Ford Ranger Wildtrak, car review: A lot more than a jack of all trades
We took the rough flatbed off-road and it handled everything with some integrity
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The latest incarnation of Ford’s tough flatbed gives the impression of being all things to all people.
On the other hand it’s rugged and can two serious weights, on the other the cabin is swathed in leather and there are decent bits of kit around the interior. So can it be a master of all trades?
The Ranger comes in two versions, Wildtrak – tested here – and Limited. The Wildtrak has a 3.2-litre turbodiesel producing 197bhp and quite a lot of torque.
It also has 18in wheels and plenty of colour choices, but just one configuration: Double Cab. The Limited has a 2.2-litre diesel giving 158bhp along with 17in alloys, and three body styles: Regular Cab, Super Cab or Double Cab.
The Wildtrak certainly has the grunt to back up the looks. The engine sounds strong, and it is strong enough to two trailers up to 3500kg while the load bed can handle 1035kg. Our vehicle had the six-speed auto box (a six-speed manual is an option) and that stirred the torque nicely, changing up when it could to save fuel and reduce emissions.
Ford Ranger Wildtrak
On sale: January 2016
Price: £32,370
Engine: 3200cc, diesel
Power: 197bhp at 3000rpm
Torque: 347lb ft at 1500-2750rpm
Gearbox: 6-spd dual-clutch automatic
Top speed: 109mph
0-62mph: 10.4sec
Fuel economy: 28.2mpg; CO2 265g/km
We took it off-road and it handled everything with some integrity. You have an electronically controlled transfer case, so you can switch between rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive on the move. There is also a low-range gearset for when dealing with difficult terrain or getting a heavy trailer up a rutted slope. It all worked solidly and felt like it would continue doing so for quite some time.
The cabin keeps the outside away pretty well. The front seats are comfortable and easy to adjust and we liked the swathes of leather with orange stitching. Like the Limited, the Wildtrak has an 8in touchscreen, sat-nav, heated front seats, reversing camera, hill descent, sensors front and rear and more, so there’s plenty of kit.
This seems like a lot more than a jack of all trades, as you get a well-appointed cabin and a package capable of serious towing and carrying, across a variety of terrains. But then the price for the Wildtrak does seem pretty high. We might be tempted by the Limited version which seems to offer better value for money without losing out much in terms of necessary kit. A full road test will provide a more conclusive answer.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments