Europe's best-selling pickup, the Ford Ranger Wildtrack, was tested and found to be more comfortable and powerful than before

What makes us love pickups so much ? Is it their wild looks, their American cowboy style or their off-road ability for the works? It's hard to find someone who doesn't appreciate them.

Now one of the flagship models in this segment has been updated - the Ford Ranger - and we had the opportunity to test its toughest version, the Ford Ranger Wildtrack , in an idyllic setting. This new version is both powerful, raw and comfortable.

The Ford Ranger benchmark is the Wildtrack

The Ford F-150 is considered an icon among pickups, thanks to Ford's experience in the pickup truck segment , which allows them to produce high-quality off-road vehicles . It has been widely recognized as the most popular pickup in the United States for over 30 years, with over 40 years as the best-selling vehicle.

In 2021, more than 720,000 units were sold, which is almost all the cars sold in Spain for a year. In addition to the F-150, Ford also produces models such as the F-250, F-350, F-450, Maverick, and Ranger , which shows their pickup truck expertise.

Due to the success of the F-150, Ford has decided that its global pickup, the Ranger , will gradually adopt the styling of its larger American sibling, although this is also largely due to the Maverick , which is not available in Europe.

In its fifth generation, the Ford Ranger is increasingly similar to its counterparts. The new, wider front features an imposing central grille wrapped in a horizontal band and framed by C-shaped headlights with LED matrix lights as standard.

As we previously observed in the Raptor model , the angles are more rigid and angular, which may explain the aesthetic similarity between the Wildtrack and the Raptor , unlike the previous generation where the differences were more pronounced.

In addition, the new Wildtrack exudes an even more imposing presence thanks to a more pronounced shoulder line and more sporty and robust bumpers, equipped with new metal guards, side steps, roof bars and trunk. .

It won on almost all fronts with dimensions of 5,370mm in length (+3mm), 2,208mm in width (1,918mm without mirrors, an increase of 51mm) and 1,884mm in height (36mm reduction). Additionally, the wheelbase has been increased by 50 mm, from 3,220 to 3,270 mm.

Widening the wheelbase is a major change to the platform. This transformation has made it possible to improve the angle of attack of the front axle by 30 degrees for the entry angle, 23 degrees for the exit angle and 21 degrees for the ventral, which makes it more efficient in off-road mode.

Ford has done a good job with its pickup's Wildtrack finish, which sports the Cyber ​​Orange color shared with the Ford Bronco and Maverick . This tint is combined with dark elements such as window frames, B-pillar, mirrors and wheels. The wheels are standard in 18 inches, but it is possible to opt for 20-inch wheels painted in black with machined edges at an additional cost of 423 euros.

The set exudes an upscale feel. The Wildtrack looks like a well-finished, premium pickup, with distinctive features such as the name etched across the width of the tailgate . It's slightly larger than previous models, at 5,370mm (+3mm) long, 2,208mm wide (1,918mm excluding mirrors, a 51mm increase) and 1,884mm tall. mm (-36mm). The wheelbase was also increased by 50mm, from 3220mm to 3270mm.

This increase in wheelbase represents a major variation in the platform. The front axle has been moved forward 50mm to improve the angle of attack, resulting in off-road dimensions of 30º entry angle, 23º exit angle and 21º exit angle. ventral.

Progress from within

When we think of a pickup, we tend to imagine a tough-looking, tough-looking set of plastics. Although it's a work-oriented vehicle, Ford has considered customers who also use the Ranger for recreation or as an everyday car.

That's why they made many improvements to their most popular and successful SUV (until the arrival of the new Ford Bronco , reserved for a select few). The passenger compartment has undergone a significant transformation in terms of quality of materials and equipment.

Although the materials used in this car are not those found in high-end cars, the cabin as a whole exhibits a higher level of quality than one would expect in this segment. The seats are covered in leather with orange stitching and the Wildtrack logo is embroidered on the front seats. The driver's seat is electrically adjustable, while the passenger's is not.

However, the rest of the cabin is mostly hard plastic, though it's treated with care and features padded or lacquered textures. Although there are still points that could be improved, such as the sensitivity of certain surfaces to fingerprints and/or dust, it should be pointed out that this car is not equipped with the dreaded piano black finish . , which is a plus point.

Aesthetics prevailed over functionality and durability, as evidenced by multiple storage compartments, cup holders, a double glove box (upper and lower), handles on the A-pillar and a bar integrated into the dashboard. board for the passenger to hold on to.

Also, the technology has seen a huge leap forward, with an all-digital 8-inch color control panel, which is simpler but with a lower resolution than that fitted to the high-end Raptor .

To your right is a huge 12-inch touchscreen that adds a touch of elegance to the whole thing. I particularly like how fast SYNC4 is compared to its SYNC3 predecessor (twice as fast according to Ford), as it greatly improves the user experience. Furthermore, the SYNC4 offers additional features such as OTA updates , Wi-Fi connectivity and useful gadgets for everyday and off-road use.

