Ford Ranger Wildtrak 3.2L 4×4 AT – Review

Given the road conditions that we currently have, it is but natural for Filipinos to have a standing love affair with pick-up trucks. I mean, what’s not to like? Pick-up trucks are robust, versatile and practical. A pick-up can also be an excellent daily driver for a family of five. The downside, however, is its size. Getting around urban traffic can be a chore and squeezing into tight basement parking slots would be a great challenge for most. This probably what motivated Ford engineers to incorporate a lot of technology into their trucks to make driving a big, menacing vehicle like a walk in the park.

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak 3.2L may very well be considered as the “alpha” of pick-up trucks with its imposing dimensions and its 3,198 cc TDCI diesel engine which produces 197.18 hp @ 3,000 rpm and 470 nm @ 1,750-2,500 rpm. It has a 1,000-kilogram payload capacity and a 3,500-kilogram towing capacity. Most of us probably won’t be hauling that much cargo in our day-to-day life but as they say, it is better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Yet, don’t be intimidated by all those numbers. The Ranger Wildtrak is equipped with electronic nannies to help you control all that power under the hood.

The Electronic Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) system makes steering light and responsive for city driving and when parking, and firmer and easier to control at higher speeds on the open road. If traffic slows in front of you, Adaptive Cruise Control automatically slows to maintain a safe distance. Once traffic clears, it returns to your cruising speed. If the system detects the potential for a collision up ahead, it will flash a red warning signal on your windscreen and pre-charge your brakes, ready to stop quickly. The comprehensive Electronic Stability Program (ESP) ensures that you have sure-footing even in varying conditions.

More Ford Wildtrak Photos here

The 6-speed automatic transmission wasn’t as responsive as I would have liked but it is not much of an issue as shifting to S mode enabled me to manually move up and down the gears. The seat offers a commanding view of the road ahead and the 237 mm ground clearance gives you the confidence to take on any terrain. You can also shift from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive on the fly with a turn of a knob. Of course, the Ranger Wildtrak’s 800 mm wading depth capacity has to be its most relevant selling point. Even if you have no plans of crossing rivers and streams to explore the wilderness, there is no escaping the yearly monsoon floods

At a price tag of P 1, 709, 000, you also get creature comforts like dual climate control, a built-in cooler box and an android-compatible entertainment system with an 8-inch touch screen display. You also get Ford’s SYNC system to keep you hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road while you operate all those electronic gadgetry.

To know more about the Ranger Wildtrak 3.2L 4×4 AT, visit www.ford.com.ph