OFF-ROAD PARTNER One of the blue oval brand's latest pickup truck entry, the Next-Gen Ranger Wildtrak
An image of strength, hard work, and testosterone, the pickup truck is America’s bestselling car for good reasons. On the workhorse of automobiles, you can travel just about anywhere on land with everything you need.
In the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath, the Joads set out for California, away from the Dust Bowl in a makeshift pickup truck, a stripped-down 1926 Hudson Super Six sedan. “The house was dead, and the fields were dead; but this truck was the active thing, the living principle. The ancient Hudson, with bent and scarred radiator screen, with grease in dusty globules at the worn edges of every moving part, with hub caps gone and caps of red dust in their places—this was the new hearth, the living center of the family; half passenger car and half truck, high-sided and clumsy,” wrote John Steinback.
The pickup truck is the choice of transportation for the conscientious laborer. Two of the most diligent editors I know in Manila Bulletin own and drive a pickup truck. There’s the female executive editor who has been in the industry for four decades strong, and her polar opposite, one of the youngest sports editors, has proven to be just as good as his seniors.
JOADS ROAD The Joads in their pickup truck in the film adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath
It is not hard to fall in love with a pickup truck, especially the newer models equipped with myriad car innovations we could only dream of in the past. The Next-Gen Ranger, for instance, combines remarkable power with fuel efficiency, comfort, versatility, and technological advancements, which not only follow but set the trends for top-of-the-line smart automobiles.
A top player in the pickup truck segment, Ford ushered in an exciting time for the local automotive industry with the recent launch of the Next-Gen Ranger’s high-performance variant, the Raptor. After all, the person who coined the term pickup and produced the first factory-built pickup truck was Henry Ford. Other versions of the Next-Gen Ranger are the Sport, XLT, XLS, XL, and Wildtrak, unique from each other in wheel drive, transmission, and certain nuances.
Before the Raptor was officially unveiled in the Philippines, I had the opportunity to test drive Next-Gen Ranger Wildtrak, in particular its top-spec 2.0L bi-turbo engine, 4x4, 10-speed automatic. My itinerary was to drive everywhere, in all road conditions, from tarmac to mud, plains, and mountains, exploring the car’s bells and whistles in the process.
NOSE TO GRINDSTONE From a handsome grille and hood to an efficient cargo management system and tailgate that doubles as a work surface at the back, the Next-Gen Ranger is a functional beast
The moment the Next-Gen Ranger was delivered to my garage, I was immediately impressed by its muscular silhouette, familiar as I have been with the signature good looks of the latest generation Ford releases. On its side are well-chiseled lines, with more creases and cuts over its curvy predecessor, while retaining a similar shape for a sporty aesthetic. Car designs have come full circle as boxy is, once again, the new sexy.
Massive C-clamp LED daytime running lamps bracket with a black grille, covering a large area for an imposing front. The lender came in Sedona Orange among colorways Absolute Black, Aluminium Metallic, Meteor Grey, Luxe Yellow, and Snow Flake White Pearl. At the back, the Ranger badge is embossed on the tailgate.
Opening the car door, I noticed how heavy it was, indicative of sturdiness. The interior feels premium with soft-touch materials and leather-wrapped surfaces. The instrument cluster for all Next-Gen Ranger variants is digital.
PLANE SAILING The minimalistic dashboard puts emphasis on the gigantic infotainment system
Because of the clean and minimalist coast-to-coast dash, the Tesla-esque, 12-inch sleek display is made more eye-catching. This infotainment system, called Sync 4, supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing effortless connection to any phone. More than a centerpiece, the enormous integrated LCD touchscreen is also practical for multitasking. I mainly utilized half of the tablet for navigation while the rest for playing music, driver assistance, and tampering with whatever settings. Directly below is a wireless charger that fits large phones.
One of the things I love about Ford cars is the comfortable seats. The Next-Gen Ranger is equipped with large, padded seats upholstered in leather. In the cabin are an eight-way adjustable, motorized driver seat and a front passenger chair that’s manually adjustable. For back seat passengers, a dedicated air-conditioning, as well as two USB ports and a 400 watts socket, is available. Surprising for a pickup truck, the rear seat space is quite roomy.
While the heavyset vehicle has a significant body height and width, it is fairly easy to drive. Feather-like steering makes driving a breeze that I could use a single finger to control the car.
LAGUNA CRUISING The author driving the Next-Gen Ranger Wildtrak on the way to Kaliraya Surf Kamp
On the first day, I drove around the metro. The pothole-riddled roads of Manila were no match for the 255/65 R18 tires with 18-inch rims and ground clearance of 235mm. Although I did not encounter any, waist-deep floods would not have been a problem with the 800 mm wading depth.
Maximizing the load capacity of the car, I went grocery and hardware shopping. With a cargo bed that’s 1,564mm long, 1,5844mm wide, and 540mm deep, it has a better stowage than most of the competition. Inside the tonneau is a pair of covered 180 and 400 watts sockets, perfect for camping or blue-collar work that needs plug-in tools. With the sports bar and roof rails, more load can be carried. Side-mounted step boards make loading more hassle-free.
Come night time, I got to see in action the adaptive front lighting system, which automatically shifts between low and high beams depending on speed, oncoming traffic, and turning on curves. This considerate smart car dims your headlights upon detecting other vehicles coming from the front. Similarly, when you turn, the light tilts to a certain angle, slightly following the driver’s line of sight.
