New Ford Ranger Platinum raises the stakes in bakkie luxury

Ford is once again setting new benchmarks in the highly competitive bakkie segment with the launch of the Ranger Platinum – the most luxurious and sophisticated Ranger ever.

The Platinum joins the recently announced Tremor as the latest addition to the Ranger line-up.

The new bakkie takes prime position at the pinnacle of the standard Ranger line-up, alongside the mighty Ranger Raptor; the master of high-performance and off-roading.

Class and style

The Ranger Platinum distinguishes itself from the rest of the Ranger line-up with a unique grille incorporating accented mesh and a silk chrome finish for the horizontal bars and grille surround.

This is complemented by three-dimensional ‘PLATINUM’ badging on the bonnet and lower sections of the front doors for a further exclusive touch.

READ | Platinum, Tremor Ford Ranger’s new soldiers in bakkie war

The loadbox incorporates the fixed sports hoop and side rails as standard, while the tailgate features additional damping for enhanced ease of use.

On a practical level, the Cargo Management System is fitted as standard, making it easy to safely secure all types of loads, while the useful roof rails are carried over from the Wildtrak models. Buyers can have the nifty powered roller shutter fitted as an added-cost option.

The Platinum joins the Raptor as the only Ranger models currently available with Ford’s innovative Matrix LED lights which are built into the signature C-clamp headlamp design.

Customers can select from five colour options for the Ranger Platinum: Iconic Silver, Frozen White, Carbonized Grey, Lucid Red and Agate Black.

Luxury interior

While the exterior enhancements make it abundantly clear that the Ranger Platinum has an upmarket pedigree, the cabin truly embodies the no-comprise approach to comfort, convenience, and supreme luxury.

The seats are unique to Platinum and feature premium quilted and perforated high-grade leather, along with accent stitching and “PLATINUM” badges on the front seatbacks and floor mats.

Furthermore, the front seats offer heating and ventilated cooling functions, along with 10-way power adjustment with memory function. The driver also benefits from a heating steering wheel to take the edge off icy winter mornings.

The instrument panel, similarly, gains an exclusive edge thanks to soft-touch trim with accent stitching, attractive Black Maple decorative finishes for the dashboard and door appliques, satin aluminium trim strips, and the addition of the upper glovebox for enhanced practicality.

With ambient lighting as standard, owners can change the interior ambience to suit their preferences or mood.

High-end technology

In keeping with its range-topping status, the Platinum is equipped with the 12.4-inch full-width LCD instrument cluster, which is shared exclusively with the Ranger Raptor.

As with the recently announced Ranger Tremor, the Platinum receives Pro Trailer Back-up Assist with Trailer Reverse Guidance, which has also been added to the Raptor and Wildtrak X as standard features, and is available as an option on the Wildtrak derivatives.

Numerous other trend-setting features found in the Wildtrak and Ranger Raptor are standard fare on the Platinum. This includes the 12-inch centre touchscreen display which incorporates the latest-generation SYNC 4A infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless charging, SYNC Off-road screen, 360-degree camera system, and the premium B&O sound system with 10 speakers.

For charging modern devices and powering accessories on the move, a 400W inverter is built into the vehicle, with 240-volt and 12-volt power outlets positioned on the rear of the centre console and in the load bay. This is complemented by dual USB points for both front and rear seat occupants.

The Ranger Platinum also features the full range of advanced driver aids such as Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Lane Centering, Active Park Assist with autonomous parallel and perpendicular parking, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, and seven Selectable Drive Modes (Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, Sand and Rock Crawl) to name but a few of the stand-out features.

The Platinum is the first Ranger model to be equipped with side airbags positioned between the front seats. This prevents the occupants colliding with each other in an impact, thereby reducing the risk and severity of resulting injuries. Dual front, side- and curtain airbags, along with the driver’s knee airbag, provide further collision protection.

Refined performance

The premium look and feel of a high-end luxury vehicle is one thing, but it must be matched with effortless performance – and in this regard the Ranger Platinum doesn’t disappoint.

It features the same silky smooth 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine as found on the top-spec Wildtrak model, delivering a seamless 184kW of power at 3 250r/min and a massive 600Nm of torque from 1 750 to 2 250r/min.

This highly praised V6 engine provides seamless performance in the city, on the open road, when towing (up to 3.5 tons) or venturing off-road. It is mated to Ford’s sophisticated 10-speed automatic transmission that is electronically controlled using the compact e-Shifter, and is packaged with the switch-operated electronic parking brake.

As with all V6 models in the range, a full-time four-wheel drive system is standard, providing sure-footed traction and control, regardless of the driving conditions. It operates in 4 Auto (4A) by default for both on and off-road driving, while 4×4 high-range (4H) and low-range (4L) can be selected for gravel and more challenging terrain, respectively. Rear-wheel drive only is available by switching to 2H.

Pricing

Ranger Platinum Double Cab 3.0L V6 4WD 10AT – R1 119 000

Included as standard is Ford Protect comprising a four-year/120 000km warranty, four-year/unlimited distance Roadside Assistance and five-year/unlimited distance corrosion warranty.

Customers have the option of purchasing a service or maintenance plans up to eight years or 135 000km. The warranty can be extended up to seven years or 200 000km, while the Roadside Assistance can be extended for an additional one or two years.