Can a double-cab be as high-tech as a luxury SUV?

 The biggest engine in its class and the boldest sportiest looks combined with high equipment levels make the Ford Ranger Wildtrak an un-missable double cab bakkie.

The Wildtrak was a run-out limited edition of the previous Ford Ranger, and when the new big Ranger was introduced in October 2011, Wildtrak became the flagship model’s name.

Conversions and customised double cabs is big business in South Africa.  Bigger wheels, blacked-out trim, tougher bull and/or roll bars and load deck roller covers make the bakkie tougher looking and more personal and practical – these bakkies can work hard, but also play hard… looking good doing both.

To put it in perspective – all other double cab pick-ups on the SA market have a spread of these basic spec levels:  Base, as the cheapest workhorse company/farmer/commercial spec; some middle spec models which usually have a safety item or two, some upgrades on the seats and wheels or some stickers; topped off by the business+private or just leisure-orientated application, fitted with alloy wheels, safety equipment and some car-like comfort items.  Ford is the only company that does a fully-kitted turn-key model on top of its leisure/luxury level.  Ford has base, mid XL and XLS, lux XLT, and adds Wildtrak.  The deduction is that, while the other Rangers up to XLT have competitors, Wildtrak is a one-of-a-kind luxury sporty-looking bakkie.

Bizarrely, the initial batch of current Ford Ranger Wildtrak were all Hi-Rider 4x2 and manual, so just begged for 4x4 and automatic, both of which it thankfully received (finally!) in February 2013.

The Ford Ranger range consists single cab, SuperCab (extended cab with useful rearward-opening doors and extra storage space) and a full dozen of double cab models:  the 12 Ranger double cabs start at R 295 900 for the 2.5 petrol Hi-Rider XL (not the ideal engine), then switches to 110kW/375Nm TDCi diesel as from the 2.2 Hi-Rider XL at R 314 900, higher-specced XLS (adds side and curtain airbags, and more equipment) with same engine at R 389 900, and the 4x4 at R 439 900.  Ford SA recently responded to mining and other commercial buyers’ needs by adding a less-fancy toughened-up XL-Plus model in 4x4-only at R 379 900.  3.2 XLT models go from R 442 900 for Hi-Rider manual (add R12k for the auto) to R 499 900 / R 509 900 for XLT 4x4 manual / auto.  Wildtrak models are R 469 900 to R 535 900 for the 4x4 auto-only.

The 3.2 engine is the biggest-capacity diesel on the market, and is also the only 5-cylinder pick-up.  With 147kW and 470Nm it is up there with the most powerful, and sounds good too.  This engine is reserved in double cab for the XLT and Wildtrak.  Noticed how Ford dropped the D or TDCi badging?  A simple 2.2 or 3.2 is attached to the front fender grid insert.  The 3.2’s grunt and torque combines particularly well with the smooth convenient 5-speed automatic.

Items making the Wildtrak an off-the-showroom-floor personalised purchase include some parts replacing the more traditional chrome on Ranger XLT with dark-greyed-out grille and mirror housings and rear step bumper, and replaces the XLT’s fully-painted front bumper with partial colour-coded and dark, with silver inserts.  Immediate Wildtrak tracers include a flush-lined rear roll-over arch (strangely the XLT has no roll-bar), 6-double-fork shiny alloy wheels, and adventure-font Wildtrak stickers. 

Saving you from having scroll through the spec sheet to find the differences between Ranger XLT and Wildtrak:  bigger wheels and tyres (up from XLT’s 265/65 R17 to 265/60 R18), full-size alloy spare wheel (other Rangers make do with steel spare wheels), battery monitoring system, integrated body-colour cab protector, bed liner, auto on-off headlamps, heated side mirrors… and then it really ramps up over of the usual bakkie spec level, by adding rain-sensing wipers, puddle lamps, heated front seats (on leather upholstery with orange inserts and orange framed stitching and Wildtrak headrest embroidery), rear parking sensors, and reverse camera – most of these are uniquely generous in a double cab.  Ranger XLT and Wildtrak are the only pick-ups with a knee airbag, and proudly boast a 5-star NCAP safety rating.

Ranger rivals are, when limited to new-generation big-bodied double cabs, in ABC order:  Foton Tunland, fresh Isuzu KB, JMC Vigus, Mazda BT-50 (Ranger’s less-blessed twin), and Volkswagen Amarok… Nissan Navara and Toyota Hilux are both due for replacement.

For too long the SUV and car got all the good stuff, while a bakkie was still seen as a workhorse, lacking modern facilities which buyers knew they wanted, but manufacturers responded slowly to provide. Other bakkies had a few safety firsts like ESP (Amarok) and multi-function steering (Hilux) though it is the new Ford Ranger Wildtrak which combines all these, and adds plenty more.

The “21st Century Tough” styled Ranger Wildtrak receives the appreciation award for Ford, for fitting the desired luxury and safety items usually reserved for cars and SUVs into what is still a tough “bakkie”.