2004 Ford Ranger

Ford Ranger

Ford’s Ranger isn’t just everywhere on South African roads — it’s everywhere for a reason. Scroll through 449 active listings and you’ll see prices from a no-nonsense R109,000 to a punchy R1,335,000, so there’s a Ranger for every bakkie buyer, whether you’re chasing that VAT-deductible workhorse or something you won’t mind parking at Melrose Arch on a Friday night. It goes up against the Hilux, D-Max, and Amarok — all heavy hitters, but Ford’s engine lineup is the broadest of the lot: 2.2TDCi diesel, 2.0 single-turbo petrol, 3.0 V6 diesel, a 2.3 petrol, and even a plug-in hybrid. Mix in manual, auto, and semi-auto boxes, and you’re spoiled for choice. The median? R539,990, right in that “should I buy new or used?” sweet spot. That 131-to-318 split between new and used units sums up local demand — used Rangers move quickly, partly because South Africans know what they’re getting. Those 2.2TDCi XLs are the workhorses of the used market, priced from R194,900 to R379,900 if you don’t mind a few kilometres on the clock. Want a bit more flash? The 2.3 Wildtrak A/T will set you back between R769,995 and R894,820, while the 3.0D V6 Wildtrak pushes right up to R1,298,559. Used examples average about 72,747 km, so you’re not getting something fresh off the showroom unless you pay for it. But here’s why the Ranger keeps winning hearts: parts are easy to find, the dealer network’s everywhere, and since the T6, the cabin and features have caught up to — and sometimes pipped — Toyota’s best. For buyers who care about what’s inside as much as what’s under the bonnet, that matters.