What’s the easiest way to start a bar room brawl amongst South Africans? Simply diss their favourite bakkie.
Over the past few months, the UK’s Carwow has staged some interesting drag races, but this one is likely to draw the most amount of attention, as bakkie loyalists kick up a storm for their favourite not taking the checkered flag.
While the concept of the race is admirable, it is rather flawed, as it pits entry and mid-level diesel models against two flagship variants. It sees the Mitsubishi Triton L200 up against the Ford Ranger 2.2, the Toyota Hilux 2.4, the Mercedes-Benz X250d and the high-powered Volkswagen Amarok V6.
For reference, the two flagship models are the Amarok and Triton, but even between those two, there is a massive difference in performance and price. The Mitsubishi Triton 4x4 uses a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel motor to produce 133kw and 440nm, and is priced locally from R549 995 for the 4x4 variant.
The Volkswagen Amarok however, uses a 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel motor to produce 165kw and 550nm, although it can produce up to 180kw for a very short period on overboost, with this luxury bakkie priced from R720 600. The reality is that the Amarok 2.0-litre biturbo diesel 4Motion should have been used, as that makes 132kw and 420nm, and is priced from R620 800.
Next up is the second most expensive bakkie of the lot – the Mercedes-Benz X250d. This uses a retuned version of the 2.3-litre biturbo 4-cylinder motor that is used in the Nissan Navara, and produces 140kw and 450nm, with this premium bakkie priced from R701 615. That said, it would have been interesting if they pitted the new 190kw X350d against the Amarok V6.
The remaining two places are filled by two of South Africa’s favourites. The Ford Ranger 2.2 4x4 and the Toyota Hilux 2.4GD-6 4x4, with them priced from R445 500 and R485 800 respectively. But whereas the Ranger uses a 2.2-litre 4-cylinder to make 118kw and 385nm, the Hilux uses a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder to produce the least in this line-up – 110kw and 400nm. So it comes as no surprise that these two proved out powered.
But without further ado, here is this epic drag race.
Also worth a look: the Toyota Everest and the Toyota Corolla Cross: Still King of the Crossover Castle?.
FAQ
Q: Which bakkie won the drag race between the Hilux, Ranger, Amarok, X-Class and Triton?
The Volkswagen Amarok V6 with its 165kW and 550Nm from a 3.0-litre turbo diesel dominated the drag race, though this wasn't exactly a fair fight considering it costs R720,600 compared to the entry-level bakkies priced around R445,500 to R485,800.
Q: What's the cheapest 4x4 bakkie from this comparison in South Africa?
The Ford Ranger 2.2 4x4 is the cheapest option at R445,500, followed closely by the Toyota Hilux 2.4GD-6 4x4 at R485,800, making both solid entry points into proper 4x4 bakkie ownership without breaking the bank.
Q: How much power does the Mercedes X-Class make compared to other bakkies?
The Mercedes-Benz X250d produces 140kW and 450Nm from its 2.3-litre biturbo engine, positioning it right in the middle of the pack with more grunt than the entry-level Ranger and Hilux but less than the flagship Amarok V6.
Q: Is the Volkswagen Amarok V6 worth the extra money over other bakkies?
The Amarok V6 at R720,600 delivers serious performance with 165kW and can hit 180kW on overboost, but you're paying a premium of nearly R200,000 over proven workhorses like the Hilux and Ranger that'll do 90% of what most bakkie owners need.
Q: Which bakkie offers the best value for money in South Africa?
The Toyota Hilux 2.4GD-6 4x4 at R485,800 strikes the sweet spot between proven reliability, decent performance, and acceptable pricing, though the Ford Ranger 2.2 4x4 at R445,500 edges it out on pure affordability.
Should You Buy It?
If you're after the best value 4x4 bakkie under R500,000 in South Africa, the Toyota Hilux 2.4GD-6 4x4 at R485,800 gets our nod for combining legendary reliability with decent performance, though the Ford Ranger 2.2 4x4 at R445,500 wins on pure affordability. Skip the Mercedes X250d at R701,615 unless you're desperate for German badges, and only consider the Amarok V6 at R720,600 if you genuinely need that extra performance and don't mind paying nearly 50% more than the proven Japanese and American alternatives. For most South African bakkie buyers, the Hilux remains the sensible choice that won't let you down whether you're tackling Sani Pass or the daily commute.
