In case you missed it...
Ford Philippines recently launched updated versions of the Ranger. The main highlight? A 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel-powered V6. This engine made it into the new Wildtrak and Wildtrak-X variants, with the latter positioned near the top of the lineup just below the lahar-munching Raptor.
We had the chance to drive the Ranger Wildtrak-X to Rizal and Batangas along with the new V6-powered Everest Platinum. Admittedly, I was more excited about the Ranger than the Everest, as just a month prior, we had a similar escapade to Rizal using the four-cylinder-equipped Ranger Sport 4x4. With that muddy drive still fresh in my memory, I was eager to see what the torquier Wildtrak-X could do.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
Review: 2027 Toyota Urban Cruiser GLX BEV 2WD
Review: 2027 Toyota RAV4 2.5 Limited HEV
But first, let’s talk about the differences between the Wildtrak-X and standard Wildtrak—because from the outside, they look almost identical. Checking the tailgate badge won’t help much, as both just say ‘Wildtrak’—I wish Ford had put an ‘X’ somewhere on the higher spec’s badging for additional cool points.
Instead, some key identifiers include the Wildtrak-X’s ‘Ranger’ lettering on the hood and auxiliary lights on the grille. One of the biggest giveaways would be the wheels. Compared to the orange-accented 18-inch alloys on the Wildtrak, the Wildtrak X comes spec’d with 17-inch black-and-silver alloys with beefy 265/70R17 all-terrain rubber.
As for other not-so-visible differences, the Wildtrak-X gets Bilstein shocks, additional underbody protection, a slightly higher ground clearance, a larger instrument cluster, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system.
So, what’s it like to drive?
As expected, right off the bat, the V6 engine already felt like it had more grunt than the four-pot powertrain. As it should, it has two extra cylinders after all. The torque was more noticeable down low, and minimal pedal pressure was needed to pass other cars on the highway. On faster uphill sections, overtaking and keeping up with the convoy was light work, as the turbo was more than happy to help out when you wanted it to.
The upgraded suspension also helped keep the Wildtrak-X planted in the corners. It’s a firmer ride than the Everest, for sure, but not bad. The steering was well-balanced with decent road feel, and the seats had enough adjustment for my lanky frame to get into my desired seating position. You sit tall in the Wildtrak-X, with good visibility, and, like the Ranger Sport, the size felt very manageable even on narrow roads.
The rain gave us a chance to test out the pickup’s off-road capability on slippery terrain. The stock General Grabber AT3 tires, paired with the truck’s terrain management system, gripped well on muddy sections. Steeper uphill portions were no problem for the engine, as well, with 600Nm of torque at the truck’s disposal.
We weren’t able to test the Wildtrak-X’s capabilities in river crossings and more technical terrain as we were supposed to, as the weather made the water current too risky to tread. Nonetheless, the Bilstein suspension performed well in the deeper ruts we encountered. Additionally, if things got rougher, there was a front-facing off-road camera with predictive overlay guides ready at any time.
Utilitarian but surprisingly comfy
This is still a pickup, so forget storing groceries in a trunk. The truck bed was made for hauling heavy items, and while the suspension does use Bilstein components, the rear still utilizes a heavy duty leaf spring, so naturally, there are some ride quality trade-offs.
That said, it’s still surprisingly comfortable inside the cabin. The seats are nicely padded and supportive, the large 12-inch touchscreen is intuitive and connects to Apple CarPlay without any fuss, and there’s even a wireless phone charger. The Bang & Olufsen speakers sounded great, too.
Positioning
As I said with the Everest Platinum, these turbodiesel V6-equipped trucks serve a niche market, especially with diesel prices today. And I would argue that’s even more true with the Ranger Wildtrak-X. This variant stickers for P2,609,000, and while the diesel engine has a lot of oomph, those looking purely at performance might still consider the Ranger Raptor and its twin-turbo gasoline-powered V6 for P2,879,000.
The Wildtrak-X feels more like an everyday utilitarian work truck with more power and off-road versatility, rather than a high-performance weekend toy. And as long as that is what you expect from it, then it’s a very capable package. What’s left is to weigh whether the extra torque and features are worth the added fuel consumption compared to the four-cylinder diesel variants. We’ll save our real-world fuel economy assessment for when we get our hands on this truck for longer.
More photos of the 2027 Ford Ranger Wildtrak-X:
