Ford Ranger 2021 review: Wildtrak X off-road test

There are two engines available in Ford Ranger Wildtrak X spec: the 3.2-litre matched to a six-speed automatic, and the 2.0-litre bi-turbo that’s paired with a 10-speed auto. 

Our test vehicle, a 2020.75 model year variant, was an 2.0-litre four-cylinder bi-turbo Wildtrak X 4x4, with a manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of $70,490, but ours had the $650 paint (aluminium silver) option. 

The Wildtrak X is only available as a dual-cab ute.

As standard, a Wildtrak has a premium leather-accented interior, with contrast-stitched seat trim, accent colours, and illuminated scuff plates, as well as an 8.0-inch touchscreen Sync3 multimedia unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Safety gear includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, reversing camera, parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, hill-descent control, hill-start assist, tyre pressure monitoring and more.

The Wildtrak has a premium leather-accented interior, with contrast-stitched seat trim.

The ‘X’ designation adds bi-LED headlights, a snorkel, nudge bar, nudge-bar-mounted LED light bar, Ebony Black wheel arch flares, 18-inch alloy wheels, and an Ebony Black rear sail plane.

The Wildtrak X also has FordPass Connect which means you’re able to start and stop the vehicle via your smartphone, as well as lock or unlock it via that same device.

Ford reckons the accessories are worth $6000.

The X also has a mountain top roll cover, which standard Wildtraks get, but this is powered in the ‘X’, and can be operated via an in-cabin switch or a button in the tray.

Note: our test vehicle was a MY2020.75 variant, as mentioned, not a MY2021 version, which is due to arrive here in February 2021 – those new Wildtrak Xs will have a new Ebony Black front grille with Saber accent ‘nostrils’.

As I’ve mentioned previously when writing about vehicles of this type (i.e. 4WDs that are sold from the showroom already loaded with gear that might otherwise be sourced through Australia’s great aftermarket industry), having all that gear onboard at purchase time will be the convenience boost that many people will savour, but others will prefer to do their own research and source their own aftermarket gear. 

Our test vehicle had a 2.0-litre four-cylinder bi-turbo diesel engine – producing 157kW at 3750rpm and 500Nm at 1750-2000rpm – and a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Our test vehicle had a 2.0-litre four-cylinder bi-turbo diesel engine.

It has a selectable four-wheel drive system and an electronic locking rear differential.

The interior of the Wildtrak X is a roomy, functional space and it has a real touch of class as well with soft-touch leather-accented surfaces, orange-stitching, and ‘Wildtrak’ branding scattered about the cabin, including on the dash, seats and floormats.

There are cup holders up front, and in a fold-down arm-rest in the back seat. There are bottle holders in every door.

The interior of the Wildtrak X is a roomy, functional space and it has a real touch of class.

Other storage spaces include a glovebox, a small receptacle for everyday-carry stuff in front of the shifter, and a deep centre console. And there’s always the shallow space afforded if you have no rear-seat passengers and stow those seats away.

In terms of charging points, there are two USB ports and a 12V socket up front.

The X’s myriad controls, either dash- or steering-wheel-mounted are easy to locate and operate. 

The multimedia system is bolstered by volume and tuning knobs.

The multimedia system, with its 8.0-inch touchscreen bolstered by volume and tuning knobs, is easy to use and, as mentioned earlier, it has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (USB-connect) functionality.

The rear seat can legally accommodate two baby seats, as it has an ISOFIX anchor on each outer seat and top-tether attachment loops that attach to a top anchor in the middle.

The rear seat can legally accommodate two baby seats.

The front seats are supportive and comfortable, and the rear seats aren’t too far behind, in terms of comfort levels, either.

The Wildtrak X is one of the biggest mainstream utes on offer in Australia at 5446mm long (with a 3220mm-long wheelbase), 1848mm high and 1848mm wide.

The Wildtrak X is one of the biggest mainstream utes on offer in Australia.

So, yep, it’s not an insubstantial vehicle to steer around, but the funny thing is, it never really feels like it is – even with a 12.7m turning circle. This Ford’s electric power steering is consistently well-weighted and offers a precision that, until the Ranger was launched, was rare in a large ute.

The engine-and-auto combination is smooth, with an even-handed delivery of power and torque, and by now any lingering doubts over the smaller capacity engine should have been well and truly done away with. There is some lag from a standing start under a heavy right boot, but otherwise the Wildtrak X is a very nice fuss-free ute to drive.

Ride and handling are very impressive and on-road manners are assured and reliably sensible, even when it’s unladen. 

The suspension – coils at the front and leaf springs at the rear – yields a comfort and control that’s been missing in most, if not all, utes until Ford’s contemporary Ranger line-up.

The Wildtrak has a claimed fuel consumption of 7.4km/h (combined). On test, we recorded an actual fuel consumption of 10.8km/h, but driving included a few hours of low-range 4WDing.

It has an 80-litre fuel tank.

The Ranger line-up has a five-year/unlimited km warranty, a lifetime capped price servicing plan and seven years roadside assist. 

The Ranger line-up has a five-year/unlimited km warranty.

Servicing is recommended at 12 month/15,000km intervals and the annual service cost averages out over seven years to $406.