GWM P Series vs Ford Ranger

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Historical comparison

Every selected record is historical. Verified South African specifications and last-listed prices remain available for owners and used-car shoppers.

GWM P Series Discontinued model Ford Ranger Archived range page
GWM P Series in South Africa

GWM P Series

2.0T Double Cab LX 4x4 Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Discontinued model
ZAR 599,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 480 Nm ⛽ 9.8 km/l
VS
Ford Ranger in South Africa

Ford Ranger

Archived range page
Earlier range listing historical price not confirmed
Earlier grouped range This earlier grouped listing remains available with its historical specifications. Current body-style or trim pages remain separate.
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At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance P Series
Fuel Economy Ranger
🛡 Safety P Series
📦 Practicality P Series
🔑 Ownership P Series

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec P Series Ranger
Maximum Power 110 kW Not confirmed
Maximum Torque 480 Nm Not confirmed
Engine Size 1996 cc Not confirmed
Claimed Mileage 9.8 km/l Not confirmed
Ground Clearance 210 mm Not confirmed
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed Not confirmed
Airbags 6 Not confirmed
Kerb Weight 1985 kg Not confirmed
Seating Capacity Not confirmed Not confirmed
Warranty 5 Years / 100,000 km Not confirmed

= leads in this spec

Archived models stay fully comparable. Verified specs remain visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

P Series dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance P Series +11 pts
Efficiency Ranger +9 pts
Safety P Series +94 pts
Practicality P Series +31 pts
Ownership P Series +15 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

P Series

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Ranger

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

P Series

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Ranger

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec P Series Ranger
Model Introduced Year 2020 Not confirmed
Generation The P Series sold in South Africa is the first generation marketed under the GWM banner locally, derived from Great Wall's POER platform launched in China in 2019. Local specification differs from the Chinese-market POER in suspension calibration (firmer for higher payload), 4x4 system tuning (greater bias to load-carrying durability over technical off-road performance) and trim levels (the South African range is more equipment-loaded than the domestic Chinese equivalent at the same price point). Not confirmed
Facelift History Since its 2020 South African launch, the P Series has received two notable updates. A 2022 mid-cycle refresh introduced the larger 10.25-inch infotainment screen on LS and above, updated driver-assistance calibration to reduce false lane-departure alerts on SA rural roads, and added wireless Apple CarPlay on the LT and LX. A 2024 specification update added the 360-degree camera as standard on LT trim, upgraded the rear-camera resolution across the range and revised the suspension damping after South African dealer feedback noted the original tune was firmer than ideal on Eastern Cape gravel. Not confirmed
Facelift Launched Since 2024 Not confirmed
Body Type Cab Double Cab Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 1985 kg Not confirmed
Spec P Series Ranger
Drivetrain Layout Front Engine Rear Wheel Drive Not confirmed
LSD Available No Not confirmed
Transfer Case Yes Not confirmed
Differential Lock Yes Not confirmed
Paddle Shifters No Not confirmed
Engine Position Front Longitudinal Not confirmed
Gearbox 8-Speed Automatic Not confirmed
Final Drive Ratio 3.54 Not confirmed
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 16.5:1 Not confirmed
Number of Gears 8 Not confirmed
Transmission Type Automatic Not confirmed
Gear Shift Indicator Yes Not confirmed
Drivetrain 4x4 AWD Not confirmed
4WD Engagement Electronic rotary dial Not confirmed
4WD Hi Range Yes Not confirmed
4WD Lo Range Yes Not confirmed
Differential Type Front Open Not confirmed
Differential Type Rear Open / Lockable Not confirmed
Gearbox Type Automatic Not confirmed
Reverse Gear Warning Yes Not confirmed
Transmission Speeds 8 Not confirmed
Gear Shift Type Automatic Not confirmed

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

P Series leads by 31 points

P Series dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Winner 70 /100
Lead 31 points
Data 94% confidence
70
#1 Winner

P Series

94% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 41
Performance 61
Efficiency 41
Safety 94
Practicality 81
Ownership 65
Leads by 31 points
39
#2

Ranger

11% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Performance 50 Check Safety 0
Performance 50
Efficiency 50
Safety 0
Practicality 50
Ownership 50
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance P Series +11 Efficiency Ranger +9 Safety P Series +94 Practicality P Series +31 Ownership P Series +15

High confidence result.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

P Series

Performance 61/100
Efficiency 41/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 81/100
Ownership 65/100

Ranger

Performance 50/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 0/100
Practicality 50/100
Ownership 50/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM P Series wins with 70 pts vs 39 pts for Ranger

In structured scoring, P Series emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Ranger may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the P Series edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: P Series 41 vs Ranger 50. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: P Series 94, Ranger 0. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: P Series 65, Ranger 50. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: P Series 81, Ranger 50. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: P Series 61, Ranger 50. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The P Series edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The P Series scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between P Series and Ranger in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: P Series scores 61 vs 50.

Efficiency: P Series scores 41 vs 50.

Safety: P Series scores 94 vs 0.

Practicality: P Series scores 81 vs 50.

Ownership: P Series scores 65 vs 50.

Final structured scoring gives P Series the advantage in this comparison.