Power Wheels Magazine A Notch Above
Ford Philippines promotes its Ranger 4-door crew cab midsize pickup trucks with the slogan “You Can’t Fake Tough”. The tagline wants to emphasize the Ranger’s inherent toughness, durability, and various capabilities, especially with features like a powerful engine, robust chassis, and advanced technology. To see if the tagline matches the truck and actually determine if its advertised ruggedness is real and authentic, we borrowed the 2025 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2.0L Bi-Turbo 4×4 for a weeklong test drive.
Ford Philippines graciously lent us this Blue Lightning 2025 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2.0L Bi-Turbo 4×4 for a weeklong test drive…
… and there’s a black “Wildtrak” script at the tailgate just to remind everyone what it is and what it can do.
Once in our custody, we drove the Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 through a series of tests. We took it around the city navigating through narrow streets, potholes, and the crawling BER-month traffic, and then took to the highways and tollways to see if it’s comfortable enough for long drives. During a stormy week day, we ventured off-road to test its 4×4 and 800mm water-wading capabilities. If it looks dirty in the attached pictures, it’s because we just came from a tough and gruff off-road adventure and took photos only when the weather finally cooperated.
We drove the Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 to a mild off-road adventure…
… but we couldn’t use our personalized license plate to get there because of the new strict policies of Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the corresponding tough penalties.
Good-looking Truck
The Wildtrak 4×4 is unmistakably a top-of-the-line Ford Ranger with its Matrix LED headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System, C-clamp-shaped DRL daytime running lamps, LED fog lamps, and that unique embossed front grille. The side profile is unmistakably muscular, augmented with black fender flares, while the back is adorned with LED taillights. We appreciate the LED puddle lamps that are built into the power folding/adjustable side mirrors with turn signals, as much as we appreciate the rain sensing wipers, especially since we’ve been having bad weather lately.
Matrix LED headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System, C-clamp-shaped DRL daytime running lamps, LED fog lamps, and unique embossed front grille adorn the Ranger Wildtrak’s handsome front end.
LED puddle lamps that are built into the power folding / power adjustable side mirrors illuminate the area that passengers will step on before ingress or after egress.
The Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 is a good-looking truck, no doubt about it. And because it’s a pickup truck, it’s also a highly-functional workhorse. The cargo bed can haul a 1,000-kilogram payload or transport several 4×8 sheets of plywood flat on the floor between its wheel wells. The tailgate has a lift assist while the bed liner comes with 12-volt and 230-volt, 400-watt sockets. It’s easy to get into the truck with side steps or get into the bed with rear box steps. It comes with sports hoops and roof rails to easily attach roof racks, carriers, and other off-roading or overlanding accessories.
The business end of the Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 includes a cargo bed that can fit a 4×8 sheet of plywood lying flat, a 1,000-kilogram payload capacity, a tailgate with lift assist…
… and a bed liner that comes with built-in sockets for 12 volts and 230 volts at 400 watts.
It’s easier to climb into the cargo bed with built-in steps in the rear quarter panel.
Drivetrain and Chassis
Our Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 test unit is propelled by a 2.0-liter bi-turbo 4-cylinder diesel engine that churns out a healthy 207 horsepower (210 PS) at 3,750 rpm and 500 Newton-meters of torque between 1,750 and 2,000 rpm. Power is coursed through a 10-speed automatic transmission and delivered to all four wheels when needed. A rotary knob on the center console electronically selects the drive (2H, 4H, 4L) and aided by an intelligent Terrain Management System.
Underneath that tangle of hoses and tubes hides a 2.0-liter Bi-Turbo 4-cylinder diesel engine that churns out 207hp and 500 Nm of torque.
The center console houses the shifter for the 10-speed automatic transmission, the rotary knob that electronically selects the drive (2H, 4H, 4L), and the controls for the intelligent Terrain Management System.
The front suspension is composed of double wishbones with coil springs and anti-roll bar while the rear live axle with electronic locking differential is located by leaf springs. The ride is a bit choppy, especially when there’s only two occupants inside and no load in the cargo bed. Ventilated disc brakes can be found on all four corners, aided by anti-lock braking (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), and Ford’s advanced driver assistance technologies. 255/65R18 Goodyear Wrangler Territory H/T tires mounted on asphalt-hued machine-faced 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels provide the much-needed contact between the tough truck and the terrain.
The Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 comes with front double wishbones, coil springs and anti-roll bar; rear live axle with electronic locking differential on leaf springs; and ventilated disc brakes with ABS and EBD all around.
255/65R18 Goodyear Wrangler Territory H/T tires on 18″ alloy wheels were great on tarmac and dirt but struggled for grip in thick mud.
