tiguan on Cars.co.za

Also see: Volkswagen Tiguan Buyer’s Guide Video

November 2025 – Featured Content

Jacob Moshokoa takes the new Tank 500 and new Toyota Prado offroad for a comprehensive 4×4 test. He also takes a look at the cabins and features of these two family SUVs.

GWM has experienced remarkable success in South Africa and the Chinese giant has now made a bold move and launched its most expensive model yet, the Tank 500, a large luxurious 4×4 aimed squarely at the Toyota Land Cruiser and Ford Everest.

In this video, we consulted and drafted in a highly experienced 4×4 specialist to help us compare the cars on an offroad 4×4 course designed to thoroughly test these sorts of vehicles.

So this was our idea in a nutshell…two premium 4x4s, similarly priced, head to head, offroad! One key difference however is that while the Prado uses the tried and tested 2.8-litre diesel motor from the Hilux, the Tank features a thoroughly modern 2.0-litre turbo petrol hybrid drivetrain.

We also take a thorough look at the interiors of both vehicles and on-road comfort and fuel consumption.

How do these two cars stack up? Use our Comparison Tool

Want to purchase a new or used Toyota Prado?

October 2025 – Featured Content

David Taylor drove the top-end derivative of the Blue Oval’s popular double-cab at its local launch event in the Overberg. Here’s what he thinks of the bakkie.

The 3.0TD V6 double cab Platinum 4WD is said to be the most sophisticated and luxurious Ford Ranger ever. Could you say it’s the flagship? If you apply family-car standards to this apex leisure double cab, then yes, it’s “top of the range” because it has the longest list of standard features. Finish and klaar.

Strictly speaking, the 3.0T V6 double cab Raptor 4WD is slightly pricier than the Platinum, but bear in mind that the Raptor, which won its category in the 2023/24 #CarsAwards, has bespoke off-road racing suspension, bold looks and a howling twin-turbopetrol V6; it’s aimed at a very specific type of buyer.

What is a Ranger Platinum?

Some will argue the 3.0TD V6 double cab Wildtrak 4WD, with its iconic nameplate, muscular turbodiesel V6 and generous specification, is probably “all the double-cab bakkie you’ll ever need” – and they have a point. However, in a new-vehicle market where so many buyers forego luxury sedans, ‘wagons and even medium SUVs to embrace the double-cab life, the Platinum offers a tantalisingly high level of spec.

Visually, the Platinum is distinguished from its lesser siblings with a bold chrome-finished grille, distinct Platinum branding on the flanks and rear, as well as 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in all-season rubber. There’s colour coding on the front bumper, side mirrors and door handles for that extra premium feel.

And if the myriad comfort and convenience features don’t lure customers in completely, the Ford Ranger Platinum, with its fixed sports hoop and shiny side rails, additionally damped tailgate, cargo management system and roof rails, sure looks the part. Sadly, an electrically operated roller shutter remains optional.

As far as tech is concerned, the Platinum is 1 of only 2 Ranger derivatives (the other being the Raptor) to feature Matrix LED headlamps; they are said to offer 30% more light on high beam, can swivel at low speeds (for better cornering visibility) and automatically prevent other road users from being blinded.

Inside, the Ford Ranger Platinum features quilted leather seats with contrast stitching; the front seats have heating and ventilation functions, as well as 10-way electric adjustment for the driver. Apart from a heated steering wheel, which will be a boon in the upcoming months(!), the newcomer is trimmed with Black Maple- (on the dashboard and doors) and aluminium inserts; there’s even an additional glovebox.

Tech-wise, the Platinum gets the Raptor’s large (12.4-inch) LCD digital instrument cluster, which can display a variety of themes, as well as Pro Trailer back-up assist, a 10-speaker B&O audio system, wireless charging, wireless Android Auto/Apple Carplay, a 400W inverter and 2 USB points for each row.

Suffice it to say the full array of safety features available in the T6.2 Ranger is present and correct here. Over and above extra airbags (taking the total to 9), the Platinum comes equipped with features such as adaptive cruise control, emergency autonomous braking, lane-keeping assist and autonomous parking.

