The SuperCab, Extra Cab, Extended Cab, or, as it’s known by some, the cab-and-a-half, is a niche sort of segment within the local bakkie market. More cab than a single cab, less so than a double cab. The opposite is true from a load bin perspective: more bin than a double, less than a single. So, are the cab and a bit options, like the Ford Ranger Wildtrak SuperCab, best suited to those who can’t decide what they want in a bakkie? Well, yes, but there’s also so much more to it than just that.
In my opinion, and this will irk those outspoken double-cab-bakkie-or-naught web troll types no end, but the cabin and a bit embodies the best qualities of this kettle of vehicles—a workhorse that can double down as a weekender. Why have five seats that receive very little use while the load bin space is smaller?
Sure, it’s nice to have for that ‘maybe in the future scenario’ but considering that most double cabs are double-parked at shopping malls with no one except a couple using them, it's a shame. Then there’s the “it’s more practical than an SUV” justification, but at the end of the day, most buyers feel too sorry for their prized double cabs to ever subject them to anything more extensive than carting around the month’s groceries.
But the SuperCab is too rudimentary and doesn’t offer the same creature comforts that roll out as standard with most upper-spec double cabs. Wrong. At least as far as this test subject is concerned. The Wildtrak nomenclature plastered on our test unit isn’t just for enticing interesting braai-side conversations; it’s full-fat Ranger Wildtrak specification in a cab-and-a-half package. That means the full-sized 12-inch tablet-style infotainment screen with seamless smartphone connectivity and crisp graphics (the touchscreen buttons are still a tad too small, though), the full TFT digital driver display, two leather seats, the rear bench with integrated storage cubbies for storing anything from tools to binoculars and, of course, the signature orange Wildtrak stitching on the steering wheel, seats, door trimmings, drive selector, and centre console storage bin.
And the drive? Well, the Ranger Wildtrak SuperCab doesn’t roll out with Ford’s new 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel, with only the 2.0-litre bi-turbo mated to the 10-speed automatic gearbox on offer. Truthfully, at no point did it feel lacking on the power front, with 154kW and 500Nm delivered through one of the creamiest small-capacity diesel engines on offer. While Ford hasn’t published any official numbers on the engine’s performance in this application, what I can tell you is that the carmaker claims an average fuel consumption figure of 7.5l/100km. That’s a bit of an ambitious claim, with a registered figure of 9.2l/100km on the TFT during my week-long stint with the Ranger during a mix of highway and city driving. This figure may well climb significantly for the average bakkie owner who feels they have a point to prove... You know, the types that race full tilt from the mall’s exit to the stop sign that’s 50 metres away...
Then there’s the ride quality. For the most part, it’s excellent in relative bakkie terms, with just a slight judder emanating from the empty load bin’s end. Over worse-for-wear highways, like the R21 that links Pretoria with the East Rand, the hard-sprung character of this weekender workhorse becomes more apparent at 120km/h. It’s more comfortable than many of its mainstream arch-rivals, but less so than the well-sorted damping of, say, Nissan’s Navara.
In terms of usability, the Ranger Wildtrak SuperCab is rated for a payload of 995kg, or, in real-world terms, the easy fitment of two vintage-styled bathtubs side-by-side. It was the only thing we keyboard pushers could realistically pick up for testing purposes. In layman’s terms, the load bin is enormous, and since this is a 4x4, it could also play the part of a converted overland rig. Just saying…
As far as the numbers are concerned, the Ranger Wildtrak SuperCab is priced at an eye-watering R813,000, and included in the price is a 4-year/120,000km warranty, 4-year/unlimited roadside assistance, and a 5-year corrosion warranty. As is, the service plan isn’t included as standard, with Ford specifying the optional availability of service and maintenance plans of up to eight years, or 165,000km as part of the right-to-repair policy that’s in effect. It basically renders the service plan an option as opposed to a standard and obligatory item it once was.
That said, it's pretty clear that Ford has, for the most part, closed that gap between utility and comfort, making the Wildtrak SuperCab a compelling choice for those who need both something to fulfill their practical demands while having all the luxuries of a range-topping cabin space. Sure, the lack of a standard service plan at this price point does give some pause, especially considering many livelihoods will hinge on this bakkie’s functional side, but doesn’t detract from the fact that this package as a whole is mighty impressive since it doesn’t compromise on features or function, making it a somewhat niche but smart buy.
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