Saying the first generation T6 Ranger was a roaring success is an understatement but which engine from that generation of Ranger is better, petrol or diesel?
Ford sold a small number of petrol-engine Rangers since the latest successful model was introduced here in 2011. But since mid-2018, the line-up is now all-diesel.
Back in late 2011, when the benchmark Ford Ranger made its appearance here, Ford South Africa included a proven petrol engine in what was already a diesel-saturated model line-up.
At the time of launch, the new rugged Ranger with North American looks was offered in a total of 23 models. These ranged from a single-cab base model, actually listed as a 2.5 Base, to the then top-of-the-range 3.2 Tie XLT 4X4 Double Cab Automatic.
The single-cab base model used an existing 2 488 cc naturally-aspirated petrol engine, and this was also offered in mid-range models, such as the Super Cab 2.5 XL High Rider, which was an extended-cab model with a degree of off-road ability.
The rest of the model line-up consisted of single-cab, Super Cab and double-cab models using diesel engines.
We have a myriad of Ford Ranger reviews up on our website, and you can check them out here.
Diesel engines paved the way for the Ranger’s success
Right from the get-go, it was the diesel engine line-up that created a stir amongst bakkie lovers. The diesel engines came in two displacement sizes and three levels of power outputs.
The lower-powered version of the four-cylinder 2 198 cc TDCi motor produced 88 kW and 258 Nm of torque. The high-powered 2 198cc diesel (both were known as 2,2-litre models), produced 110 kW and 375 Nm, a substantial increase in power. Later, this engine power was increased to 118 kW, the output figure of the latest 2,2-litre models. For more on the Ranger 2.2 models, click here
But the cream of the crop engine in many bakkie owners’ eyes was the five-cylinder 3,2-litre TDCi, available in the higher-priced Double Cab versions. This engine produced what was then a class-leading 147 kW and 470 Nm, and many believe it was this engine that cemented the new Ranger’s still-unfolding success story.
Runaway sales success of the Ranger
Prior to the launch of the North American-look Ranger, the bakkie that carried the same nameplate here was, in fact based on the Japanese Mazda BT50. It was a moderate seller at best and typically out-gunned by the likes of the Isuzu KB of that period and the Nissan Navara. The runaway sales leader in all things bakkie was, and remains, the Toyota Hilux, which has enjoyed market leadership here for around four decades!
Thus, it was a huge surprise to everyone in the one-tonner category that the Ford Ranger soon achieved the number two sales slot in South Africa and, for a heady time in mid-2017, was actually challenging the Hilux for overall vehicle market leadership.
Since then, the Hilux has re-established itself as the sales king, but the Ranger remains a solid number two.
To give you an example of the sales pecking order in the world of one-tonners (these include Double Cab sales), in a typical month, Toyota will sell about 3 500 Hiluxes, Ford will sell about 2 600 Rangers, Isuzu about 1 500 KBs, and Nissan will sell a combined total of about 1 100 NP300, Hard Body and Navara bakkies.
For more information about rival bakkies in this market, click here.
The Ranger engine line-up up until 2022
In mid-2018, Ford finally dropped the last remaining petrol-engined options for its Ranger line-up. Since then, you could choose between an 88 kW or 118 kW four-cylinder TDCi diesel or a five-cylinder 147 kW engine, as fitted to the more expensive models.
So, am I stuck with a diesel engine in a Ford Ranger?
Yes, the diesel engine option looks like the one of choice. Ford probably took the decision to drop the petrol engine because demand wasn’t strong enough to warrant keeping it on in the line-up. Nevertheless, there are some bakkie owners who prefer a petrol engine if very long-term ownership is planned.
Whereas once diesel engines would deliver untroubled mileage of typically half a million kilometres, diesels start giving expensive trouble (replacement of pumps, injectors, turbos, etc.) between the 150 000 to 200 000 km mark. This figure varies from make to make but is generally a rule of thumb for all diesel engines, although there are exceptions.
So, if you are keen on a petrol version of the Ranger, peruse the used-vehicle pages of AutoTrader until you find the right one for you! Here’s some useful used buying information on Ford Rangers since 2011.
Keyword: Which Ford Ranger (1st Gen T6 2011-2022) is better, petrol or diesel?