Performance and Powertrain

The Ranger Platinum is powered by a 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 engine that produces 184 kW/600 Nm and is mated with Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission. It has an electronically controlled permanent 4-wheel-drive system that allows drivers to toggle between 4A, 4High, 4Low and 2High (RWD only).

What is the Ford Ranger Platinum like to drive?

The Ranger Platinum is unashamedly a luxury double-cab; whereas the Blue Oval sought to demonstrate the breadth of its bakkie’s off-road capability (and capacity to exceed an average user’s expectations) on previous media launch events, the launch route for the Platinum consisted mostly of tarred roads.

On the well-maintained roads in and around Grabouw and Pringle Bay, the Ranger didn’t feel markedly different to drive compared with its Wildtrak sibling, but that’s not meant as a criticism, because the current-gen Ranger has set a high benchmark as the finest-riding double-cab bakkie on the market.

As it happened, our concerns about some of that stellar ride quality (by double-cab bakkie standards) being eroded due to the fitment of large (20-inch) alloys and lower-profile (255/55) tyres to the Ranger Platinum were quickly allayed. Admittedly, the bakkie’s shiny rims and “skinny” tyres are not best suited for undertaking intensive 4×4 adventures, but that’s why Ford offers the off-road-oriented Wildtrak X.

Even though the newcomer’s on-road refinement is ultimately limited by its bakkie underpinnings (a body-on-frame architecture and leaf-sprung rear suspension), the Ford exhibited a level of ride quality on the national highway that was oh-so-close to that of a monocoque SUV – impressive stuff indeed.

Another thing we noticed was the road noise, or rather, the lack thereof. Whereas chunkier off-road tyres tend to generate an unpleasant rumble on coarse tarmac, this new wheel/tyre combo is far more hushed.

Unsurprisingly, the Platinum’s steering setup is much the same as in the Wildtrak (light and reasonably sharp), but the powertrain remains the biggest highlight of this package. The (also locally produced) turbodiesel V6 isn’t particularly free-revving, but its torque delivery is prompt and generous.

With peak torque (600 Nm) available from just 1 750 rpm, in-gear acceleration is plentiful and while the 10-speed auto ‘box shifts pleasantly smoothly, it does tend to hesitate in stop-start driving conditions.

How much does the Ranger Platinum cost in South Africa?

Ford Ranger 3.0TD V6 double cab Platinum 4WD

R1 119 000

Included in this price is Ford’s 4-year/120 000 km warranty, 4-year/unlimited km roadside assistance and 5-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty. As a reminder, customers can purchase service or maintenance plans of up to 8 years or 135 000 km. For example, a 6-year/90 000 km service plan costs an additional R23 959.10 (March 2024). There are various warranty extension options too

Summary

With the introduction of the Platinum derivative, the already diverse Ford Ranger portfolio now caters for affluent urban-based buyers who want a bakkie that’s more upmarket than the Wildtrak (and may also be tempted by the bakkie’s Amarok cousin). Mid-range XLT derivatives may appeal to those who seek a moderately well-equipped double-cab, but at the summit of the Silverton-based brand’s bakkie line-up sits the Platinum: a comprehensively specced lifestyle bakkie with a highly desirable upmarket image.

Granted, the newcomer eschews a small degree of its off-road skillset (because of its handsome 20-inch wheels shod with 255/55 tyres), but we reckon its target market won’t be too concerned with that. Right now, the 3.0TD V6 double cab Platinum 4WD is South Africa’s most luxurious double-cab bakkie.

Want to purchase a new or used Ford Ranger? Browse vehicles for sale

Mazda SA boss sounds warning to imported bakkies

With the BT-50 gone, Mazda SA’s boss has warned that other imported bakkies trying to compete with locally built stalwarts will continue to face “immense” challenges…

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Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet (2024) Price & Specs

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What is a Ranger Platinum?

Performance and Powertrain

What is the Ford Ranger Platinum like to drive?

How much does the Ranger Platinum cost in South Africa?

Summary

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