Automakers in South Africa are often accused of having too many derivatives within their model ranges but, in simplistic form, it is a case of if dealer ‘A’ does not have the spec I want, then I’ll buy from dealer ‘B’. In reality, the choice of derivatives comes from careful analysis of customer input and suggestions, and is not one taken lightly.
The Ford Ranger Tremor is a perfect example of this process and is specifically tailored for those who need that extra bit of capability and confidence when tackling tough off-road terrain. It’s also a great fit for adventurers who love customising their vehicles for overlanding journeys.
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This means it loses some of the pure luxury specification of sibling such as Wildtrak and Platinum but there is nothing you do not want and everything you actually need fitted as standard – the options list being the way in which you want to kit it out for the kind of adventures you want to have.
The Ranger Tremor Double Cab packs the same punchy 154 kW/500 Nm 2,0-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine and full-time 4WD system as the Wildtrak X. Plus, it’s got the handy Trail Turn Assist feature, making tight off-road turns a breeze.
Standing apart from the XLT series, the Ranger Tremor sports a rugged black honeycomb grille with LED auxiliary lights like the Wildtrak X. Its bold grey accents on the lower front bumper, H-bar, fender vents, mirror caps, door handles, and rear bumper give it a distinctive look.
Rolling on 265/70 R17 all-terrain General Grabber AT3 tyres and 17-inch Asphalt Black alloy wheels, the Tremor looks ready for action. Its tough appearance is matched by its features: a steel bash plate, underbody steel protection, front tow hooks, cast aluminium side steps, and a unique tubular sports bar with extended legs.
The suspension upgrade includes Bilstein Position-Sensitive Dampers, improving ground clearance by 24 mm and widening the track by 30 mm for better control and stability on rough terrain.
The launch event provided an excellent opportunity to put the Tremor to the test on some Cape mountain trails and it passed that test with barely a shiver, gaining a tick in the box for offroad ability from mild to negotiating some extreme obstacles.
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When it came to CHANGECARS for review, it was deliberately used on the highway and rural roads to gain some insights into how it would perform in between the offroad adventure excursions.
I simply loved the feeling inside the car coming from those mildly bulbous offroad tyres and the way in which they seriously flattened out any imperfections in the road and dealt with breeding potholes to the point where, if I won the Lotto, the Tremor would be my beast of choice – and I have had the chance to drive all the current Ranger lineup.
Sure, it does lose out to its siblings in handling through corners, but then it is not being aimed at the rapid performance sector of the market.
The Tremor retails for R978 600 which puts it up against a brace of Hilux models on the price ladder – the Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 double cab 4x4 Legend RS manual (R971 100) and Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 double cab 4x4 GR-Sport (R999 000)
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Inside, the Ranger Tremor boasts water-resistant black vinyl seats stitched with Medium Dark Urban Grey threads, featuring the Tremor emblem in bright orange embroidery. The front seats are six-way adjustable for added comfort. Instead of traditional carpeting, vinyl flooring makes post-adventure clean-ups a breeze.
Roof-mounted auxiliary switches come standard, making it easy to add powered 4x4 accessories. The engine bay is also ready to fit a second battery without modifications, a standard feature across the new Ranger lineup.
Like the Wildtrak X, the Tremor features an Off-road SYNC Screen with a 360-degree camera system for easier navigation in tight spots, upgrading the standard 10,1-inch touchscreen to a 12-inch display.
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The Tremor’s load box is adventure-ready with a spray-in bedliner, a 12-volt socket, and a Cargo Management System to keep your gear secure.
Trail Control is another standard feature on the Ranger Tremor. Set a speed below 32 km/h when off-roading, and the vehicle will handle acceleration and braking, leaving you to focus on steering through tricky terrain.
It also comes with a full suite of driver assistance and safety features, such as Hill Descent Control, Hill Launch Assist, Dynamic Stability Control (including Load Adaptive Control, Roll Over Mitigation, Traction Control, and Trailer Sway Control).
Other features include Lane Keeping System with Road Edge Detection, Pre-Collision Assist (with Dynamic Brake Support, Forward Collision Warning System, and Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection), Reverse Brake Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring with Trailer Coverage, and parking sensors front and rear.
Post-Collision Braking is standard, along with seven crash bags (dual front, side, curtain, and driver’s knee), Smart Keyless Entry with Push Button Start, and a Thatcham-grade alarm system and immobiliser.
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On the road the average consumption for the test was 7,8 l/100 km, meaning the usable fuel range is around 1 000 km – particularly useful for people who are looking at the long road rather than the short-haul to the shopping centre.
For reference, the Tremor is 5,3 metres long, 2,2 metres wide (including mirrors), 1,9 metres tall, has a wheelbase of 3,2 metres and ground clearance of 261 mm. The approach angle is 32 degrees, break-over angle is 24 degrees as is the departure angle and it has wading depth of 800 mm.
To me, that says ‘gimme the great outdoors’.
Colin Windell
Proudly CHANGECARS