Speaking of tech, the car has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay wireless connectivity , USB and USB-C connections , wireless charging, a 240W B&O sound system with 10 speakers, as well than a top panel with six switches and fuses between 10 and 30 Ah to connect accessories.

I found the practical features of the technology much more interesting, such as the standard 360º camera, the collision avoidance assistant, the adaptive cruise control, the reversing assistant, the parking assistant, the screen off-road that displays angles and predictive terrain view or exterior peripheral lighting.

The offroad display on the touchscreen also enables diff-lock, but personally I'd rather have a more convenient button next to the drive mode button than having to press a button to activate the all-screen -land and look for the lock button.

A diesel engine with high responsiveness

By the way, I want to note that the center console is remarkably clean. The gear lever is completely electronic, which has considerably reduced its size and ensured smoother operation than ever before. It is mated to a 10-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.

The lever operates extremely smoothly and almost imperceptibly, and it always strives to find the engine's ideal torque range, while keeping the revs as low as possible to save gas. However, it may seem a little slow when searching for recoveries due to electronic configuration.

The function of this gearbox is to manage the power generated by the largest diesel engine marketed by Ford in Europe, namely a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine delivering 240 hp at 3,250 rpm and a torque of 600 Nm, characterized by a flat torque curve.

This mechanical setup is highly regarded due to its pleasant sound, unlike the older 2.0 diesel engine which had a more rudimentary sound. As well as its pleasing sound, this engine also delivers good performance, with very smooth power delivery during a smooth ride and a vigorous response when pushed at higher revs.

In this case, it is advisable to switch to manual mode using the buttons on the gear lever.

Proper torque metering is also beneficial in technical off-road sections, as it greatly reduces the need to use the throttle. This behavior is reinforced by a chassis equipped with an adjustment which makes it possible to overcome typical difficult obstacles while maintaining optimal interior comfort.

The Ranger also borrows the Raptor's circular drive mode selector, which offers several options such as Normal, Eco, Trailer, Slider, Mud & Roots and Sand . This selector adjusts the feel of the steering, throttle, brake, traction control and car control.

In addition, the same control allows you to select different transmission modes, changing from 2H to 4H (four-wheel drive), 4L (four-wheel drive with reduction) and the new 4A mode. The 4A mode allows you to drive in all-wheel drive and the electronics take care of automatically distributing the torque between 0 and 100% as needed, which is very comfortable if you have to move on asphalt and uneven surfaces.

I would like a more responsive kick when going through fast passages or looking to move the rear end using the gas. Currently, the response is a bit sluggish, making it necessary to press hard on the right pedal. Of course, this does not apply to the gasoline engine of the Raptor.

As far as on-road ride comfort is concerned, I noticed a significant improvement. In addition to the widening of the wheelbase which adds additional comfort to the Ranger, I particularly appreciated the quality of the suspensions. The tracks have been widened by 50mm on both axles, allowing the shocks to be positioned farther from the center of the frame.

This allowed the Ranger's suspensions to perform better, not only in terms of their ability to limit body movement, but also in providing better progressiveness. This is an excellent feature for a vehicle with a solid axle and rear leaf springs.

The Ford Ranger aims to maintain its leading position in Europe

Ford was concerned with the Ranger Wildtrack's functionality as a practical work tool, which led to the incorporation of very American details in this generation.

To meet the needs of the huge 3.0-litre V6 engine and to accommodate a secondary battery allowing the connection of power tools, the space in the engine compartment has been increased thanks to the hydroformed front end. There are connections inside and in the box to facilitate this use.

In addition, the box itself has been widened by 5cm, bringing its overall width to 1,224mm, to accommodate pallet loading. Another improvement is the metal flap that covers the boot and can be operated electrically from inside or from the boot itself, eliminating the tedious manual opening of the previous generation.

In the box there are standard convenience features such as tie down bars for loads, internal rails for adjustable anchors, steps integrated into the sides of the bumper, a ruler integrated into the upper lip of the tailgate , cup holders, as well as two holes to attach clamps if you want to build a shed on our farm in Arizona.

The 240 hp Ford Ranger Wildtrack 3.0 V6 is available from 57,930 euros. There is also a more affordable version fitted with a 205hp 2.0 four-cylinder turbodiesel engine with 500Nm of torque, which is also exclusively mated to the 10-speed automatic (manual versions are only available on lower models ) and is available from 55,930 euros.

Ford is currently offering a 14.5% discount, or around $7,000, but given the $2,000 price difference between the two versions, it's likely the most popular variant will be the 3.0 V6 model.

It can be seen that Ford has paid great attention to the development of this new Ford Ranger in order to maintain its position as the best-selling pick-up in Europe, a title it has held since 2015. After testing the Ranger, it is clear that the new platform fits perfectly, as does the Volkswagen Amarok .