Auto tested more than 90 cars in 2025. As is tradition, having just re-published our favourite tests of the year as our six Best Tests through the first weeks of December, we now present three Auto Special Awards, which started with the Best EV, followed by Best Bakkie today and Performance car of the year 2025 tomorrow. We announce the overall Best Test 2025 on Friday, 19 December. So keep coming back for your daily Auto entertainment!
AUTO BEST BAKKIE 2025: FORD RANGER 2.0 SIT DC XLT 4×2
BEST BAKKIE: Ford’s star Ranger 4×2 XLT a real bargain
As our journey through Ford’s broad line-up of Rangers continues, we get to likely its most versatile badge. XLT covers a broad niche and includes super and double cabs, 4x2s and 4x4s and both single and biturbo engines. That’s of course above the XL, which manual 4×2 double cab begins at R620K. Remember that next time someone dells you double cabs cost a million unless they’re Chinese.
XLT of course sits below all the Wildtraks, Raptors and the rest that indeed take you up to the late R1.2 million bracket. Looking at the XLT DCs, you have four. A pair of biturbos topped by the R888K reigning Auto Bakkie of the Year 4×4 and the R801K two wheel drive model. And the single turbo 4×4 at R756K, and this R681K 4×2. Horses for courses. Perhaps, indeed.
One of the ‘buys’ on the bakkie market in our opinion, this Ford Ranger 2.0 SiT double cab XLT may be partially stripped down, for want of a better phrase. But all that’s missing is probably superfluous to a real bakkie owner in the first place. It lacks all the wannbe bits they put into double cabs these days to lure drivers and owners out of cars. They make more money out of bakkies, you know…?
Ford Ranger XLT a fantastic bakkie overall
Anyway, back to the point. It’s not all a bed of roses, but make no mistake, this Ford Ranger XLT is a fantastic bakkie overall. Considering its many positives, we start with price. Six hundred and eighty grand for a proper, traditional made in South Africa double Cab bakkie. Not some cutthroat heap of Chinese bits dumped by a bunch whose likely to be next the hell out of here as soon as they wake up from their wet dream.
This is a true blue Ford bakkie. Just like the Model T pickup you could buy back in 1925. Ford began factory-assembling its light-duty bakkie a century ago. It had noticed how many customers converted Model T Runabouts themselves. Put that in your pipe and smoke it before you rush out and buy the next suspicious Chinese crock that lands. Who the hell knows where Made in China spares will come from, how long there will be support. And what you will get on a trade in. Besides nothing.
Anyway, we digress, again! Getting back to this Ranger, while Ford’s hundred and twenty grand more expensive biturbo smashed all our bakkie test records a while back, there’s nothing wrong with how this single turbo XLT pulls. If you want the extra grunt, it’s there for the taking for a wee premium. But this more basic Ford Ranger XLT SiT certainly still looks the part and drives very well too.
Ranger XLT boasts a flexible, plush cabin.
Ranger’s aggro C-headlights and mock F150 grille stand it apart. This one even looks the part in Paarl white with its accessory canopy. That subtle shoulder line helps break some bolder aspects. Like the wheel arches and sharp taillights each side of a Ranger embossed tailgate. It doesn’t end there, either.
Hop aboard to a flexible, modern and plush cabin. Crisp digital dials and the 12-inch portrait Sync touchscreen infotainment deliver a splendid space. We complained about build quality on earlier units, but that all seems sorted now. Although the fascia is still a bit too busy for our liking. Too many hard plastic dash components seem bashed together to rob the feel of a little quality.
Ranger XLT also brings a host of load bay plusses, better functionality, and better access too. Loadability is another Ranger plus. It now swallows a Euro pallet; packs close to a tonne and pulls thee and a half. The tailgate doubles as a workbench and those sidesteps behind the rear wheels make the bak easy to access. With the canopy removed, of course!
