Ford Ranger Sport vs Mahindra S6 Mining

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.

Ford Ranger Sport in South Africa

Ford Ranger Sport

2.3T EcoBoost Double Cab Sport 10AT 4x2 Petrol Automatic
ZAR 839,600 ex-showroom
⚡ 222 kW 🔧 452 Nm ⛽ 10.8 km/l
VS
Mahindra S6 Mining in South Africa

Mahindra S6 Mining

S6 Mining DC 4WD Diesel Manual
ZAR 571,249 ex-showroom
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Ranger Sport
Fuel Economy S6 Mining
🛡 Safety Ranger Sport
📦 Practicality Ranger Sport
🔑 Ownership S6 Mining
S6 Mining starts ZAR 735000 cheaper Ranger Sport from ZAR 735,000 · S6 Mining from ZAR 478,649

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Ranger Sport S6 Mining
Engine Power 222 -
Torque 452 -
Engine Size 2261 -
Claimed Mileage 10.8 -
Ground Clearance 237 -
Boot Space Not Applicable -
Airbags Dual front, front side, curtain and driver knee -
Kerb Weight 2055 -
Seating Capacity 5 -
Warranty 4 years / 120 000 km -

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Ranger Sport holds a noticeable edge over S6 Mining, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Ranger Sport +37 pts
Efficiency S6 Mining +4 pts
Safety Ranger Sport +47 pts
Practicality Ranger Sport +36 pts
Ownership S6 Mining +16 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Ranger Sport

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

S6 Mining

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Ranger Sport

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

S6 Mining

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Ranger Sport S6 Mining
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed -
Generation Current South African Ranger Sport 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. -
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version -
Facelift Version Ending Current -
Body Style Double Cab Pickup -
Body Type Cab 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. -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.3T EcoBoost Double Cab Sport 10AT 4x2 -
Model Year 2026 -
Production Status active -
Segment Mid-size Bakkie -
Vehicle Type Pickup -
Spec Ranger Sport S6 Mining
Ground Clearance 237 mm -
Wheelbase 3270 mm -
Length 5350 mm -
Width 1918 mm -
Height 1886 mm -
Kerb Weight 2055 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight 3100 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 -
Boot Space Not Applicable -
Towing Capacity 3500 kg -
Front Track Width 1620 mm -
Rear Track Width 1620 mm -
Turning Radius 12.9 m -
Load Bed Length Not Applicable -
Load Bed Width Not Applicable -
Front Legroom 1057 mm -
Rear Legroom 879 mm -
Front Headroom 1024 mm -
Rear Headroom 989 mm -
Front Shoulder Room 1450 mm -
Rear Shoulder Room 1440 mm -
Boot Space Seats Folded Not Applicable -
Number of Doors 4 -
Max Payload 1045 kg -
Boot Volume Not Applicable -
Doors 4 -
Seats 5 -
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 3100 kg -
Ground Clearance Max 237 mm -
Ground Clearance Min 237 mm -
Ground Clearance Mm 237 mm -
Height Mm 1886 mm -
Length Mm 5350 mm -
Loadbox Length Mm Not Applicable -
Loadbox Width Mm Not Applicable -
Payload Kg 1045 kg -
Cargo Volume Not Applicable -
Tare Mass Kg 2055 kg -
Tracking System Vehicle locator via app -
Turning Circle 12.9 m -
Turning Circle M 12.9 m -
Width Mm 1918 mm -

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Ranger Sport leads by 24 points

Ranger Sport holds a noticeable edge over S6 Mining, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 63 /100
Lead 24 points
Data 71% confidence
63
#1 Winner

Ranger Sport

71% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 87 Check Ownership 34
Performance 87
Efficiency 46
Safety 47
Practicality 86
Ownership 34
Leads by 24 points
39
#2

S6 Mining

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 Ranger Sport +37 Efficiency S6 Mining +4 Safety Ranger Sport +47 Practicality Ranger Sport +36 Ownership S6 Mining +16

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Ranger Sport

Performance 87/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 47/100
Practicality 86/100
Ownership 34/100

S6 Mining

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Ford Ranger Sport wins with 63 pts vs 39 pts for S6 Mining

In structured scoring, Ranger Sport emerges as the stronger overall package. However, S6 Mining 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 Sport 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: Ranger Sport 46 vs S6 Mining 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: Ranger Sport 47, S6 Mining 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: Ranger Sport 34, S6 Mining 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: Ranger Sport 86, S6 Mining 50. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Ranger Sport 87, S6 Mining 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 Ranger Sport edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Ranger Sport 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 Ranger Sport and S6 Mining in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Ranger Sport scores 87 vs 50.

Efficiency: Ranger Sport scores 46 vs 50.

Safety: Ranger Sport scores 47 vs 0.

Practicality: Ranger Sport scores 86 vs 50.

Ownership: Ranger Sport scores 34 vs 50.

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