Even without a fancy badge, Ford Ranger XLT is a lot of bakkie

Keeping up with Ford Ranger badges is a bit like keeping up with the Jones’.

Over the last five years or so, our long-term fleet saw the likes of the Ford Ranger Wildtrak, Thunder, Raptor, Stormtrak, Wildtrak X, Tremor, Platinum and Stormtrak.

The Silverton-assembled Wolftrak would have probably been on that list was it not only for export markets.

Ford Ranger XLT a familiar face

It was a bit like putting on an old but comfortable pair of shoes when The Citizen Motoring‘s latest long-term Ford Ranger arrived in XLT guise. Despite the impressive list of mentioned model names, the XL and XLT grading system goes back many years on Ford products. This scribe owning a Ford Bantam XL more than 20 years ago.

The XLT is one cut above the entry-level XL bakkies in the Ranger food chain. Our tester is a double cab 4×2 which is only offered in automatic transmission at R681 500.

While it is bereft of fancy factory-fitted trim like sports bar, roof rails, side steps, steel roller shutter and pretty stickers, it does at least have a towbar and aftermarket tonneau cover. The loadbox is covered with spray-in loadbin-liner.

ALSO READ: Can this Ford Ranger give the Toyota Hilux a Tremor or two?

The exterior importance of the addition of the T to the XL means that this Ford Ranger comes standard with the auto C-clamp shaped LED headlights. The headlamps on the XL consist of blocks of very yellowish halogen lights which are not a patch on the commanding look created by the C-clamp LEDs.

Chunky tyres

The standard 17 inch alloy wheels are also clad in chunky 255/70 R16 rubberware. This make the alloys virtually pothole and pavement-scratch proof, something some of the lower profile fancier tyres and rims can’t attest to.

Inside, the XLT is fairly humble compared to its shinier siblings. There is no leather apart from the gear lever and no fancy finishes. Yet it doesn’t bother us one little bit.

It comes with a 10.1 inch portrait-style infotainment system and 8 inch fully digital instrument cluster, which makes a huge difference. Not that long ago tech like this didn’t even feature in the top bakkies, nevermind in Plain Janes.

Lots of tech

The SYNC4A infotainment system features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as FordPass Connect via embedded modem.

It also features keyless entry and remote start, six-way manual driver’s seat adjustment, reach and rake steering wheel adjustment, rain-sensing wipers, wireless charger and USB Type-A and Type-C ports in the front and rear and rear seat air vents.

Safety features come in the form of seven airbags, traction control, dynamic stability control, pre-collision braking, cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage, cross traffic alert, lane-keeping assist and hill-descent control. The Ford Ranger XLT also comes with front and rear parking sensors and reverse camera.

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Superb single turbo

One of the bakkie’s best features in our opinion is its 2.0 litre single turbodiesel engine. It makes 125kW of power and 405Nm of torque which is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed auto box.

The single turbo has been very much underappreciated ever since it was introduced alongside its 2.0 litre biturbo sibling on the previous generation Ford Ranger. While it looks much less than the biturbo’s 154kW/500Nm on paper, it is anything but a slouch as our tests against the clock have proven over the years.

And yet the best of the mill is its fuel consumption. We have struggled to get the new bi-turbo under 11L/100km and the 3.0 litre V6 models under 13L/100km. Yet the single turbo mill hardly threatens double figures.

Over the first 1 600km of its stay with us, the Ford Ranger XLT achieved 8.9L/100km. And to be fair, that included a lot of stop/start city traffic. We are sure that with more open road driving, we can get close to Ford’s claim of 7.5L/100km.

Ford Ranger XLT a plush ride

We’ll even predict that it can achieve a “from Joburg to Cape Town on one tank” challenge. It does come with an 80 -litre fuel tank after all. There is the added benefit of an Eco driving mode, which is available alongside Normal, Tow and Slippery.

If we do undertake a ride like that, it is guaranteed to be a comfortable one. The Ford Ranger has raised the bar in ride quality. The XLT is no different, albeit not having any of the fancier dampers of its pricier siblings.

It is an honest bakkie which versatility allows it to be anything from a rugged worker to a city clicker. We look forward to spending some more time with it.