Ford Wildtrak X (2023) First Drive Review

As if the four-wheel-driven Wildtrak wasn’t enough with its array of off-road equipment, cosmetic enhancements, and sophisticated onboard tech, Ford has decided that the world needs a Wildtrak X with even more enticing, trail-ready features, and hence, South Africans have this new model to aspire to. It specifically targets more adventurous folk who feel there’s more to double-cab bakkie life than carpooling and grocery shopping at Woollies. 

Ford Ranger SuperCab Wildtrak - everything you need to know

“We created Ranger Wildtrak X for people who want to get more from their bakkie,” Doreen Mashinini (GM for Marketing at Ford SA) says. “For example, one of the first things keen off-roaders do is look at replacing their tyres and suspension with aftermarket options that are more focused on off-roading. We’re ensuring they don’t need to do this by giving them what they need right out of the factory.”

Search AutoTrader for all Ranger models 

 

Styling - what gives it the X factor?

The Wildtrax X stands out from the regular Ranger/Ranger Wildtrak gang with asphalt black finish on the exterior mirrors, grille surround, bumper H-bar, wheel lip mouldings, fender vents, door handles, and rear bumper. Its off-road grille boasts integrated auxiliary driving lights and a Cyber Orange accent, matrix LED headlamps, cast aluminium side steps, Wildtrak lettering across the bonnet, and a bash plate that should be able to withstand serious punishment.

(Are you thinking about buying a Ford Ranger XLT 2023 model? Watch our quick video review here.)

 

The Wildtrak X is also 24 mm higher off the ground than its Wildtrak sibling, and its track is slightly wider by 30 mm (and is only 20 mm narrower than the big-daddy Ford Raptor). As for the wheels, the X gets 17-inch alloys with General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tyres along with specially tuned Bilstein shocks that have a monotube design and a nitrogen-charged external reservoir. The pressurised Bilstein shocks are ideal for all driving styles because they maintain the same pressure regardless of how many up-and-down motions the Wildtrak X experiences.

 

In the extras department, Wildtrak X buyers can specify the Flexible Rack System (see image below), a segment first, and a very nifty piece of kit to have if you use your bakkie for both hard work and play. The folding roof rack is stored inside the roof rails when not in use and has an 80 kg load rating (250 kg if it’s a static load). It features a total of 5 locking positions, can be operated by one person, and doesn’t require any tools. This option is also available on Wildtrak double cabs, but not on the Raptor. Apart from being useful, it looks ultra cool. I would tick this box just because I love the whole vibe it brings to the Wildtrak X. Hey, I may even attach a surfboard and never enter the water. 

(View our long-term updates of the Ranger 2.0SiT SuperCab XL 4x4 auto here(1) and here(2).)

 

 

Interior 

The layout is the same as the donor car's (the Wildtrak), but Wildtrak X models have orange piping and topstitching on the seats and dashboard, and Terra suede trim inserts on the upper cubby hole and above the chunky instrument cluster and door trim. The Wildtrak X also features the larger, (12-inch) multi-functional portrait-layout touchscreen in the centre that helps to lift the ambience to where it belongs on a leisure bakkie that costs R 1 013 000. (It's worth noting that the Ranger is currently SA's best-selling double cab.)

 

 

The Wildtrak X gets Ford's overhead auxiliary switch pack, which is also standard in the Wildtrak, for easy installation of aftermarket accessories such as exterior lights, a compressor, and other electrical equipment. 

 

What powers the Wildtrak X?

The X model is driven by Ford's fuel-efficient, 2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel engine with a hearty 154 kW and 500 Nm of torque, mated to Ford's slick and seamless 10-speed auto gearbox. Our fuel consumption rose to no more than 10.3 litres per 100 km and dropped to 9.6 when we slowed down a bit, and I believe it would have gotten even lower with time.

