GWM P500 vs Ford Ranger Wildtrak

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 Wildtrak in South Africa

Ford Ranger Wildtrak

3.0TD V6 Double Cab Wildtrak 10AT 4x4 Diesel Automatic
ZAR 1,070,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 184 kW 🔧 600 Nm ⛽ 11.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance P500
Fuel Economy Ranger Wildtrak
🛡 Safety Ranger Wildtrak
📦 Practicality Ranger Wildtrak
🔑 Ownership P500
P500 starts ZAR 865000 cheaper P500 from ZAR 799,900 · Ranger Wildtrak from ZAR 865,000

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec P500 Ranger Wildtrak
Engine Power 255 184
Torque 648 600
Engine Size 2000 2993
Claimed Mileage 9.8 11.9
Ground Clearance 224 mm 237
Boot Space Not Applicable Not Applicable
Airbags Not Available Dual front, front side, curtain and driver knee
Kerb Weight Not Applicable 2386
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 4 years / 120 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Ranger Wildtrak has a slight advantage, but P500 remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance P500 +7 pts
Efficiency Ranger Wildtrak +4 pts
Safety Ranger Wildtrak +47 pts
Practicality Ranger Wildtrak +10 pts
Ownership P500 +11 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

P500

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving
🏆 Overall Winner

Ranger Wildtrak

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

P500

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Ranger Wildtrak

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec P500 Ranger Wildtrak
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 Wildtrak 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 Single/extended/double cab as per derivative name
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: 3.0TD V6 Double Cab Wildtrak 10AT 4x4
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment Pickup Mid-size Bakkie
Vehicle Type Pickup Pickup
Spec P500 Ranger Wildtrak
Ground Clearance 224 mm 237 mm
Wheelbase 3350 mm 3270 mm
Length 5445 mm 5350 mm
Width 1991 mm 1918 mm
Height 1924 mm 1886 mm
Kerb Weight Not Applicable 2386 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight Not Applicable 3350 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space Not Applicable Not Applicable
Towing Capacity Not Applicable 3500 kg
Front Track Width Not Applicable 1620 mm
Rear Track Width Not Applicable 1620 mm
Turning Radius Not Applicable 12.9 m
Load Bed Length Not Applicable Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Legroom Not Applicable 1057 mm
Rear Legroom Not Applicable 879 mm
Front Headroom Not Applicable 1024 mm
Rear Headroom Not Applicable 989 mm
Front Shoulder Room Not Applicable 1450 mm
Rear Shoulder Room Not Applicable 1440 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded Not Applicable Not Applicable
Number of Doors 4 4
Max Payload Not Applicable 964 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 3350 kg
Ground Clearance Max 224 mm 237 mm
Ground Clearance Min 224 mm 237 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 224 mm 237 mm
Height Mm 1924 mm 1886 mm
Length Mm 5445 mm 5350 mm
Loadbox Length Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Payload Kg Not Applicable 964 kg
Cargo Volume Not Applicable Not Applicable
Tare Mass Kg Not Applicable 2386 kg
Turning Circle Not Applicable 12.9 m
Turning Circle M Not Applicable 12.9 m
Width Mm 1991 mm 1918 mm
Tracking System - Vehicle locator via app

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Ranger Wildtrak leads by 10 points

Ranger Wildtrak has a slight advantage, but P500 remains highly competitive.

Winner 70 /100
Lead 10 points
Data 77% confidence
70
#1 Winner

Ranger Wildtrak

77% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 91 Check Efficiency 52
Performance 91
Efficiency 52
Safety 56
Practicality 85
Ownership 54
Leads by 10 points
60
#2

P500

70% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Safety 9
Performance 98
Efficiency 48
Safety 9
Practicality 75
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance P500 +7 Efficiency Ranger Wildtrak +4 Safety Ranger Wildtrak +47 Practicality Ranger Wildtrak +10 Ownership P500 +11

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Ranger Wildtrak

Performance 91/100
Efficiency 52/100
Safety 56/100
Practicality 85/100
Ownership 54/100

P500

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Ford Ranger Wildtrak wins with 70 pts vs 60 pts for P500

In structured scoring, Ranger Wildtrak emerges as the stronger overall package. However, P500 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 Ranger Wildtrak 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 Wildtrak 52. 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 Wildtrak 56. 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 Wildtrak 54. 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 Wildtrak 85. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: P500 98, Ranger Wildtrak 91. 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 Ranger Wildtrak edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: P500 scores 98 vs 91.

Efficiency: P500 scores 48 vs 52.

Safety: P500 scores 9 vs 56.

Practicality: P500 scores 75 vs 85.

Ownership: P500 scores 65 vs 54.

Final structured scoring gives Ranger Wildtrak the advantage in this comparison.