The most fuel-efficient bakkie you can buy in South Africa right now is the Ford Ranger, but only if you choose the right engine.
Fuel consumption is a topic that is on everyone’s minds at the moment following the enormous price hikes that took effect this April.
Petrol went up by R3.06 per litre, while diesel saw an even bigger jump of R7.51 per litre.
This is obviously bad news for bakkie enthusiasts, as the vast majority of 4x4s in South Africa are fitted with diesel engines.
Even if you have a petrol model, the R3 hike is no joke, and it remains to be seen whether oil prices will improve before the next official adjustments kick in this May.
Extraordinary circumstances aside, it’s still a good idea to look for an efficient set of wheels to minimize your monthly fuel bill.
Frugal bakkie options
If we are looking for the most economical internal combustion engine (ICE) bakkie, the winner is the Ford Ranger 2.0 SiT Double Cab XL Manual, which consumes 6.8l/100km.
This is the entry-level Ranger, which isn’t too surprising, as you can expect to burn more fuel to power the higher-end models like the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel Wildtrak.
If fuel consumption is your main concern, you’ll want the six-speed manual XL, as the six-speed automatic raises its economy figure to 7.5/100km.
Similarly, you’ll want a rear-wheel-drive model, as a 4×4 system will understandably use more diesel.
It comes with an 80-litre fuel tank, which gives it a range of 1,081km.
The wholesale price of diesel 0.005% is currently sitting for R26.11 per litre, so it will cost owners at least R2,088.80 to fill up their bakkie.
That works out to a cost of R1.93 per kilometre, which is pretty good considering how expensive diesel is at the moment.
As for the bakkie itself, the 2.0-litre single-turbo diesel engine has an output of 125kW and 405Nm.
Despite being the least powerful member of the Ranger family, it can still tow 3,500kg and haul 1,000kg in the load bed.
It comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, cloth seats, a multifunction steering wheel, automatic air conditioning, a digital instrument cluster, and a portrait infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Ranger is also sold with a 4-year/120,000km warranty, and the retail price of R651,500 includes an optional 6-year/90,000km service plan.
Its worth noting that the Ranger has a twin in the form of the VW Amarok, which shares the same platform and engine.
The Amarok 2.0TDI Double Cab has a slightly higher listed fuel consumption of 7.1/100km, though overall it should perform similarly to the Ford.
Another bakkie worth mentioning is the BYD Shark 6, which is technically the most fuel-efficient bakkie in South Africa with a combined cycle of just 2.0l/100km.
That may sound like it blows the Ranger out of the water, but the caveat is that the Shark is a plug-in hybrid petrol bakkie.
The claimed 2.0l/100km figure assumes you are relying on the BYD’s electric mode for most trips, as the petrol engine on its own consumes closer to 9.6l/100km.
Provided you do rely on the PHEV system for your daily runaround, the Shark won’t use any petrol at all, but as far as “regular” fuel efficiency is concerned, the best option is the 2.0-litre Ranger.
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