Among the better bakkies to drive
Among the better bakkies out there to drive, the cab is harmonious with the chassis, which is also in fine tune with the suspension. Stiff, yet not harsh, Ford really has Ranger’s drive sorted. It feels safe, planted and satisfying to drive. We also enjoyed Ranger’s extensive driver assist tech. Subtle in operation; you can kill it at the tap of a steering button.
Ford’s portrait screen infotainment takes getting used to. But in time we have become au fait with it. Relatively easy and uncomplicated enough to operate, it also has buttons, knobs and rotors for the vital functions. That said, it can be a challenge to delve into the realms of windows to find menial controls while driving. Still, its light years ahead of the mashed Mandarin and gobbledygook logic you find in all those Chinamen.
A splendid bakkie to drive, this Ranger XLT is smooth, sophisticated and pleasing; comfortable and quiet too. Well-damped and positive on the road, it also runs with aplomb on the dirt as it brings SUV and carlike feel to the bakkie world.
Ranger XLT a more than compelling option
Add Ford’s extensive backup, dealers in every important town, a great warranty and add-on options up to 200,000 km, and Ranger rapidly becomes a most compelling option. Then look at the price and you soon see that it’s a real bargain. A true blue Ford bakkie that’s built in Pretoria to help build our economy. From a brand with 100 years of bakkie building behind it.
Remember that next time you’re lured into considering some Johnny-Chen Come Lately with a name you’ll confuse with washing powder or prescription medication branding and dumped on our roads by the next unscrupulous bunch with no real guarantees. We’ve already seen how many Chinese bakkie brands came and went ad nauseum only for their plans to dump bakkies on SA roads to fail in the 20 years they’ve been around.
Rather buy a traditional bakkie. Like this proper Ford Ranger. One that comes at less of a premium as you’d ever imagine. Especially when you came to sell it one day. Because this is a far better bakkie than most. – Michele Lupini
Images & testing: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Ford Ranger 2.0 SiT double cab XLT
Engine: 125 kW 405 Nm 2-litre turbodiesel I4
Drive: 6-speed automatic 4x2
Load Capacity: 965 kg
Max Braked Trailer 3500 kg
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 4.43 sec
0-100 km/h: 10.76 sec
0-120 km/h: 15.83 sec
400m: 17.4 sec @ 125 km/h
80-120 km/h: 8.73 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 180 km/h
Fuel: 7.5 l/100 km
CO2: 197 g/km
Range: 1,050 km
Warranty/Service: 4y 120K/ up to 8y 200K km
LIST PRICE: R681K
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Best Bakkie Roll of Honour
2004: Toyota Hilux 3.0 KZ-TE Raider 4x2 DC
2005: Isuzu KB300 TDI DC 4x4
2006: Volkswagen T5 Transporter 2.5 TDI 128 DC
2007: Nissan Navara 2.5 DCI 4x4 DC
2008: Ford Ranger 3.0 TDCI SuperCab XLT
2009: Chevrolet Lumina SS Ute
2010: Nissan Navara 2.5 DCI XE 4x4 King Cab
2011: Volkswagen Amarok 2.0 BiTDI 4Motion DC
2012: Ford Ranger 3.2 Wildtrak DC 4x2
2013: Foton Tunland 2.8 DC 4x4 Lux
2014: Toyota Land Cruiser 79 DC 4.5 V8 D
2015: GWM Steed 6 DC 2.0 VGT 4x2 Xcape
2016: VW Amarok 2.0BiTDI HiLine DC 4x2 A
2017: Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD6 4x2 DC Raider
2018: Mitsubishi Triton 2.4Di-D DC
2019: Nissan Navara 2.3D double cab LE auto
2021: Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD6 4x4 DC Legend
2022: Mahindra Scorpio Pik Up Karoo
2023: Ford Ranger 2.0 BiT DC XLT 4x4
2024: Toyota Hilux Sport GR III S
2025: Ford Ranger 2.0 SiT DC XLT 4x2