The new Ford Ranger Wildtrak X has finally arrived in South Africa, taking a spot right near the top of its line-up behind the Wildtrak V6 and halo-model Raptor.
It has a starting price of R1,013,000, putting in an exclusive playground with the country’s other R1-million bakkies, including the flagship Toyota Hilux.
Taking the pole position in the Japanese brand’s high-rider catalogue is the Legend RS which requires a payment of R1,005,000, making it just R8,000 cheaper than the Ford.
Given the near-identical pricing of these two offerings from South Africa’s favourite 4×4 makers, it’s worth taking a look to see how they compare and where each of their strengths lie.
Performance
The Ford and Toyota are both equipped with a part-time, four-wheel-drive system with a limited-slip differential and a low-range gearbox setting, though the former uses a 10-speed automatic while the latter is paired with a six-speed auto.
Both vehicles are powered by tried-and-trusted diesel engines from their respective manufacturers, which in the Wildtrak’s case means a 2.0-litre bi-turbo while the Legend runs on a 2.8-litre single-turbo unit.
You can see their performance statistics in the table below:
| Specification | Ford Ranger Wildtrak X | Toyota Hilux Legend RS |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel | 2.8-litre turbo-diesel |
| Power | 154kW | 150kW |
| Torque | 500Nm | 500Nm |
| Fuel consumption | 7.5l/100km | 8.0l/100km |
| 0-100km/h | 10.71 seconds | 12.38 seconds |
| Top speed | 180km/h | 175km/h |
Interestingly, they have nearly the same output, with the Blue Oval’s bi-turbo setup compensating for the Toyota’s larger displacement.
The American does have a lower fuel consumption, however, which may partially be the result of its gearbox which has more cogs to work with.
Of course, the engine itself is only half the story, as we need to take the bakkies’ practical aspects into consideration, as shown in the table below:
| Specification | Ford Ranger Wildtrak X | Toyota Hilux Legend RS |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 5,350mm | 5,325mm |
| Width | 2,015mm | 1,900mm |
| Height | 1,886mm | 1,815mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,270mm | 3,085mm |
| Ground clearance | 237mm | 286mm |
| Wading depth | 800mm | 700mm |
| Approach angle | 30.0 degrees | 29.0 degrees |
| Break-over angle | 22.0 degrees | 23.0 degrees |
| Departure angle | 25.6 degrees | 26.0 degrees |
| Load capacity | 946kg | 775kg |
| Towing capacity | 3,500kg | 3,500kg |
The X is slightly larger overall, which allows for a longer wheelbase than the RS, though the latter does boast a better ground clearance.
Despite this, the Wildtrak has the better water-wading depth, but the two vehicles are clearly on par with one another regarding their off-road angles.
They can both tow 3,500kg, too, whereas the Ford pulls slightly ahead with payload capacity by being able to carry 171kg more in the back.
One other thing worth mentioning is that, while the Hilux uses double wishbone suspension in the front and rigid leaf springs for the rear, the X is fitted with specially tuned position-sensitive Bilstein dampers that help to improve comfort across a variety of terrains.
Features
As a baseline, both the Toyota and Ford come standard with alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, daytime running lights, keyless entry and start, a multifunction steering wheel, an electronic driver’s seat, leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, hill assist, front and rear park distance control, adaptive cruise control, seven airbags, and lane-departure warning.
What separates the two models is that the Ford is fitted with 17-inch alloys, rain-sensing wipers, a 12.0-inch portrait media screen, onboard navigation, an 8.0-inch fully digital driver display, a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo, an electronic front passenger seat, ambient lighting, blind-spot monitors, a 360-degree camera, and support for the FordPass app for a vehicle locator and health monitor.
It also has driving modes for Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, Sand, and Rock Crawl, and is equipped with Trail Turn Assist and Trail Control.
Trail Turn Assist shortens the bakkie’s turning circle by 25% by applying the brakes to the inner rear wheel, allowing for tighter maneuvers, while Trail Control functions as an off-road cruise control at speeds under 32km/h with acceleration and braking being done by the car.
In contrast, the Toyota’s standard spec sheet includes 18-inch alloys, a roller shutter, an electronically-assisted tailgate, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, a nine-speaker JBL sound system, a multi-information driver display, a reverse camera, driving modes for Standard, Eco, and Sport, and Toyota Connect support for in-car WiFi, GPS navigation, and vehicle health monitoring through a smartphone app.
Pricing
The Ford Ranger 2.0 BiTurbo double cab Wildtrak X 4WD has a South African starting price of R1,013,000.
This includes a 4-year/120,000km warranty.
The Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 double cab 4×4 Legend RS auto has a local starting price of R1,005,000.
Each purchase comes with a 3-year/100,000km warranty and a 9-service/90,000km service plan.
Ford Ranger Wildtrak X
Toyota Hilux Legend RS
Keyword: New Ford Ranger Wildtrak X vs Toyota Hilux Legend RS – R1-million bakkie battle