Making wild tracks in Caramoan with the Ford Ranger

MAKING A SPLASH With a ground clearance of 223 mm, Ranger’s water-wading capability of up to 800 mm is best-in-class. PHOTOS BY TESSA R. SALAZAR

It has been 13 years since this writer experienced her first offroad drive, when she drove the Ford Ranger 4×4 Pinatubo Edition straight to the foot of Mt. Pinatubo.

Needless to say, that was one surreal ride on a seemingly out-of-this-world landscape—not unlike being on a moon buggy on a bumpy ride over the Sea of Tranquility.

Early this June, this writer decided to take the new Ford Ranger 4×4—now called the Wildtrak—on another offroad adventure. This time, however, the location would change to a place far south in Luzon, where “Survivors” roam.

THE WILDTRAK name “floats” beside an island.

After roaming in this archipelago for over 15 years (the Ranger was introduced here in 1999), the Ford Ranger line of tough pickups has undergone major changes, both in appearances and powerplants.

The latest, and most powerful Ranger to date, the top-of-the-line 4×4 Ranger Wildtrak, is powered by a 3.2-liter Duratorq engine mated to an automatic transmission. And it proved to be the perfect offroader for the 560-kilometer trip from Manila to the beachside town of Caramoan in Camarines Sur. Even more fittingly, this writer, who brought along five “professional passengers,” was given a chili orange-colored Wildtrak. Talk about bringing the heat to a province that loves its sili or spice.

Let the pictures show you our “wild” adventure to the picturesque seaside town where the long-running reality adventure TV show “Survivor” has been shooting on location since 2007.

After driving and riding in the Ford Ranger 4×4 Wildtrak for nearly 1,200 km, our team came up with eight impressions on the pickup:

1The diesel engine is exceptionally refined as far as NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) is concerned. It almost feels and sounds like a gasoline-powered pickup. Acceleration and torque are top-rate. You really feel the power of the new Duratorq TDCi 3.2L VG Turbo, which produces 470 Newton-meters of torque and power rated at  197.26 horsepower. From highway overtaking to the punishing uphill, downhill and sudden turns on either dirt or paved roads, the drive was smooth and confident.

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“SURVIVOR” jury Helena Jee Holthe jumps up from the Ranger bed.

ord Philippines claims that the fuel consumption rating of this five-cylinder diesel engine in a combined cycle is a frugal 9.6 liters per 100 km (or 10.4 kpl). In this driver’s case, the fuel consumption readings varied from 9.1 liters per 100 km to 11.8 liters per 100 km.

2It is among the most effortless to drive pickups. The 13-hour drive from Manila to Caramoan felt like a breeze, despite squeezing in six persons (including the driver) in the cabin. The drive was never tiring. Yes, it is still a truck, and it doesn’t approximate the ride comfort of a sedan (especially for the four rear passengers), but it’s still a comfy ride for its class.

The comfort can be attributed to the cabin that has been stretched to provide segment-leading spaciousness and comfort. There is ample kneeroom and better foot clearance for Asian physiques between the B-pillar and the seat.

The seat covers also have nonleather options to avoid heat build-up and “butt burn” during the hottest days of the year.

3Space for everything. The spec sheet points to 23 storage spaces in the cabin (offering more practical stowage than any competitor). A deep center console bin can stow up to six cans of beverages, while the glove box is large enough to keep a 16-inch laptop.

4An entertaining ride. Like most Ford vehicles, the Wildtrak includes the Sync feature, which was surprisingly easy to use. The knobs, buttons and controls were in their right places at the center, where even the driver could easily spot them. The Wildtrak comes with Bluetooth audio streaming, USB and iPod connectivity. The radio is voice-controlled.

THE TOUGH truck poses in front of a picturesque shoreline.

The special hydrographic finish on the center console around the audio hints of carbon-fiber material.

5Driver comfort. Exclusive to the 3.2L Ranger Wildtrak are features like the Rear View Camera, Cooled Console, Beltminder and a 12V cargo box power point. The premium eight-way power adjustable driver seat fitted exclusively to the 3.2L Wildtrak is new to the Ranger line and offers tailored seating at the touch of a button.

The backing camera is also a much-needed feature on the Ranger, especially that it’s a pickup. The screen that appears on the rear view mirror is quite creative. However, this driver would still have preferred the screen to appear on the center information monitor, as she needed the full view of the rear view mirror when “manually” checking her backing maneuvers.

The power-folding side view mirrors are a nice touch and give a “nice guy” character to a “tough” pickup.

6Safety boosts driver confidence. The 3.2L Ranger Wildtrak is peppered with safety features. Primarily, there’s the Electronic Stability Program, and integrated to this are new features that assist vehicle stability and control, including Hill Descent Control, Hill Launch Assist, Emergency Brake Assist, brake light, and rollover mitigation. Passive safety technologies include the standard front and side airbags, and side curtain airbags (exclusive to the 3.2L Wildtrak).

7Aftermarket touch-ups. We imagine offroaders and pickup enthusiasts to love using the 3.2L Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 as the template to “toughen” up this ride some more by installing aftermarket products like snorkels, offroad tires, winches, the works. Now that would make this Ranger a truly beautifully refined brute.

Literally picking up gradeschool kids and giving them a break just for a few kilometers.

8Perhaps the rear cabin window could  be converted to slide-open-and-close windows, so that warm bodies inside the cabin and on the pickup bed (yes, on occasion, humans will want to ride on the bed outside and let their hair down) can communicate.

So, if this writer had P1.559 million to invest on a looker of a 4×4 pickup, she’d go straight to a Ford dealer that offers excellent aftersales service and products, and buy the Wildtrak (with nonleather seats). Sure, this beast may be called Wildtrak, but for all seasons and conditions, this pickup is gentle to its handlers.

Aside from the 2.2L 4×4 in both manual and automatic transmission, and the top-of-the-line 3.2L 4×4 6-speed in automatic transmission, Ford Philippines now offers the 2.2L 4×2 in both automatic and manual transmissions, and a 3.2L 4×4 in manual transmission.