Ford’s Ranger family continues to grow bigger with each passing year, as there are another two nameplates being added to the South African roster in 2024.
One of these will be the new Ranger Tremor, a special-edition version of the mid-spec XLT units that have been around since the current generation launched in late 2022, which will arrive in March this year.
However, this is not the first time the Blue Oval has given the bakkie this treatment, as last year saw the launch of the Wildtrak X, which is another enhanced version of an existing badge – the regular Wildtrak.
Both the Wildtrak X and the Tremor boast several additions over their standard counterparts, but what makes the comparison particularly interesting are their price tags, as they are remarkably similar.
The Tremor has been given an indicative price of R977,500, while the X goes for R1,013,000, meaning there is only a R35,500 difference separating these two models despite being based on different equipment grades.
Performance
With such a small price gap between the Tremor and Wildtrak X, it should not come as a surprise to learn that they actually share the same mechanical underpinnings.
They both use a 10-speed automatic gearbox and feature Ford’s 2.0-litre, bi-turbo diesel engine, which generates a total of 154kW and 500Nm.
Both double cabs also have a selectable all-wheel-drive system with settings for 2H, 4H, 4L, and 4A – the last of which is an automatic option that chooses the correct setting for the terrain and is only found on higher-end Ranger derivatives.
Furthermore, since the two vehicles share the same body, they naturally have the same physical capabilities, with a ground clearance of 237mm and a maximum wading depth of 800mm.
Likewise, their identical powertrains mean they can both tow 3,500kg and haul 946kg in the rear bed, and each has access to driving modes for Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, Sand, and Rock Crawl.
What separates both the Tremor and the Wildtrak X from their peers are their off-roading enhancements and features, starting with Trail Turn Assist, Trail Control, and Pro Trailer Backup Assist with Trailer Reverse Guidance.
Trail Turn Assist brakes the inside wheels at low speeds, allowing for up to 25% tighter turns, while Trail Control is effectively off-road cruise control for difficult terrain at speeds under 32km/h, and the Trailer Assist functions are fairly self-explanatory, using things like the camera system to help with the cumbersome task of reversing a trailer.
Another addition to take note of is that both special models are equipped with Bilstein position-sensitive dampers, which are responsible for 24mm better ground clearance and greatly improve driving comfort over rough surfaces.
Features
To set them apart from their standard counterparts, the Tremor and Wildtrak X have both been given a number of unique cosmetics and features.
This includes an altered grille with auxiliary LED headlights, extended black wheel arches, 17-inch alloy rims with General Grabber all-terrain tyres, a steel bash plate and underbody protection, and aluminium side steps.
Each has its own model-specific badges as well as coloured accents on various components, with the Wildtrak X using a Cyber Orange theme while the Tremor has a Boulder Grey finish.
It’s inside where we finally see the differences between the two, as the XLT-based Tremor has a water-resistant black vinyl upholstery with Urban Grey stitching, while the Wildtrak uses a suede and leather combination with orange highlights.
Similarly, the Tremor has vinyl flooring and ebony grey accents on the dashboard, while the X continues its orange theme with suede surfaces for things like the door sills and upper dash.
One thing to note is that the Tremor has been upgraded from the XLT’s 10-inch infotainment screen to the 12-inch one used by the top-end units, so this is another item that is shared by both cars.
Both vehicles also have an overhead board with auxillary switches for accessories, a 12-inch digital instrument panel, keyless entry and start, a wireless charger, dual-zone climate control, and electronically adjustable front seats.
On top of this, the two Rangers come with assistance items like front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping with road-edge detection, pre-collision assist with dynamic brake support, post-collision braking, forward-collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, reverse brake assist, blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage, and hill-descent control and launch assist.
The only items that the Wildtrak adds on top of this are ambient cabin lighting and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo, with the option to install a flexible rack storage system in the load bine while the Tremor comes standard with a sports bar.
All Ford Rangers are sold with a 4-year/120,000km warranty and 4-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance.
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