 

 

Ford's on-demand four-wheel drive system with four modes is standard on the Ranger Wildtrak X. This is the first 2.0-litre bi-turbo model to have this feature. This means the X can be driven in 4A (automatic) mode on surfaces with good grip, and the system will constantly send power to both the front and rear axles to get the best performance on any road surface. For driving on the road, the driver can choose 2H. For tougher off-road terrain, they can choose between 4H and 4L for four-wheel drive.

 

Off-road and tech features that are only available in the Wildtrak X

The X-variant is the only model in the line-up that features seven driving modes, including a Rock Crawl mode, as well as Ford's Trail Turn Assist which works in conjunction with the all-wheel-drive system. Trail Turn Assist can be used in either 4H or 4L, and if you find yourself in a tight spot on a narrow off-road trail, it can reduce your bakkie’s turning circle by up to 25% by applying the brake on the inside of the rear wheel. It works at speeds under 19 km/h.

 

There's also Trail Control, first seen in the Raptor, which works like a type of off-road cruise control at speeds below 32 km/h and takes care of acceleration and braking.

The aforementioned Trail Turn Assist is not really suitable for escaping from a narrow basement parking bay at the V&A Waterfront, but with top-down and selectable surround view cameras at your disposal and light, easy steering, you'll be able to keep the handsome Wildtrak X's sexy sheet metal blemish-free. But if you find yourself on a treacherous trail with a drop of a few hundred metres to one side, where you might need to make a three-point turn to escape death,  you'll be most grateful for this functionality. 

 

Driving the Wildtrak X

Driving through the dust in a convoy of 8 Wildtrak X vehicles with a new Ford Everest at the back as our sweeper car, bystanders must have thought we were special forces rushing to investigate a UFO landing in the desert. The X-models, with their C-shaped DRLs and wide grilles, have a seriously imposing look, and the rugged, muscular American styling attracts plenty of attention. As we made our way past Keimoes, Kakemas, and parts of the Quiver Tree route, onlookers waved and shouted excitedly as we suddenly appeared and swiftly disappeared, leaving a whirlwind of dust in our wake.

 

 

The SYNC 4 infotainment system is highly advanced yet user-friendly and supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. My co-driver and I took turns plugging in our respective iPhone or Android devices and subjecting each other to our diverse tastes in music via Spotify, but the Android/CarPlay functionality is wireless as well. The crystal-clear satellite image displayed on-screen on Google Maps is on par with the most premium SUVs.

 

 

Our launch route included some well-kept tar roads, a section of decent gravel, and a soft sandy part which led to our accommodation at Tutwa Lodge and back. When not on the tarmac, we had our rotary dial almost permanently locked to 4H and sure-footedly made our way to wherever we were going, including a riverbank where we stopped to have an inflatable rubber duck adventure on a serene part of the Orange River. I would have enjoyed an off-road trail or two in the Wildtrak X, but we already know how capable four-wheel-driven Rangers are, so our trip leaned more towards the comfort and convenience side of things. 

I also gave the semi-autonomous driving system a bash, which allowed our vehicle to follow the Wildtrak X in front obediently on the tarmac while staying nicely centred in its lane.

 

 

Price

You'll pay R 1 013 000 for the Wildtrax X. It slots in just below the Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 double-cab Wildtrak 4WD which costs R 1,026,400. And, at the very top of the food chain, you'll find the Ranger Raptor which will cost you R1,184,100.

 

 

Verdict

If the price tag of the Raptor shattered your dreams, the R171,100 price difference between the Raptor and Wildtrak X means you might be able to afford the latter, and we think the Wildtrak X is excellent value for money.

Also, the Raptor is thirsty, and its towing capacity is only 2500 kg, while the more efficient Wildtrak X can happily haul a 3500 kg caravan to your favourite camping destination with diesel to spare. The Wildtrak X's payload of 946 kg vs the Raptor's 667 kg is also not to be sneezed at.

 

 

If you have just over R1 million to spend on a double-cab bakkie that comes stock standard with an astounding amount of practical 4x4 kit, the Wildtrak X is the best vehicle to spend your money on at this point.