On the road with the Ford Ranger Wildtrak

MANILA, Philippines - In car-crazy L.A., one standout pickup truck is the hulking Cadillac Escalade. Central to its head-turning styling is its distinctive sports bar, which adorns the cargo bed just behind the rear doors. I’m not much for aesthetic add-ons that don’t have any functional benefits, but the sports bar looks so good, I’d bolt it on any pickup I ever lay money down on.

Ford probably thinks so, as they blinged up their already good-looking Ranger pickup model into the absolutely spiffy Ranger Wildtrak variant.

The Wildtrak, which comes with a 4x2 drivetrain but boasts a high-riding 4x4-like stance, is positioned as the urban lifestyle truck for customers who want a tough truck that complements their active and urban lifestyle.

Exclusive Wildtrak kit includes the aforementioned sports bar, body-colored tailgate cladding with embossed Ranger branding, box rails and roof rails with aluminum bar accents, a frame-mounted aluminum gray side step with titanium-colored end caps, as well as distinctive Wildtrak decals on the front doors and tailgate.

An under-rail bedliner, body side cladding, illuminated scuff plates with Wildtrak logo, front bumper overrider, and exclusive 16-inch Wildtrak alloy wheels round out the overall styling package.

The Wildtrak is equipped with a four-sensor, three-channel, four-wheel ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) to provide maximum braking performance under all conditions. The cabin offers car-like amenities, comfort and NVH levels, thanks to ergonomic seats, climate control, MP3-compatible audio, and a body shell engineered to isolate the cabin from road noise.

The Ranger series offers an array of clever stowage solutions, including a front-door stowage bin that holds a half-liter water bottle and a handy 10-kg-capacity pull-out tray above the glove compartment.

The pickup’s instrument panel features contemporary and relaxing red illumination from its three large gauges – each set within its own binnacle. The gray-and-black color scheme in the cabin enhances the sporty look and feel, while high-quality materials as well as high levels of fit and finish endow the Ranger with an upscale, luxurious feel.

The Wildtrak is powered by Ford’s Duratorq TDCi common-rail diesel engine. It offers tons of torque for truly energetic off-the-line acceleration and quick response. Few pickups can match the ability of the Ranger to deliver excellent low-rev torque. The 2.5-liter TDCi engine packs a potent punch, developing 330Nm at a very accessible 1,800 rpm.

The Wildtrak, which comes in Black Mica, Winning Blue, and Cool White, retails for P1,080,000 for the smooth-shifting 5-speed manual model and P1,135,000 for the equally smooth (and responsive) 4-speed auto.

THE GOOD

• Head-turning body kit

• High level of refinement, inside and out

• Smooth, refined and very torquey engine

THE BAD

• No 4x4 variant

• Pricey

THE VERDICT

• A pickup so good-looking, the high build quality and superb performance seem like the icing on the cake.