With the styling of many Japanese bakkies bringing to mind some thing that rolled on a Namibian dirt road, the new Ford Ranger is a breath of fresh air.

Man, just look at that square, chunky grille, and the strong, almost cubist styling.

But wait, we’re getting all sensitive and intellectual. All you have to know is that it will command respect everywhere – from the co-op and the parking lot of a plattelandse rugby club to your local shopping mall.

We like: When you put foot, it feels as if the 3.0 TDCi turbo-diesel (115 kW and 380 Nm) has enough torque to strip the earth’s axis with a 19 mm socket.

On top of that, the Super Cab models are still the only one-and-a-half cab models that have rear doors to make loading easier. And on top of that its interior compares well with many sedans.

So, to summarise: it’s got the looks, the turbodiesel and the tasteful interior (okay, we admit, the last comment sounds like something out of Visi magazine, but we couldn’t help it).

But … The Ranger range is still hampered by the old Ranger’s 4-litre V6 petrol engine (154 kW) that lags far behind the Hilux (175 kW) and the Nissan Navara (198 kW), both cars also having petrol V6s of the same displacement as that of the Ranger. So your choice is really limited to the diesel.

The handbrake is one of those old-school pull-and-turn jobs next to the steering column. A conventional handbrake next to the gear lever would’ve been easier to use on hill starts.

But we might just be splitting hairs. The biggest drawback: the relatively narrow back doors on the double cabs. Legroom at the back is good, but you first have to squeeze through those doors.

How much? From R179 900 for the 2.5 TD Super Cab Hi-Trail 4x2 (its 80 kW/257 Nm engine is from the previous generation Ranger) to R315 900 for the 3.0 TDCi  XLE 4x4 double cab.

Also consider: As a complete range, however, the Hilux is still top of the heap in SA. The 3.0 D-4D turbodiesel (120 kW and 343 Nm) might develop a tad less torque, but it just beats the Ranger with power.

The Hilux, also, has slightly more legroom at the back, and if you plan to cart adults around quite often, this is something to bear in mind.

You could consider the Nissan Navara turbodiesel (2.5 dCi turbodiesel: 128 kW/403 Nm; and 4.0 V6 petrol: 198 kW/385 Nm), but they’re more or less R12 000 more expensive than the com-parable Fords.

Drive Out says: The Ranger is currently the only bakkie that looks like a real bakkie. One word: respect.

Originally published in Drive Out #22 | Dec 2007 - Jan 2008