FORD is at the top of the pickup truck game when it comes to selling the lifestyle image.
Performance, workhorse or executive comfort, the United States carmaker has successfully positioned its next-generation Ranger to cater to just about anyone.
There are multiple variants of the model to suit different needs, and none so successfully embodies this like the Platinum.
A newcomer to the lineup, the Platinum was conceived as the penultimate Ranger variant, just shy of the powerhouse Raptor in performance.
Sitting at the No. 2 spot in terms of pricing may mislead those who adhere to the "pricier is better" school of thought but among the many variants, the Platinum provides just the right amount of experience for the modern day urbanite.
COMPLETE CLASS
Designed to deliver the best of what the Ranger has to offer, the double-cab Platinum is a mix of extreme ruggedness on the outside and premium comfort (for a pickup truck) on the inside.
Its exterior comes complete with a grille new to the Ranger model, matrix LED headlamps, power roller shutter for the cargo bay, a flexible rack system with swing-in-place roof rails and 20-inch alloy wheels.
The cabin boasts quilted leather trim seats with heated and ventilated features. The 10-way power-adjustable front seats with three memory settings is a first in the Ranger lineup.
The 12-inch portrait-oriented infotainment display supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Platinum's cabin also features ambient lighting, "Platinum" branding on the front seats and glove box, accent stitching and decorative finishing, and a Bang & Olufsen audio system.
The standard driver assistance features include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centring, lane-change warning and aid, blind spot detection system, rear cross-traffic alert, post-collision and secondary collision brake, evasive steer assist, anti-lock braking system, stability control and traction control.
There are also autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian protection, forward collision warning, reverse brake assist, trailer and sway assist, rollover mitigation, hill launch assist, hill descent control and brake assist.
The passive safety features include seven airbags, driver and front passenger seat belt reminders, and ISOFIX mounts for the rear seats.
What is commonly shared with its other Ranger siblings, especially the Ranger Wildtrak, is the 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine that produces 210PS at 3,750rpm and 500Nm of torque at 2,000rpm. This is paired with an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system and a 10-speed automatic gearbox.
The pickup truck comes in three body paint colours: Meteor Grey, Absolute Black and the Platinum-exclusive Equinox Bronze.
The Platinum is priced at RM183,888 (on-the-road without insurance) and comes with a five-year or 160,000km manufacturer's warranty.
Customers have the option to extend this to six or seven years, or up to an additional 40,000km, with the Premium Care packages ranging from RM2,300 to RM6,900.
PLATINUM PLAY
Let us digress a little and talk about how odd it is to see the amount of effort that goes into making pickup trucks competitive in today's market.
Compared to the other vehicle segments, pickup trucks have undergone a most robust marketing exercise to make them as relatable as sedans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
But this was not always the case. For a period around a decade ago, pickup trucks were hot on the shoppers' list because of their mix of price for functionality.
Solid, tough as nails and practical when it came to cargo and having both the fortitude and height to overcome the standard urban flood woes — a problem for the general sedans — made them very appealing purchases.
They were so popular that this writer was told that back then, a Ranger had a waiting period of a year. What also sold them then was the price, which started from below the RM100,000 mark.
But everything changed after carmakers decided to double or even triple the prices of these sporty-looking workhorses.
What happens is that the common man or woman would not be able to rationalise a RM100,000 rough workhorse as a daily drive if not in the business of moving heavy items around.
Fast forward to 2024 and the Platinum package is the finest example of what pickup trucks should aspire to offer.
A culmination of market direction, it is what you would expect in a modern C or D-segment car or SUV. The drive is smooth thanks to a superb suspension setup and steering that is just right, being not too floaty or tough on the driver.
Being in the cabin makes you feel like you're in an executive premium vehicle but with a bit of sporty feel.
The operating system is simple to navigate and responsive enough to not be a problem.
Comfort in a pickup truck may not be exclusive to the Platinum, but currently no one does it better.
The power roller shutter at the rear bed means no additional accessory is needed to protect your cargo.
It is equipped to the brim inside out with all the known bells and whistles to deal with all occasions. You'll find that you're in good hands, it doesn't matter it you're stuck in traffic in the pouring rain or itching for a rugged off-road experience.
If anything, the Platinum only misses out on the power performance that the more popular Raptor comes with. But this writer's take is that the grand majority of buyers will rarely, if at all, find themselves in need to tap the flagship variant's level of performance.
VERDICT
Pickup trucks have come a long way and the Platinum best exemplifies this evolution. It is not simply an all-rounder but a "best of" combination variant of what the Ranger lineup has to offer.
This writer would go one step further to say the Platinum encompasses all the necessary features of pickup trucks in general.
There are two other prime elements that makes the Platinum an extreme contender in the segment and that is its price and how it almost has zero shortcomings as far as offerings are concerned.
Sure it isn't as powerful as the Raptor but again, that's more of an added luxury than a necessity.
If you're looking for a one-stop model, then the Platinum is easily worth the price of admission for all that you'll be getting.
It is an all-in-one complete experience for pickup trucks. A rough-and-tough 4x4 that drives smoothly and comes with a full range of comfort features that makes it simply perfect for the modern day urbanite.
