Wildtrak X solves a million buck Ford Ranger riddle
So you want a Ford Ranger, but you’re not so sure about the brawny stigma that comes with the Raptor. And the Wildtrak, er… it’s just not enough. Well, Ford has you covered. Just mark it with an X. Wildtrak X, that is.
More adventurous without compromising hallmark Ranger luxury and safety, Wildtrak X is the more upmarket of the two 2-litre Biturbo Rangers available alongside the Tremor to come with Ford’s on-demand four-wheel drive system with 4A automatic mode. Boasting 2H, 4H and 4L 4×4 driving ratios rugged, its more trail capable with all the tools required for ultimate off-road adventure, extra tech and more.
Differentiated by a subtly bolder style, the regular Wildtrak-based X delivers discerning Ranger owners what they need straight out of Ford’s Pretoria factory. With a 30 mm wider track, ground clearance is up by 26mm. That in part due to unique Position-Sensitive Bilstein damped long-travel suspension and new-design 17-inch alloys wrapped in 265/70 R17 General Grabber AT3 all-terrain rubber.
X packs more advanced off-road tricks
Among its more advanced off-road tricks, ingenious Trail Control manages dirt driving acceleration and braking, while innovative Trail Turn Assist tightens the Ranger’s off-road turning circle by up to 25 percent. The bakkie also has seven driving modes from Normal to Eco, Tow and Haul, Slippery, Mud and Ruts, Sand and Rock Crawl.
Besides the new wheel and tyre, X is set apart by a new asphalt black off-road grille with integrated driving lights and orange trim. The asphalt black spreads to the bumper H-bar, wheelarch lips, fender vents, mirror caps, door handles and rear bumper. There’s a special enthusiast steel bash plate and cast aluminium side steps. Add black Ford oval badges and model lettering across the bonnet, and unique Wildtrak X badging.
X also brings Ford’s new Flexible Rack to ease weekday load demands as much as weekend escape kit needs. It makes carrying anything from ladders or planks, to kayaks and sporting kit a synch while freeing up load bed space for extra cargo. It comprises a five-position sliding rack along the length of the load bed. One-man folding roof racks store inside the roof rails when not in use and do not require any tools to set up or stow.
X opens up to Miko suede & leather Luxury
Step inside to Wildtrak X embroidered Miko suede trim leather seats with terra suede and cyber orange finishes and contrast stitching across the cabin. There’s 10-speaker B&O premium sound audio with built-in 400W/240V inverter. Wildtrak’s overhead pre-wired six auxiliary switch pack allows seamless fitment of aftermarket accessories.
Wildtrak X adds an off-road SYNC Screen and 360-degree camera and the larger 12-inch screen to the regular Ranger infotainment. The rest is your regular flexible, modern Ranger cabin fare with crisp digital dials and infotainment. The version. And its wireless charging, CarPlay, Auto, Bluetooth and that kitchen sink. In a quite splendid space
On paper, that is. Build quality has improved as production ramped up. But some of it remains a tad iffy for a million-buck motor. The cheap and nasty centre console rotary controller, overthought, complex and tricky to use gear lever, and squeeze to open door handles don’s satisfy all tastes. But we enjoy Ranger’s extensive driver assist tech. It’s subtle to start with. Kill it with a tap on the steering button if you don’t want it meddling.
Our X seemed a little off on performance
The infotainment seems cool on the face of it, it it’s not all that simple while driving the bakkie. It takes great driver concentration to carry out even the most menial of tasks. Look, Ford’s not alone in making its cars impossible to get on with. It’s an industry-wide scourge. Happily Euro NCAP concurs will soon render most idiot interfaces to history. Its already happening elsewhere. And about time, too.
For the rest, this 154 kW 500 Nm two-litre biturbo Ford is the same engine that holds our crucial four-cylinder diesel double cab road test record. But this bakkie came nowhere close. We think the test unit was a bit down on power so don’t read too much into the data at the bottom. It should be closer the best Ford Ranger biturbo figures we achieved a while back.
The Ranger certainly looks the part too. Even more so in this X get-up, which is a touch wilder than Wildtrak, but nowhere near as bold as the brute Raptor. And it drives very well too. Among the best of the bakkies. Even better now with those Bilstein dampers. The cab is in harmony with the chassis. And while it is set up stiff, it’s not that harsh. Ten out of ten to Ford in that department. Wildtrak X is safe, planted and satisfying to drive.
X kit propels the price way up the Ranger list
OK, all that X kit certainly propels its price way up the list. But it also brings SUV-like culture to the bakkie world. Add Ford’s extensive backup, a great warranty and add-on options up to 200,000 km, and this Ranger stacks up to a most compelling option.
Sure, there are still quality issues and some silly interface challenges to deal with. But Ford clearly has the top end of its Ranger range covered. With the Wildtrak, the Tremor, this X and the Raptor, among the kit to consider in the million-buck bracket. If you’re shopping around there, rest assured, there simply has to be a factory-fresh Ford Ranger to satisfy your every whim. – Michele Lupini
Images & testing: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Ford Ranger 2.0bt DC Wildtrak X 4x4
Engine: 154 kW 500 Nm 2-litre bi-turbodiesel I4
Drive: 10-speed automatic 4x4
Load Capacity: 946 kg
Max Braked Trailer 3,500 kg
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 4.49 sec
0-100 km/h: 10.02 sec
0-120 km/h: 14.53 sec
0-160 km/h: 29.27sec
400m: 17.1 sec @ 131 km/h
80-120 km/h: 9.86 sec
120-160 km/h: 14.92 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 190 km/h
Fuel: 7.5 l/100 km
CO2: 195 g/km
Range: 1,050 km
Warranty/Service: 4y 120K/ up to 8y 200K km
LIST PRICE: R1.079M
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