Final fight

The outgoing Ford Ranger Raptor stood at the top of the range-topping bakkie pantheon. Just before it bowed out, Toyota's Hilux GR tried to take its crown...

A performance bakkie wasn't something on the tip of everyone's tongue just a few years ago, but when Ford launched the Ranger Raptor to critical acclaim in 2019, the bar had been substantially raised for double cabs focused on driver enjoyment. Sure, there was the Volkswagen Amarok V6, but that was more of a highway bomber than a bundu-basher and not exactly a bakkie most buyers would willingly thrash off the beaten track.

Toyota and Ford have long been at each other's throats for control of the pick-up market share and the Ranger has slowly but surely crept up to the Hilux as one of the most desirable bakkies on our market, catering for many of those who prefer a lifestyle bent. There's little doubt the Ranger Raptor remained the king of its admittedly niche segment. While the automotive industry eagerly awaited the arrival of the new Ranger and Ranger Raptor Halo model, our long-term Raptor Special Edition was basking in the last rays before the arrival of its successor. However, Toyota would not go quietly just yet. Buoyed by its recent triumphs with the Gazoo Racing brand, it added a GR-badged model to the Hilux line-up just before the outgoing Raptor stepped down. We simply had to throw the Hilux GR-S in the ring with the champ for one more showdown.