Everyone loves a good bakkie. Its versatility is unmatched — whether tackling the wilds of the Kruger or navigating the concrete jungle of Johannesburg, a bakkie does it all. I found that in the Ford Ranger Tremor. It towers above sedans, hatches, and SUVs; potholes barely register, and curbs are no obstacle.
My week with the Ranger Tremor was a treat. Comfortable, modern, and silky smooth in operation, it’s powered by the 3.0‑litre V6 turbodiesel producing 184kW and 600Nm of torque mated to a 10-speed gearbox. The refinement and sheer muscle set it apart from every other bakkies I’ve driven. And it does shine on and off-road. It’s comfortable and compliant, and handling tough terrain is a breeze, although expect fuel consumption of 12l/100km. It’s a thirsty beast.
To note, Ford South Africa has phased out the 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel, which originally powered the Tremor. This streamlines the line-up to focus on the 3-litre V6 powerplant and the updated 2.0-litre single-turbo diesel. The bi-turbo’s departure stems from durability concerns tied to the Panther engine family’s “wet timing belt” design, which has now been replaced with a timing chain in the single-turbo for improved reliability.
But now that the Tremor has been given the big-boy V6 powerplant compared to rivals like the Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara, GWM P300, Isuzu D-Max, and, well, the Volkswagen Amarok (the same car with different badging), I’d say the Ranger holds its own. It’s not as rough and tumble as you’d expect. Its comfort is where it shines against the competitors, surpassing them.
Moving on to the looks and cabin. I couldn’t help but admire every angle of this bakkie: our test unit looked clean and mature in grey with black off-road General Grabber tyres; the squared-off proportions are a chef’s kiss, accompanied by the C-shaped LEDs in front. There’s ‘Tremor’ badging all -round, followed by black exterior bits on the door handles and mirrors, and the Tremor gets its own unique honeycomb grille.
Stepping inside, the Tremor offers a neat, well-appointed cabin that leans into its rugged character. It’s not as plush as the high-spec Platinum, but it feels purposeful, with modern, hard-wearing plastics and a design that matches its rugged aesthetics. Highlights include all-weather rubber mats, the responsive Ford Sync 4 infotainment system with a 12-inch touchscreen, an 8-inch configurable digital instrument cluster, wireless phone charging, and a six-speaker audio setup that, while not audiophile-grade, is more than adequate. The Tremor-branded vinyl seats reinforce the hard-wearing, purpose-driven theme Ford is aiming for.
Despite its utilitarian touches, the Ranger remains one of the plushest bakkies you can buy. My lingering concern is long-term durability once service and warranty plans expire — maintenance will be key to seeing how well it holds up over time. And then there’s the sting: at R1,045,600, the Tremor is expensive. But in today’s market, affordability is relative — nearly all modern bakkies carry premium price tags. For those who can afford it, the Tremor delivers capability and comfort in equal measure. For the rest of us, owning one feels as distant as a Sandton penthouse.