Many brands will boast of how capable their vehicles are but few actually follow-through on a event to prove it.
Such was the case for the next-generation Ford Ranger and Everest where we were invited to experience just how far we can push these showroom stock vehicles.
This experiential test drive, organized by Ford Philippines, called for hands-on driving with the new Everest and Ranger; not just on city streets but also through some of the toughest terrain they can be expected to encounter. A road trip through a variety of terrain was planned, covering close to 500 kilometers. This mix of on-road and off-road situations were the perfect opportunities to test the latest safety and connectivity features. With car camping going on the rise, Ford thought it would be a perfect chance to visit one of the most enviable car camping destinations, Lake Mapanuepe.
Kicking off from Clark Freeport Zone, our convoy took on the smooth highways of North Luzon Expressway and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) on the way to San Marcelino, Zambales, where we were met with an off-road trail tested the durability and capability of the vehicles.
Enjoyable highway drives
The first leg of the trip entailed a long drive on the highways out of Manila and into Clark via the Skyway Stage 3 and NLEX. These were a great opportunity to test both vehicle’s refined driver assist features such as Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keeping Assist. When turned on, the system attempts to maintain the set cruising speed with respect to the vehicles around it. If there is a vehicle in front, it will maintain a set distance from the car in front and speed back up again once it is clear. Lane Keeping Assist monitors the Lane Markings and tries to keep the vehicle in the center of the lane, even during slight turns. These features are only intended to be assistants, of course, and not meant to take over driving completely. They certainly help make long drives on the highway more relaxing and less taxing on the driver.
Through the rough
Once in Pampanga, the road became much more rugged, allowing us to shift to one of the many 4x4 modes suited to the terrain: sand. Sand mode activated 4x4 high, and comes pre-programed to sense and react to the changing grip levels of the lahar beds.
To truly show off what the cars can do, Ford set up obstacles to push the cars to the limit.
These included uphill and downhill obstacles made of steep inclines and descents to test the 4x4 program’s ability to deliver traction. The Hill Descent Control feature showcased how it can return a slow and controlled descent even in steep inclines. The system continually adjusts brake pressure to help control slippage and maintain a constant preset speed while going down a steep gradient. The 4x4 program made short work of our steep ascent.
There was very little worry of snagging the front or rear thanks to the improved rear departure angle of 23˚ (increased from 21˚ in the preceding model) and wider and longer wheelbase in both vehicles.
Another obstacle presented were river crossings. Thanks to the vehicles’ water-wading capability (up to 800 mm), and enhanced visibility provided by 360˚ camera, we effortlessly traversed through small pools and streams to test just how the vehicles respond to such challenges.
Rock and ruts along the routeallowed us to shift to a different driving mode. Both vehicles offered a 4-Low together with locking rear differential system to ride over larger tougher obstacles like rocks. The 4x4 program adjusts the engine’s torque, delivering more at a lower RPM and axle ratio to smoothly cross patches of rock and sand.
At the end of the rough trail was Camp Ford, a campsite pitched in a picturesque area lined with pine trees and lush greenery along Lake Mapanuepe.
Here, Ford showed how both vehicles can be perfect for car camping, with outlets to power items like coffee makers and small tools or host an impromptu tailgate party in the wilderness. It’s also perfect for some bushcraft with the Ranger’s tailgate that has built-in clamp pockets, molded compartment slots, and improved bedliner as well as the 230-volt inverter cargo outlet.
Parking exercises
While we sadly didn’t spend the night, the end of the drive offered another treat as we got the chance to test the built-in Active Park Assist 2.0, which finds a space and drives into it. This system works especially well for parallel parking scenarios, but can also handle perpendicular spaces. There’s also Reverse Brake Assist that stops the vehicle if it detects an obstacle behind.
“Our next-generation Ford Drive Experience allowed our media partners to experience the full capabilities of the next-gen Ford Ranger amid real-life driving situations and conditions. We planned the trip to really showcase its versatility, reliability, safety, and connectivity. We hope that through this experiential drive, our media partners were able to appreciate the features of our next-gen Ford Ranger which makes it the perfect vehicle for work, play, and family,” said Mike Breen, managing director, Ford Philippines.
The next-gen Ranger and Everest come with a five-year warranty for an enhanced ownership experience. The longer warranty offering will cover the vehicles for up to five years or total mileage of up to 150,000 kilometers, whichever comes first.
Both the next-generation Everest and Ranger are now available at all authorized Ford dealers.