Stormtrak(king) Ford Ranger let loose

Ford recently unveiled their limited edition Ranger Stormtrak. Before you or I could even begin to dismiss this model as just another “sticker” update from the Blue Oval, they let us loose on miles and miles of dirt roads through some of the prettiest parts of our country to prove that this Ranger is “Ford Tough” too.

The Storms River itself travels through the Tsitsikamma National Park, which is one of the oldest marine reserves in the country, as well as one of the biggest. And our trip started with sundowners at the Storms River mouth to set the scene for the rest of Stormtrak adventure.

Our overnight stop was at the Tsitsikamma Village Inn, which is nestled in the little village of Storms River. Built back in 1946, offering simple log cabins to ornate cottages, and a 1960 inspired diner, café, and a pub that served cold local craft beer. Perfect for our needs.

The next day we were up bright and early and ready to spend the day comfortably being held captive inside the Ranger Stormtrak while we made our way to the Karoo Theatrical Hotel situated on the outskirts of the quaint little dorpie of Steytlerville in the heart of the Karoo.

Being inside the Ranger Stormtrak is a pleasure thanks to premium leather seats with red stitching, as well as the Stormtrak logo reminding you that you are driving a limited-edition model.

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This same red stitching is used throughout the leather-trimmed cabin, including on the soft-touch dashboard upper, steering wheel and gear lever. You also get the likes of the SYNC3 infotainment system with embedded navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto thanks to the Ranger Stormtrak being based off the top-of-the-range Wildtrak.

And since we were taking the path less travelled via the stunning Baviaanskloof road that stretches from Patensie in the east to Willowmore in the west. Which is a stunning stretch of road, all 197 km of it, that offers mostly gentle gravel along with sections that are pretty rough. Having the 4×4 version of the Ranger Stormtrak under us made for an easy-going trip.

You don’t have to be an off-road fundi to make the most of the Ranger Stormtrak’s 4×4 system. A simple rotary dial allows you to switch from 2H to 4H on the fly, with 4L also being available should you really need it. We didn’t.

Stopping over for a quick bite to eat at the Smitskraal picnic area on the way gave us an opportunity to appreciate probably the most useful upgrade on the Ranger Stormtrak, the Power Roller Shutter for the rear loadbox. You can electronically open or close this protective shutter over the loadbox, and it can be securely locked in any position.

Adding further versatility is the adjustable bed divider kit that makes it easy for you to compartmentalise the loadbox area to your heart’s content and according to the size of the items you want to cart around. And the drop-in bedliner provides a useful 12-volt socket for powering accessories such as a camping fridge, which you could use to cool your beers if you were into testing some of the government’s ridiculous Covid-19 rules.

The third and final day involved some more fast dirt road driving, which was a pleasure thanks to the Ranger Stormtrak’s 157kW/500Nm, 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine that is paired to their 10-speed automatic transmission.

Not to be outdone by the beauty of the second day’s travels, we stopped for lunch at the Witmos Oxwagon Camp where guests are accommodated in professionally restored 200-year-old oxwagons, on our way to and through the Addo Elephant National Park on our way back to the airport and our trip back to suburban reality.

Just in case you haven’t noticed all the exterior additions that make the Stormtrak unique, you get a black mesh grille with red inserts, a black insert in the lower section of the front bumper, black decals for the bonnet and doors, black roof rails, 18-inch alloy wheels finished in gloss black, and three-dimensional Stormtrak logos on the lower sections of the front doors, as well as on the rear tailgate.

Pricing

All new Ford Rangers, including the Stormtrak, come standard with Ford Protect, comprising a four year/120 000 km comprehensive warranty, three year/unlimited distance roadside assistance and a five year/unlimited km corrosion warranty.

A six year/90 000 km service plan is included which covers six services. The recommended service interval is 15 000 km or annually, whichever occurs first.

Ranger Stormtrak 2.0 BiT 4×2 AT – R790 300

Ranger Stormtrak 2.0 BiT 4×4 AT – R846 500