Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4: rugged, refined

The Ford Ranger has become one of the most iconic midsize pickup trucks in the Philippines serving as the go-to vehicle for people from various walks of life. 

Its respectable powertrain and commendable hauling capabilities allowed it to earn the approval of many tradespeople here and abroad. Further, the suite of appointments geared towards the convenience of its occupants has made it a top choice for car buyers who want to enjoy some sort of refinement while still benefiting from its rough and rugged nature. 

Want to know if the Blue Oval brand’s truck is the right one for you? Join us as we share our thoughts about the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4. 

Dimensions 

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4 looks tall and boxy, which gives it a stalwart stance and a formidable appeal. Below are its dimensions: 

Overall length	5,370 millimeters (mm)
Overall width	1,918 mm
Overall height	1,884 mm

 

On that note, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4 offers a commanding presence whether it sits still in the parking lot or when it cruises through the expressways. 

Moreover, it enjoys a ground clearance of 235 mm, which means that drivers won’t have to worry about crossing speed bumps or be bothered about the varying height of concrete stoppers on different parking lots. 

Exterior 

Outside, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4 is both sexy and robust. I loved that its boxy exterior creates an image of steadfastness and stability without being too loud like the Ranger Raptor with all its additional claddings. 

At the fore, the pickup truck gets matrix LED headlights with adaptive front lighting technology. It also gets the C-shaped daytime running lights, which have become an identifying feature of the current-generation Ford Rangers and Everest sport utility vehicles (SUV). 

The powerful character of its front fascia is reinforced by a mesh-like latticework with large openings as well as a stout-looking chin. 

Its flanks are adorned by decent-sized wheel arches with matching black mud flaps, large running boards, black-trimmed side mirrors (with repeaters and cameras), body-colored door handles, blacked-out B-pillars, a pair of roof rails, and the thoughtfully designed step board on the rear end corner of the vehicle. 

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4 rides on monotone 18-inch alloy wheels — which I prefer over the two-tone wheels often used by most brands today — wrapped in 255/65 radial tires. 

I would like to point out that the beefy tires help absorb some of the road imperfections and aid in making the ride more comfortable. Additionally, these chunky rubbers can protect the wheels from accidentally hitting the gutter. 

The backside of the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4 gets an easy-lift tailgate bordered by squarish LED taillamps. Opening this up gives access to its bed box. Here are its measurements: 

Length	1,564 mm
Width	1,584 mm
Height	540 mm

 

Such space can accommodate a wide variety of cargo, from pots of mature Swiss cheese plants (aka monstera deliciosa) for plantitos and plantitas; to huge pet crates whose loving fur parents might need to carry for their large-breed dogs such as Belgian malinois and German shepherds. 

It is also worth noting that the truck bed has a power outlet so owners  may plug in appliances when one takes out the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4 camping. 

Interior 

The cabin of the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4 is not exactly huge. But, it offers decent space for its passengers as well as some daily carry items they might have, like pouches and small bags. 

For instance, the driver can customize his or her seating position thanks to an eight-way power-adjust seat. Likewise, the multi-functional steering wheel has adjustment features for reach and rake. 

The front passenger can also find the right seating position with a four-way manually adjustable chair. 

People occupying the second row get to sit in bench-type seats with a center armrest and a fold-up function. 

All seats have decent cushioning and are well bolstered, which can help improve ride comfort for both short and long trips. They are finished in a mix of leather and synthetic hide. Similar upholstery is applied to the steering wheel and other trims of the truck’s cabin. 

When it comes to storage spaces, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4 has cubbies on the dashboard at the front passenger side, a glove box compartment, a box under the center armrest, a french fries holder, two cup holders on the center console, and pockets on each side of the door cards. 

Rear occupants get their own door pockets and document storage options thanks to the slots behind the front seats. 

Powertrain, chassis 

Under the hood of the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4 is a 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel engine mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. On paper, the said setup makes some 207 horsepower with 500 Newton-meters of torque. 

Based on my experience driving the unit, the powertrain system does well in both stop-and-go traffic as well as when speeding through the highways. The acceleration feels refined and the shifting of the automatic gearbox is seamless. 

Enough power is distributed throughout the rev range so drivers can feel sure about overtakes or when matching the pace (with grace of course) of other vehicles in the expressways. 

Uphill climbs feel like a walk in the park and zooming through straightaways feels like easy work. The chink in its armor — as one might expect — can be felt when attacking corners. Even at low speeds, some body roll can be experienced. 

Those who might be taking the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4 off the beaten path and into more challenging terrains can make full use of its four-wheel drivetrain accompanied by various drive modes, which optimizes the performance of the pickup truck. 

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4 is supported by a double wishbone suspension with coil springs and an anti-roll bar system at the front. Its rear relies on leaf spring suspensions. 

Halts and deceleration are facilitated by ventilated disc brakes — front and back. 

Technology, safety

Past the aforementioned steering wheel is an eight-inch digital instrument cluster that displays relevant driving information in crisp detail.

Here are some of the data drivers can check on the instrument panel: 

• Speed
• Fuel consumption
• Fuel level 
• Engine temperature
• Range
• Selected or engaged gear

It is accompanied by a 12-inch colored portrait infotainment system, which has become a common orientation on most SUVs, pickup trucks, and even crossovers nowadays. 

The infotainment unit has wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, which is helpful when pairing smartphones and using various applications such as Spotify or Google Maps.

Here, the 360-degree view of the vehicle is also displayed, which can be helpful when getting in and out of tight spots or when squeezing in and out of heavy traffic. 

Safety-wise, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4 offers a robust suite of technologies, which we have listed below: 

• Hill launch assist 
• Roll over mitigation 
• Hill descent control
• Anti-lock braking 
• Electronic brake-force distribution
• Electronic stability 
• Traction control 
• 360-degree-view camera

On top of the standard safety features, it also gets a slew of advanced driver assist systems: 

• Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go lane centering 
• Auto high beam
• Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection 
• Pre-collision assist
• Forward collision warning 
• Evasive steer assist 
• Lane departure warning and lane keeping 
• Blind spot information with cross-traffic and braking alert

Variants, pricing 

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4 is the range-topping trim of the family — excluding the Raptor variant. It is priced at P1.940 million. 

Here are the other Ford Ranger grades slotted under the Ranger Wildtrak 4X4: 

Ford Ranger 2.0L Turbo Wildtrak 4X2	P1.614 million
Ford Ranger 2.0L Turbo Sport 4X4	P1.624 million
Ford Ranger 2.0L Turbo Sport 4X2	P1.504 million
Ford Ranger 2.0L Turbo XLT 4X2	P1.389 million
Ford Ranger 2.0L Turbo XL 4X4 (MT)	P1.259 million

 

Final thoughts 

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4 is a solid option for car buyers looking for a pickup truck with looks that befit its capabilities. 

It has a reliable powertrain that can undoubtedly perform well when hauling people or cargo. Plus, its up-to-date technological appointments make it a good vehicle to drive whether one plans to carefully follow an itinerary or if one intends to enjoy spontaneous surprises along the journey. 

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