First Drive: Ford Ranger Platinum: Unrivalled Luxury and Sophistication

 

• Ranger Platinum positioned at pinnacle of the range, offering exceptional versatility with the luxury, comfort and refinement of a premium SUV
• Eye-catching sophistication with silk chrome exterior finishes, Matrix LED headlamps and 20-inch alloy wheels as standard, interior characterised by premium leather trim, 10-way power adjustable heat and cooled front seats, and 12.4-inch instrument cluster
• Powered by Ford’s advanced 184kW/600Nm 3.0L V6 Diesel engine, with full-time four-wheel drive for supreme on and off-road control and outstanding towing ability

Image: Supplied

The range offering from the Blue Oval marque, Ford, has just got bigger. The media was introduced to the Platinum and Tremor. From the outset, it’s not hard to tell which is made for city life and which one is for bundu-bashing. And both are aesthetically pleasing in looks but the Platinum come with a higher price tag at R1 119 000, and it’s the most luxurious and sophisticated Ranger ever. It’s clear that Ford wants to be customer oriented, offering a ‘bakkie’ for work, family and play.

I spent a considerable amount of time behind the wheel of the Platinum and was not really surprised at the overall performance and looks. Yes, it’s for the ‘big city life but the Platinum is also ready for tackling the toughest terrain. Go, it can, anywhere.  

 

Distinguished

The Platinum distinguishes itself from the rest of the Ranger line-up with a unique grille incorporating accented mesh and a silk chrome finish for the horizontal bars and grille surround. This is complemented by three-dimensional 'PLATINUM' badging on the bonnet and lower sections of the front doors for a further exclusive touch.

The classy silk chrome detailing is evident throughout the vehicle, from the side steps to the side vents, window linings and rear bumper, while accented wheel arches house attractive 20-inch alloy machine-faced wheels with ebony accents, fitted with all-season tyres. The front bumper, mirror caps and door handles are colour coded to create a refined and seamless visual appeal.

Image: Supplied

 

Upmarket Pedigree

Customers can select from five colour options for the Ranger Platinum: Iconic Silver, Frozen White, Carbonized Grey, Lucid Red and Agate Black.

While the exterior enhancements make it abundantly clear that the Ranger Platinum has an upmarket pedigree, the cabin truly embodies the no-comprise approach to comfort, convenience, and supreme luxury. The seats are unique to Platinum and feature premium quilted and perforated high-grade leather, along with accent stitching and “PLATINUM” badges on the front seatbacks and floor mats to emphasize the vehicle’s special status.

The instrument panel, similarly, gains an exclusive edge thanks to soft-touch trim with accent stitching, attractive Black Maple decorative finishes for the dashboard and door appliques, satin aluminium trim strips, and the addition of the upper glovebox for enhanced practicality. With ambient lighting as standard, owners can change the interior ambience to suit their preferences or mood.

 

Tech Loaded

In keeping with its range-topping status, the Platinum is equipped with the 12.4-inch full-width LCD instrument cluster, which is shared exclusively with the Ranger Raptor. This widescreen display provides a clear view of all the vehicle parameters, with the graphics and theme changing according to the chosen Selectable Drive Mode. It is also highly configurable to suit the driver’s preferences.

Image: Supplied

As with the recently announced Ranger Tremor, the Platinum receives Pro Trailer Back-up Assist with Trailer Reverse Guidance, which has also been added to the Raptor and Wildtrak X as standard features, and is available as an option on the Wildtrak derivatives. Pro Trailer Backup Assist takes the guesswork out of reversing the vehicle with a trailer, as the driver simply uses the rotary Selectable Drive Modes controller on the centre console to position the trailer where required. Trailer Reverse Guidance provides informational graphics and up to seven camera views to help the reverse the trailer while the driver uses the steering wheel to control the direction.

Driver Assist

Ranger Platinum also features the full range of advanced driver aids such as Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Lane Centering, Active Park Assist with autonomous parallel and perpendicular parking, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, and seven Selectable Drive Modes (Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, Sand and Rock Crawl) to name but a few of the stand-out features.

Occupant safety is out of the top drawer too, and the Platinum is the first Ranger model to be equipped with far side airbags positioned between the front seats.

And what about that performance?

The premium look and feel of a high-end luxury vehicle is one thing, but it must be matched with effortless performance – and in this regard the Ranger Platinum doesn’t disappoint. It features the same silky smooth 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine as found on the top-spec Wildtrak model, delivering a seamless 184kW of power at 3 250 r/min and a massive 600Nm of torque from 1 750 to 2 250 r/min.

This highly praised V6 engine provides seamless performance in the city, on the open road, when towing (up to 3.5 tons) or venturing off-road. It is mated to Ford’s sophisticated 10-speed automatic transmission that is electronically controlled using the compact e-Shifter, and is packaged with the switch-operated electronic parking brake.

 

Price

Ranger Platinum Double Cab 3.0L V6 4WD 10AT             R1 119 000