Hectic Schedule, Easy Drive
We had a hectic week with our Ranger Wildtrak 4×4. On a stormy Thursday, we drove to a flooded portion of Manila for an important family errand. On a gloomy Friday, we drove to Carmona, Cavite and then to the Bonifacio Global City to attend media events. On a drizzling Saturday, we drove to Canlubang to inspect a property and then to Makati to attended an art show. On a stormy Sunday morning, we finally got the chance and took it off-road, albeit on a light trail in North Luzon, because we had to drive back home to Quezon City, clean up, and attend another event in Taguig in the evening.
We drove our 86-year-old mother around the city who found the ride acceptable, albeit a bit choppy, especially since she has scoliosis, spondylosis, and hip replacements that make her a bit hyper-sensitive. She managed the climb to the Wildtrak’s tall cabin but hated the crawling Metro Manila traffic.
All the while, the Ranger Wildtrak proved to be utterly reliable, wading through the flood waters, traversing crowded city streets, and zooming on the Expressways with ease and composure. Its plethora of advanced driver assistance technologies help ensure our safety while its unique and cozy interior with cyber orange stitching, boulder gray accents, and premium satin aluminum contacts, plus the 12-inch colored portrait touchscreen infotainment and 6-speaker system help keep us sane while stuck in crazy traffic. During our off-road excursion, the Terrain Management System got us out of bogs and ruts that would trap lesser 4x4s.
Its interior is a nice, safe and cozy place to be when the Ranger Wildtrak is in its element in the wild.
A.I. Means “Advanced Interior”
We were pampered with smart keyless entry, electric parking brake, 8-way power-adjust driver’s seat, 8-inch digital instrument cluster, tilt and telescopic multi-function steering wheel with audio and function controls, auto-dimming rearview mirror, push button start/stop and an ergonomic cockpit. Our front passenger got a 4-way manual-adjust seat while everyone enjoyed the dual-zone electronic automatic climate control with second row air conditioning, wireless charger and four USB ports. The 230-volt inverter in rear center console came in handy to charge a laptop computer with a drained battery while the 12-volt socket charged or powered some of our handy devices.
The ergonomic cockpit with its multi-functional steering wheel will make any commercial pilot feel right at home.
“Riding shotgun” takes a whole new meaning inside this top-of-the-line Ford pickup truck.
We didn’t notice or find any use for the windscreen-mounted USB port nor did we fiddle with the voice-activated Ford SYNC 4A with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. We only navigated the 12” portrait touchscreen while this Blue Lightning Ranger was with us. However, we used the Adaptive Cruise Control on the highways, found the Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist not too intrusive, and got a bit shocked when the Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and Reverse Brake Assist systems suddenly applied the brakes when it sensed a possible collision, even though there was ample space and we were already stepping lightly on the brakes.
Rear passengers are pampered with ample head-, leg-, shoulder- and hip-room, a folding center armrest with drink holders…
… rear A/C vents, and USB, 12V and 230V 400W sockets at the back of the center console.
Protection All Around
Its driver assistance tech also includes PCA Pre-Collision Assist, DBS Dynamic Brake Support, DA/DI Distance Alert / Distance Indication, FCWS Forward Collision Warning System, ESA Evasive Steer Assist, PIB Post Impact Braking, BSIS/CTAB Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert and Braking, and DAS Driver Alert System. After driving this high-tech Ford pickup for a week, we realized that, aside from these ADAS technologies, an automatic low/high beam, a 360° camera, and front & rear parking sensors make driving this 5.3-meter-long and 1.9-meter-wide midsize crew cab truck a whole lot easier.
Our Wildtrak’s Matrix LED headlight with auto-leveling creates a “light tunnel” that automatically dims high beams to avoid dazzling other drivers while maximizing road illumination for a safer, clearer night drive.
Lane Keep Assist (top left) and Cross-Traffic Alert (top right) offer soft warnings while Pre-Collision Assist (bottom left) and Reverse Brake Assist (bottom right) might surprise drivers when the Autonomous Emergency Brakes (AEB) suddenly takes over.
With a price tag of P1,949,000, the Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 is equipped with enough safety, security and advanced driver assistance technologies to ensure the protection of its occupants, other road users, the environment and itself. A total of seven airbags – driver, front passenger, side, curtain, and knee – plus ISOFIX anchor points for child seats enhance passive safety while electronic stability program (ESP) with traction control system (TCS) and electric brake booster (EBB), Hill Launch Assist (HLA) and Roll Over Mitigation (ROM), and Hill Descent Control (HDC) are active safety features built in to further enhance overall protection.
The Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 is a go-anywhere workhorse that comes fully equipped with ADAS technologies plus passive and active safety & security features.
The car jockeys of Ford Philippines picked up our Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 test unit on a rainy Tuesday morning and we apologized for not having it washed, especially with all the mud and grime from our little off-road adventure. While they were driving away, we couldn’t help but observe that it still looked good, and perhaps, a bit tougher, despite being dirty and muddy. It only goes to show that toughness is not just skin-deep but inherent. Its slogan is therefore correct: You cannot fake tough!
We therefore conclude that this Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 matches its tagline. It’s really tough to fake tough!
Specifications
