These are the FIVE most powerful bakkies on sale in South Africa
Ford’s Ranger Raptor and Volkswagen’s Amarok are the latest bakkies to be launched locally, we find out which one is the most powerful. The newly-launched Ford Ranger Raptor quicky established itself as one of the fastest bakkies on sale in South Africa. A recent test conducted by fellow motoring journalist Mark Jones of The Citizen revealed how […]
Ford’s Ranger Raptor and Volkswagen’s Amarok are the latest bakkies to be launched locally, we find out which one is the most powerful.
The newly-launched Ford Ranger Raptor quicky established itself as one of the fastest bakkies on sale in South Africa. A recent test conducted by fellow motoring journalist Mark Jones of The Citizen revealed how rapid the 2.4 ton double-cab is from zero to 100km/h.
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SOUTH AFRICANS CONSIDER BAKKIES LUXURY VEHICLES, AND NOW THEY’RE PERFORMANCE ONES TOO
I’ve been a motoring journalist for over a decade and something that surprises me is how fond I’ve become of bakkies. The light commercial vehicle has become a luxury ‘car’, exclusively in the double-cab arena.
Another aspect that manufacturers have cottoned onto is providing bakkies with a ton of power. I drove a 190kW V6-powered Volkswagen Amarok across the Omani desert, and the brute force was intoxicating.
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Recently, Ford launched their second generation Ranger Raptor. The outgoing model was powered by a 2.0-litre biturbo four-cylinder diesel engine, but for the latest iteration Ford has gone big.
And that brings me nicely as to why you’re reading, it’s a countdown of the five most powerful bakkies in South Africa. Let’s get into it:
1. Ford Ranger Raptor – The Blue Oval company has blown the competition away in the power stakes department by fitting the Raptor with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine developing 292kW and 583Nm.
It uses bespoke parts and uses a 10-speed automatic gearbox to direct the power to all four wheels. In a recent performance test, the Raptor hit 100km/h from standstill in under seven seconds.
2. Jeep Gladiator 3.6 Rubicon Double Cab – This is easily one of the most enjoyable bakkies I’ve driven in years. The Gladiator has a ton of road presence and its cabin is utilatarian with a smattering of luxury features.
THE GLADIATOR GARNERS LOTS OF ATTENTION.
The US bakkie is number two on our thanks to its 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine that churns out 209kW and 347Nm. Its five-speed auto delivers the power in a smooth manner.
3. Ford Ranger Wildtrak – Yes, another Ford pops up on the list of the most powerful bakkies in South Africa. The Wildtrak employs a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine to push out a meaty 184kW and 600Nm.
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4. Volkswagen Amarok Aventura – German carmaker Volkswagen teamed up with Ford to share costs and parts when building its new Amarok.
The German bakkie has been around in South Africa for over a decade and in its new form features the same diesel engine from the Wildtrak producing 184kW and 600Nm. In fact, the two bakkies are both built in Silverton, Gauteng.
5. Toyota Land Cruiser 79 V6 – Last but not least, it’s the perennial favourite: the Land Cruiser 79. Its bulletproof 4.0-litre V6 petrol engine is naturally-aspirated but still delivers a healthy 170kW and 360Nm.
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