The long-awaited new Ford Ranger can be spotted out and about on many roads, and off them, and it’s still as fetching as it was when it was launched. After spending a week with the new Wildtrak derivative, we can report that it’s equally as competent as it is handsome.
More than any of its forebears, the new Ranger has adopted typically American styling cues, which works tremendously well in our books. Gone are the outgoing model’s rounded edges, replaced by sharp angular lines, endowing the bakkie with an authoritative monster truck aesthetic. A bold new grille dominates the front view, flanked by distinct LED headlights with a unique C-shaped daytime running light signature. The rear lights also receive LEDs that square off its contemporary look. The range-topping Ranger is significantly larger (5,350 mm long and 2,015 wide) and has some serious road presence and much-increased cabin space.
CABIN IMPRESSIONS
The cabin experience has also improved over its predecessors. With bakkies now catering for the lifestyle market, the interior environment must blend comfort, luxury, and robust build quality.
Powering ahead of most rivals (excluding the new VW Amarok based on the Ranger), the cabin has traded its analogue roots for a digital future. This is immediately evident from the massive 12” portrait-oriented infotainment system. I am old enough to remember an era when household TVs were not much larger than this! With Ford’s SYNC 4 system, the new infotainment features smartphone integration, navigation, and crisp parking cameras.
Getting acquainted with the infotainment system will be a steep learning curve for most as many functions are buried under sub-menus. Call us old fashioned, but operating a feature-packed infotainment system on the go is no different to using a smartphone while driving, with all the potential repercussions. Thankfully climate control buttons are still physical and are easy to locate and operate.
The cabin is noticeably roomier than its predecessor and can easily accommodate five adults. The Wildtrak also comes standard with leather upholstery with contrast stitching, which, together with the soft touch surfaces, gives the cabin a comfortable yet decidedly upmarket feel. Sure, hard plastics can be found if you poke around the cabin, but durability is vital even at the top end of the leisure bakkie ladder, given that even the Wildtrak is built to be exposed to challenging environments.
ENGINE OPTIONS
There are two engines on offer, a 2.0-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder engine which produces 154 kW and 500 Nm, and a 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 which churns out 184 kW and 600 Nm. Both come mated strictly to a ten-speed automatic transmission with no manual option. The 2.0-litre unit sends power to a conventional four-wheel-drive system, while the V6 boasts an adjustable shift-on-the-fly four-wheel system.
LIVING ON THE WILD SIDE
One of the first thoughts that struck me when our tester arrived was its imposing dimensions, and I couldn’t help but wonder whether it would be cumbersome in the city. This problem never materialised during the week we spent in the Ranger as a daily driver. That’s not to say the Ranger’s size isn’t imposing when negotiating narrow roads or navigating a tight parking lot, but the light steering irons out these issues. The high seating position and large windows also provided ample visibility, which helped make city driving that much easier.
Given the Wildtrak’s powerful V6 engine and well-balanced ten-speed ‘box, the bakkie responds well to throttle inputs for effortless acceleration and overtaking when needed. Merging onto a highway is a cinch, and once on the road, the V6 engine truly comes into its own with heaps of low-down torque available linearly through the rev range. New-generation cabin insulation ensures almost no engine, wind, or road noise intrusion, perfectly in-line with the Wildtrak’s premium SUV ambitions.
As someone with a baby, I value ride quality above all else, and the Wildtrak did not disappoint in this department. Despite its ladder-on-frame underpinnings, the bakkie is as compliant as any in this category. It soaks up bumps well without upsetting the cabin, though some rough road surfaces can send the odd shudder into the cabin.
LAST WORD
With a bang, the Ranger entered the most competitive South African car market segment and has quickly established its superiority as a serious family-focused leisure cruiser. With impressive features and a sleek design, the new model improves upon the previous generation’s strengths, and beating that, at this point, is almost impossible.
Report by BRYAN KAYAVHU | Images © FORD SOUTH AFRICA
