Ford Ranger Review

In the local pickup truck market, competition among mid-to-high-end models is becoming increasingly fierce. Consumers expect vehicles to meet the comfort needs of daily commuting while also taking practicality for cargo carrying or light off-road capabilities into account. The 2023 Ford Ranger WildTrak is specifically aimed at this niche market. It comes equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and features a range of intelligent driving assistance and convenience functions. This time, through an actual test drive, we aim to verify whether its performance in power, space, and features aligns with its RM 170,888 price tag, and whether it can serve as a versatile vehicle for both family and work scenarios.

From the exterior, the 2023 Ranger WildTrak maintains the rugged style of a pickup truck, with robust and powerful lines throughout its design. The front features sharp LED headlight clusters connected to the large front grille, enhanced by blackened details and the Ford badge for better recognition. A silver skid plate is added below the front bumper, enhancing the off-road feel while providing some degree of protection during use. On the side, 255/65 R18 tires combined with multi-spoke alloy wheels, along with the vehicle’s 5370mm length and 3270mm wheelbase, present an imposing and substantial look. The character line extends from the front fender to the rear, and the running boards below the doors make it convenient for passengers to get in and out. At the rear, the vertically arranged LED taillights integrate naturally with the vehicle's side lines, and the rear bumper is also equipped with a silver skid plate. The overall design is simple yet cohesive.

Inside, the interior layout prioritizes practicality while incorporating a sense of technology. The upper part of the dashboard is covered with soft materials, offering a delicate touch, while harder plastics are used in the lower part to ensure durability. A 12-inch central touchscreen sits at the center of the dashboard, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay functionality. It delivers smooth operation and has a clear interface. The 8-inch TFT multifunctional instrument cluster displays vehicle status, navigation information, and more, making it convenient for the driver to access information. In terms of features, the front row is equipped with dual-zone automatic air conditioning, and the rear row has independent air conditioning vents to meet the needs of different passengers. The driver’s seat offers 8-way electric adjustment, while the front passenger seat has 4-way manual adjustment. Both front seats provide good support, making long-term seating comfortable and less fatiguing.

In terms of space, the 2023 Ranger WildTrak’s 3270mm wheelbase allows for spacious accommodation both in the front and rear seats. A front passenger with a height of 175cm still has a fist-width of headroom after adjusting their seat. Rear passengers have more than two fists of legroom and about a fist of headroom, ensuring comfortable seating even on long journeys. For storage, the front center armrest box has a large capacity, capable of holding items like phones and wallets, while the door storage compartments can accommodate water bottles. The rear seats support a 60:40 split-folding design, which, when folded, further extends the trunk’s cargo space. Combined with the truck bed, it can meet the daily requirements for transporting large items.

In terms of power, the 2023 Ranger WildTrak is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine, delivering a maximum power of 154kW (210PS) and a peak torque of 500N·m, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. During actual driving, the engine exhibits strong low-end torque, reaching maximum torque between 1750-2000rpm, ensuring a quick power response at start-up without feeling strained, even under full load. During acceleration, the transmission’s gear-shifting logic is clear, offering smooth upshifts and downshifts with hardly any noticeable jerks. While cruising at high speed, the transmission maintains a high gear to reduce engine RPM, thus improving fuel efficiency.

In terms of handling and chassis, the combination of the front double-wishbone independent suspension and rear leaf spring suspension ensures off-road capability while also taking road driving comfort into account. When driving on urban roads, the suspension can filter out most small bumps, and the vehicle body remains stable. When encountering speed bumps or larger potholes, the rear leaf spring suspension may cause some bouncing, but it is within an acceptable range. The steering wheel's turning effort is moderate, the directional accuracy is fairly precise, and the body roll is well-controlled during cornering, giving the driver sufficient confidence.

In the fuel consumption test, we drove approximately 50 kilometers on both city roads and highways. The fuel consumption was around 9.5L/100km on city roads and around 7.8L/100km on highways, with a combined fuel consumption of approximately 8.6L/100km. For a pickup truck, such fuel economy performance is quite excellent. In terms of braking performance, the brake pedal travel is moderate, the braking force output is linear, and the vehicle remains stable during emergency braking without veering off course.

Regarding driving comfort, the vehicle's noise control is well done, with minimal wind and tire noise at high speeds. The noise of the diesel engine is also not very noticeable inside the cabin. The addition of an electronic parking brake enhances daily convenience. In terms of safety features, the vehicle is equipped with 7 airbags, lane departure warning, active braking, forward collision warning, and other functions to provide comprehensive protection for passengers.

In summary, the core advantage of the 2023 Ford Ranger WildTrak lies in its balanced performance. It offers powerful performance, practical space, rich features, and good comfort. Compared to other models in the same class, its price is RM 16,000 lower than the Platinum version. While there are some differences in seat adjustment, instrument panel size, and the number of speakers, the core powertrain and safety features remain consistent, making it more cost-effective.

This vehicle is suitable for consumers who need to balance family use and work requirements, such as small business owners who often need to transport goods or families who enjoy outdoor adventures. It not only meets the comfort needs of daily commuting but also handles light off-road and cargo-carrying requirements, making it a versatile vehicle.

Overall, the 2023 Ford Ranger WildTrak performs well in terms of power, space, features, and comfort. Its balanced capabilities give it strong competitiveness in the mid-to-high-end pickup truck market, making it a model worth considering.