By Otsile Kadiege

As we edge closer to the unveiling of the much anticipated #NextGenRanger, Ford South Africa revealed the last hurrah of the current model with the Stormtrak limited edition. The Stormtrak boasts unique exterior styling and improved practicality. 

Stormtrak exterior styling 

The Stormtrak differentiates itself from other limited edition Ford Ranger’s with a black mesh grille with red inserts, a black insert in the lower section of the front bumper, black decals for the bonnet and doors, black roof rails and 18-inch alloy wheels finished in gloss black. 

The new Ranger Stormtrak also features three-dimensional Stormtrak logos on the lower sections of the front doors, as well as on the rear tailgate. There are two new useful features that are available as standard on the Ranger Stormtrak, namely the power roller shutter and load bed divider. The former is easily operated via the keyfob or a button located beside the exterior light switches whilst the former is equally easy to use and helps separate luggage.

The new Stormtrak is available in 4 exterior colours, namely the vibrant Lucid Red, Blue Lightning, Sea Grey and Frozen White. We must say the Lucid Red paint is striking and compliments the Stormtrak’s exterior and interior red accents.

Stormtrak interior styling 

Inside, much of the interior design remains unchanged, however, there are a few styling updates to differentiate the Stormtrak from the rest of the crop. These include red stitching throughout the cabin, illuminated front scuff plates and comfortable leather seats which incorporate the Stormtrak logo on the front seat backrests and dashboard. 

Apart from the Ranger Stormtrak’s comfort and spaciousness, Ford’s user friendly Sync 3 infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is still one of our favourite interior features.

Stormtrak driving impressions

The Ford Ranger Stormtrak is still powered by the tried and tested 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine making 157kW and 500Nm. The engine is paired with a smooth 10-speed automatic transmission. The Stormtrak is available in 4×2 and 4×4, however, at launch we only sampled the 4×4 derivative. 

We drove the Ranger Stormtrak through impressed us with its on-road comfort and off-road prowess. Much of the launch drive involved is driving on gravel roads and through gruelling Baviaanskloof mountain passes. The Ford Ranger Stormtrak’s suspension kept us comfortable and getting through challenging obstacles was made easy thanks to its powerful yet efficient powerplant, as well as its 800mm wading depth, and 237mm ground clearance.

Stormtrak pricing and warranty

The Ranger Stormtrak is priced at R790,300 for the 4×2 model whilst 4×4 model costs R846,500. All prices include VAT. 

All new Ford Rangers come standard with Ford Protect, comprising a four-year/120,000km comprehensive warranty, three-year/unlimited distance roadside assistance and five-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty. A six-year/90,000km service plan is included which covers six services.