Ford Ranger Fx4 AT 4×4 double cab: standing out from the bakkie crowd

If you see a bakkie with larger wheels, an improved suspension, a bolder front grille and custom colors, it's necessarily a Ford Ranger. No other pickup truck is customized as often – and now, the Blue Oval has also jumped on the custom train.

Customizing cars is as much an art as a trend. In a world where mass production dictates that most examples of a particular model have exactly the same appearance, there will always be owners who will feel the need to be different – to express their individuality.

For those looking to personalize their vehicles, the range is almost endless. Mounting wider and wider wheels with thicker rubber is a popular first step. And it gets even more extreme from here: tinted glass, blackened grids, wild strips, LED light beams – the possibilities are endless.

The more laborious souls go even further by modifying the mechanics: bolting on bigger (louder) exhaust pipes and lowering the suspension to actually mingle with the bowels of the engine and its electronics to extract more muscle.

Many of these changes are not good with automakers, who tend to revoke discovering that homeowners have strayed beyond the standard standard in their quest to create something unique and personal. There is a reason why a Vivo Polo should not ride on 21-inch wheels …

Until recently, bakkies were not part of the custom scene. Yes, 4 × 4 double cab owners would equip their mounts with functional equipment – from winches and canopies to rooftop tents and long-range tanks – for those long trips into the great outdoors.

see a set of go-faster stripes on a bakkie. Neither fancy decals, or big takkies on glossy alloys. This was the domain of the GTI brigade.

Not anymore. Today, you are just as likely to encounter a double cab on the big wheels and an inflated suspension on the Sandton boulevards by spotting the Golf GTI and Ford Focus ST that dominated the perch after midnight.

In one way or another, Ford Ranger is at the forefront of this trend. You do not see too many KB Isuzu, Hiluxes or Amaroks dressed in the nine automobiles – but in the heart of the concrete jungle, every second Ranger seems to be a Wannabe Raptor.

The Ford Raptor is an American pickup. using the oversized F-Series platform. Next year, the Raptor badge will appear for the first time on a Ranger-based bakkie, but it's a story for another time.

However, the threatening look of the Raptor is already there: a big intimidating grille, even bigger. , a suspension brought to vertiginous levels, and huge wheels wrapped in aggressive rubber.

These custom bakkies may not meet factory specifications, but Ford employees must be satisfied with the growing appeal of the Ranger and the way it is attracting an entirely new clientele, young and ambitious. a Ford Ranger double cabin with a pinch of extras designed to appeal to those who want to personalize, but not at monster levels. And it comes with a peace of mind guarantee and a service plan.

Essentially, the Fx4 is a lightly dressed Ford Ranger XLT, offered with 2.2-liter and 3.2-liter transmissions, in 4 × 2 and 4 × 4 variants. In test here is the Fx4 3.2 TDCi Double Cab 4 × 4 high flying

It is powered by the same three-pot 3.2-liter turbodiesel that's found in more conventional Rangers, connected to a six-speed automatic gearbox.

A four-wheel-drive, low-reach transfer box ensures that the 4 × 4 badge is not just for the show: it's a serious off-road that will take you to difficult places to access without sweating. . A robust suspension and a large ground clearance are also part of the package.

The Fx4 piece is entirely cosmetic. A black grille, black wheels, black hood and tailgate decals, blackened B pillars and black threshold stripes are enough to add a sinister style to the Ranger aesthetic.

The black theme continues for the side steps, the roof bar and rear bumper rails, as well as the fog lamp surrounds and exterior mirrors. You can even choose the black for the whole exterior, although the gray or the silver show the dark bits for better effect.

Let's face it, the Fx4 package is pretty tame compared to some custom Rangers out there. But there is enough visual interest to turn heads and bring out the Fx4 from the bakkie crowd.

In the double cabin, the cabin of the Ranger Fx4 is well equipped. The leather seats add an air of luxury (but remain practical, too) while the Sync3 infotainment system offers a full set of features.

Using an 8-inch TFT color touch screen, it includes satnav, Bluetooth and multispeaker sound, two USB ports, a CD player and an FM / AM tuner. Best of all, it does not require a degree in rocket science to use.

The comfort list includes everything the heart desires: air conditioning, electric mirrors, remote central locking and cruise control. The front, side, curtain and knee airbags join the electronic stability control and the ABS brakes on the complete list of safety equipment.

Not to mention the rear recoil sensors with rear view camera, the digital onboard computer handset instruments the multifunction steering wheel. That said, the levels of noise and refinement remind us that the Ranger is still a lighter utility vehicle than a passenger car: the engine can appear turbulent under load, and the road and wind.

For all its claims, most double cabs, including the Ranger Fx4, will spend much of their operational lives performing more mundane motoring tasks, with daily trips at the top of the list. 19659026] In this context, the sturdy 3.2-liter turbodiesel offers a lot of grunt, ensuring Frisky acceleration and enthusiastic overtaking. It's even better at highway speeds, effortlessly maintaining the legal limit.

The six-speed automatic transmission is flexible enough and a sporty setting will speed up the reactions for those in a hurry.

If you're planning on exchanging your city suit for hiking boots on weekends, the Ranger Fx4 is incredibly talented off the beaten path. The combination of the downward pulling power of the engine, the short-range transfer case and the all-wheel drive gives a nearly impossible set to stop.

Excellent suspension articulation and well modulated gas control. the side steps tend to catch obstacles. Yes, the Fx4 will take you to places where most normal vehicles will not be.

Fuel consumption is reasonable for such a big (and heavy) machine, but will depend largely on driving conditions and the driver's right foot.

Ford's reported average of just under 9 liters / 100 km is possible with judicious use of the throttle, but in our test, 11 liters / 100km was a more representative figure, including off-road work. meets the growing needs of buyers of dual-cab vehicles for vehicles that add a certain visual distinction to their recognized abilities in terms of work ability and versatility.

The Fx4 edition is not as radical as some of the custom packages see out there, but it does inject some visual flair while offering a wide range of extras at a relatively affordable price . The 2.2-liter 4 × 2 models are even more valuable.

Those who want more will have to wait for the Raptor Ranger next year – but expect to pay for this privilege! DM

PROS

Still the double cab 4 × 4 bakkie to beat. Fx4 adds value and visual appeal

CONS

Neither subtle nor refined – but then, it's a bakkie!

VITAL STATS