Ranger XLT double cab is the sweet spot in its range

WHETHER it’s carting garden refuse, moving house, going away for a long weekend or an extended holiday or a black-tie social event, there’s no doubt that we're a bakkie nation as the monthly sales constantly remind us.

- Willem van de Putte

The XLT is powered by Ford's 2.0-litre single turbo diesel engine delivering 125kW and 405Nm of torque coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. I Willem van de Putte

WHETHER it's carting garden refuse, moving house, going away for a long weekend or an extended holiday or a black-tie social event, there's no doubt that we're a bakkie nation as the monthly sales constantly remind us.

No longer viewed merely as utilitarian bakkies, they have morphed into full-on lifestyle vehicles that we can't seem to get enough of.

I've used them for all of the above over the years, and the latest bakkie to join our long-term test fleet is the Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 double cab.

The Ranger XLT is the company's mid-specced offering, and as far as I'm concerned, it's the one to have.

At R766 000, it has everything you need, and while models like the Ranger Wildtrak and Platinum offer an extensive range of nice-to-have features, the XLT gets on with the job without much fanfare.

Exterior By now, the Ranger needs no introduction. Finished in Iconic Silver, it's got the same C-Clamp LED headlights with daytime running lights as the rest of the range. Ours is fitted with a black grille bar, side mirrors, and door handles, as well as a roll bar and 17-inch alloys covered in Continental CrossContact 255/70/17 rubber providing a decent profile.