GWM P500 vs Ford Ranger Raptor

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.

GWM P500 in South Africa

GWM P500

2.0T HEV Ultra Luxury 4x4 9HAT Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 999,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 255 kW 🔧 648 Nm ⛽ 9.8 km/l
VS
Ford Ranger Raptor in South Africa

Ford Ranger Raptor

Raptor 3.0T V6 10AT 4x4 Petrol Automatic
ZAR 1,299,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 292 kW 🔧 583 Nm ⛽ Not Applicable km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tie
Fuel Economy Ranger Raptor
🛡 Safety Ranger Raptor
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership P500
P500 starts ZAR 1299000 cheaper P500 from ZAR 799,900 · Ranger Raptor from ZAR 1,299,000

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec P500 Ranger Raptor
Engine Power 255 292
Torque 648 583
Engine Size 2000 2993
Claimed Mileage 9.8 Not Applicable
Ground Clearance 224 mm 272 mm
Boot Space Not Applicable Not Applicable
Airbags Not Available Not Available
Kerb Weight Not Applicable Not Applicable
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 4 years / 120 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both P500 and Ranger Raptor are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Equal
Efficiency Ranger Raptor +8 pts
Safety Ranger Raptor +10 pts
Practicality Equal
Ownership P500 +31 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

P500

Strengths
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: General Use

Ranger Raptor

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

P500

  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Ranger Raptor

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec P500 Ranger Raptor
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Current South African P500 listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Current South African Ranger Raptor listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle. Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Double-cab pickup Double Cab Pickup
Body Type Cab Pickup Pickup
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.0T HEV Ultra Luxury 4x4 9HAT Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: Raptor 3.0T V6 10AT 4x4
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment Pickup Performance Bakkie
Vehicle Type Pickup Pickup
Spec P500 Ranger Raptor
Ground Clearance 224 mm 272 mm
Wheelbase 3350 mm 3270 mm
Length 5445 mm 5381 mm
Width 1991 mm 2028 mm
Height 1924 mm 1922 mm
Kerb Weight Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gross Vehicle Weight Not Applicable Not Applicable
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space Not Applicable Not Applicable
Towing Capacity Not Applicable 2500 kg
Front Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Radius Not Applicable Not Applicable
Load Bed Length Not Applicable Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Legroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Legroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Headroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Headroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not Applicable
Boot Space Seats Folded Not Applicable Not Applicable
Number of Doors 4 4
Max Payload Not Applicable 655 kg
Boot Volume Not Applicable Not Applicable
Doors 4 4
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity Not Applicable 80 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg Not Applicable Not Applicable
Ground Clearance Max 224 mm 272 mm
Ground Clearance Min 224 mm 272 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 224 mm 272 mm
Height Mm 1924 mm 1922 mm
Length Mm 5445 mm 5381 mm
Loadbox Length Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Payload Kg Not Applicable 655 kg
Cargo Volume Not Applicable Not Applicable
Tare Mass Kg Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Circle Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Circle M Not Applicable Not Applicable
Width Mm 1991 mm 2028 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

P500 leads by 1 points

Both P500 and Ranger Raptor are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 60 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 70% confidence
60
#1 Winner

P500

70% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Safety 9
Performance 98
Efficiency 48
Safety 9
Practicality 75
Ownership 65
Leads by 1 points
59
#2

Ranger Raptor

59% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Safety 19
Performance 98
Efficiency 56
Safety 19
Practicality 75
Ownership 34
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Level Efficiency Ranger Raptor +8 Safety Ranger Raptor +10 Practicality Level Ownership P500 +31

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

P500

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 48/100
Safety 9/100
Practicality 75/100
Ownership 65/100

Ranger Raptor

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 19/100
Practicality 75/100
Ownership 34/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM P500 wins with 60 pts vs 59 pts for Ranger Raptor

In structured scoring, P500 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Ranger Raptor 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 P500 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: P500 48 vs Ranger Raptor 56. 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: P500 9, Ranger Raptor 19. 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: P500 65, Ranger Raptor 34. 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: P500 75, Ranger Raptor 75. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: P500 98, Ranger Raptor 98. 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 P500 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The P500 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 P500 and Ranger Raptor in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: P500 scores 98 vs 98.

Efficiency: P500 scores 48 vs 56.

Safety: P500 scores 9 vs 19.

Practicality: P500 scores 75 vs 75.

Ownership: P500 scores 65 vs 34.

Final structured scoring gives P500 the advantage in this comparison.