The New 2019 Ford Ranger Arrives In 5 Variants With Cutting Edge Features

The first time I test drove a Ford Ranger, it proved to be very impressive. It performed exceptionally well on-road and off-road. The ride was a true experience with good comfort, zero squeaks and zero rattles. The Ranger was surely ready to overcome every obstacle.

Despite it’s impressive ride and handling characteristics on our Nigerian roads, the ultra-competitive light commercial vehicle (LCV) has continued to evolve as Ford has gone even further with the new Ranger. The new 2019 Ford Ranger was recently launched in Pretoria with upgrades to its comfort, mechanical, technological and safety features. It now comes in Base, XL, new XLS series, Limited XLT specification for Sub-Saharan Africa as well as the exclusive and luxurious top of the range Wildtrak model.

“The current Ranger has been a fantastic success story for Ford in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is the leading LCV export to markets in Europe, the Middle East and the rest of Africa,” says Doreen Mashinini, General Manager Marketing at Ford Motor Company Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Region.

“The New Ranger introduces fresh exterior and interior design cues that build on its ‘tough truck’ image, complemented by the adoption of new technologies that further bolster the Ranger’s established reputation for supreme safety, convenience and comfort,” she adds.

Commenting on the New Ranger, Abiona Babarinde, the General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications at Coscharis Motors, the exclusive distributors of Ford in Nigeria says “We are excited about this new addition to our Ford collections that will certainly deliver the expected value in the auto market as this is expected to delight our numerous existing customers and convert new prospects in the truck segment. Surprisingly, some of our loyal customers have already started to make enquiries on this New Ranger which is a good signal that this vehicle will be well accepted and will do well in our market”.

The assertive styling of the 2019 model delivers an even more powerful presence on the road. The latest model offers the opportunity to provide greater differentiation in the series. Therefore, the front-end design of the popular XLT series has been updated to have a more horizontal feel, with the centre grille bar now divided into two, giving it a more precise and well-crafted look. The lower bumper also presents a sense of solidity and strength through the centre beam that runs into the outer fog lamp areas. With a wider lower grille the new bumper complements and harmonises well with new front end. The same design execution has been applied to XL and XLS variants.

Engine options of the 2019 Ford Ranger

1. Five-cylinder 3.2-litre Duratorq TDCi engine producing 147kW of power and 470Nm of torque.
2. 2.2-litre TDCi engine that continues in the two existing levels: 88kW/285Nm with a five-speed manual gearbox for the base-spec models, and 118kW/385Nm for the more upmarket versions, available with a choice of six-speed manual and automatic transmissions on selected derivatives
3. 2.5-litre four-cylinder Duratec petrol engine is also available in selected models, providing 122kW of power and 225Nm of torque, combined with a five-speed manual gearbox. This engine is more preferred in Nigeria.

Some notable features of the new Ford Range are:

1. New Passive Entry and Passive Start (PEPS), fitted as standard on the XLT. It allows the driver to unlock the vehicle and start the engine without removing the key fob from his/her pocket or bag.
2. Ford’s award-winning SYNC technology and in-car entertainment system on the high-end models.
3. High-end SYNC 3 linked to the integrated eight-inch touch-screen colour display in XLT models.
4. Navigation comes as standard on selected XLT derivatives.
5. Category 1 Thatcham-specification alarm is now standard on all Ranger XL, XLS, XLT and Wildtrak models, complemented by a spare wheel lock across the range.

In terms of safety features, you’ll get Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system with Traction Control (TC), Trailer Sway Control (TSC), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Hill Descent Control (HDC), Adaptive Load Control (ALC) and Roll Over Mitigation (ROM) depending on the specification you opt for.

The Ranger’s exceptional towing capacity of up to 3,500kg remains unchanged, as do the impressive load capacity of up to 1,199kg (on selected SuperCab models). The water wading depth is 800mm and ground clearance is 230mm.

Ford has continued the Ranger’s proven ‘Built Ford Tough’ heritage by making the Ranger an even more compelling choice amongst workhorse and leisure-oriented pick-up customers.