WHERE THE WIND BLOWS A random person engaged in kite surfing at Kaliraya Surf Kamp
The following day, I was scheduled for an overnight stay at Kaliraya Surf Kamp in Cavinti, Laguna. From Manila, going to the surf camp took a little over two hours taking the South Luzon Express Way (SLEX). The exciting part came after Calamba exit. A nifty feature of the 4x4 Wildtrak Next-Gen Ranger is its ability to change between two-wheel and four-wheel drives. During my Manila escapade, I stuck to two-wheel drive to save gas. As the roads got steeper and winding on the way to the surf camp, I shifted to four-wheel drive for improved traction and control.
Aside from being able to switch wheel drives on a whim, there are also six selectable drive modes, which change the wheel slip and gear shifts to augment performance depending on varying road conditions. A simple turn of a knob prompts the mode switch. Normal is for everyday use, while Eco maximizes fuel economy. Tow/Haul optimizes gear shift timing and increases steering wheel resistance for smoother control by recognizing the extra load. Engine and transmission are enhanced to reduce wheel spin in Slippery, while traction control delivers better grip. Mud/Ruts is similar to Slippery but with more wheel slip to clear mud from the tire tread. With Sand, power delivery to the wheel is increased while breaking distance is minimized. Granted I played around the different modes, I stuck to Normal for most of my drives.
TWIST AND WHEEL The dial on the bottom right is where the wheel drive and modes can be changed
Surrounded by nature’s abundance from decades-old trees to dancing fireflies sketching faint graceful luminescence, Caliraya Lake is a beautiful spot to breathe fresh air and escape city life. In Laguna, Kaliraya Surf Kamp is a famous destination for windsurfing, kite surfing, and camping.
I learned from the general manager that Kaliraya Surf Kamp was a nudist lakeside colony patronized by German tourists in the ’80s. It was converted into an eco-resort offering an array of outdoor activities that include kayaking, fishing, swimming, boat tour, jet skiing, and ATV, to name a few. Other pastimes, free of charge, are badminton, volleyball, mini-billiards, table tennis, and Frisbee. Now the surf camp has become a happening events venue for marriages and team building as well.
THINK GREEN Facade of the Tiny Houses, one of the lodging options in the surf camp
The camping site and parking lots inside are not paved with asphalt, and because it was humid, the ground was muddy. This was where I got to experience the off-road capabilities of the Next-Gen Ranger in full. I had no trouble driving on mud and sand.
I would have loved to stay on the camping site if only I owned a tent. I instead rented one of the tiny houses made from container vans. Good for two occupants, the room was quaint but did not feel tight.
BEST BED IN CAMP The master's bedroom at the second floor of the lake house
Apart from the drive, the highlight of the trip was dinner at Trattoria Altrov’é. The Italian restaurant rents space inside the Kaliraya Surf Kamp grounds and also has branches in El Nido, Tarlac, Siargao, Cebu, and BF Homes in Parañaque. I ordered the Gamberi e Olio d’Oliva, an oil-based pasta with shrimps and sundried tomatoes, together with the Prosciutto Crudo Con Tartufo, a traditional wood-fired pizza topped with air-dried parma-ham, wild Italian truffle cream, mozzarella, and arugula. Both dishes are beyond delicious, I consider the meal one of the best I’ve had for this year.
In the morning, I toured the property and got to check out the camp’s premier two-story lake house. I was told that almost all of the materials used in building the place were eco-friendly.
MOLTO BUONO From top: Gamberi e Olio d’Oliva and Prosciutto Crudo Con Tartufo of Trattoria Altrov’é Caliraya
On the third day, I went to my province, Tarlac, to bring home some old fixtures. It rained again, so the load got soaked. My advice for those planning to buy a pickup truck is to straight away get a tonneau cover.
With passengers other than myself, I flexed the new application FordPass. Installed in your phone, FordPass allows users to lock and unlock the doors, start the engine and air-conditioning, track the location, and see the status of the vehicle from fuel level to oil life, remotely. This innovates car ownership, making the management of Ford vehicles so convenient. Before my family and I would approach the pickup truck, a command from my phone allows me to start the engine and unlock the doors.
I NAMED IT ORANGER First step in using the FordPass is the registration of your car, which involves inputting a code found at the lower left corner of your windshield, and giving a name to your vehicle for personalization
I went back to Manila on the fourth day to spend precious time with my godkid. I fetched her from Parañaque and was about to bring her to a theme park when it rained yet again. Traffic was horrible, add to it a huge event at Quirino Grandstand, and it was a hell road going to Manila Ocean Park. The 360-degree camera came in handy with maneuvering through the narrow and congested streets of Manila, not that you would need it with the squared-off nose and high seating position that would afford you a favorable vantage point for judging corners in traffic over smaller vehicles.
Three more days of excessive driving to and fro, I only had to gas up once. If this isn’t fuel efficient, then what is?
This barely scratches the surface of what the Next-Gen Ranger could do. I enjoyed driving it so much that a week on the road felt like a month. It is evidence of the engineering prowess behind the original T6 only made ultramodern. This feature-packed car sweeps the competition and, for now, stands at the pinnacle of pickup truck perfection.