Test drive Ford Ranger Wildtrak pickup: good - both on the asphalt and in the forest - part 1

 The outgoing 2019 turned out to be fruitful for pickups: the debuts of absolute novelties, updates to already well-known "players" - for example, the Ford Ranger. Moreover, during the last update, the pickup became “head and shoulders above” itself from the past: a new engine and automatic transmission, advanced equipment, excellent comfort. All the details in the article below - believe me, the Ford Ranger will surprise you.

 Positioning

 The Ford Ranger Wildtrak pickup first appeared back in 1983 and became the smallest Ford model in the pickup segment in the US market. Interestingly, in the past, during its release, the Ford Ranger even managed to acquire an electric version. Today, the fourth generation of the Ford Ranger pickup is being produced: the car debuted at the end of 2010 and then it had a completely different design, interior, engines. Then the Ford Ranger underwent several updates, during which the exterior and interior changed, and during the last (2018-2019, depending on the country of launch), the car received a new engine and "automatic". Also, during the last update, the Ford Ranger Raptor was added to the model range, which stands somewhat apart, and if we talk about the civilian versions of the Ford Ranger, then it is Wildtrak that is the TOP version.

 Actually, the current generation of the car was presented at the end of 2010, but since then only the frame and suspension scheme, the basics of the cab and the body have remained the same. Everything else has completely changed: the exterior design and interior, engine and "automatic", equipment with systems. The Ford Ranger recently earned the honorary title of International Pickup Truck of the Year 2020. By the way, during the last update, the Ranger Raptor version debuted. But if you do not take this unique one, then it is the Ford Ranger Wildtrak that is the TOP version in the “civilian” model range. Such a car is presented in the article: Ford Ranger Wildtrak pickup with 213-horsepower bi-turbodiesel, automatic transmission, all-wheel drive.

 How does the Ford Ranger Wildtrak pickup drive?

 First, it rides comfortably. Even more, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak is arguably the most comfortable pickup truck I've got my hands on in 2019. Typical for a large frame car on large wheels, it successfully “swallows” medium irregularities, not noticing small ones at all. Pits, patches, joints - everything, they are no more. Only in large pits, where a wheel can come off a passenger car, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak pickup allows a light kick that passes into the cabin. At the same time, the comfort of the car does not change with speed, on the contrary: the rule "more travel - less holes" works. Moreover, even at high speed, when driving through large irregularities, the level of vibrations from unsprung masses is small, and in general, unnecessary shocks from a heavy rear axle are surprisingly rare. I would even say that the Ford Ranger Wildtrak pickup has a fully spring suspension, if I did not know for sure that there are springs in the back (springs are only for the Ford Ranger Raptor). Frankly, the soft suspension, of course, is not conducive to fast driving: there are great rolls in corners. The very light steering wheel with three turns from lock to lock does not help either. It seems that this is the lot of the Ford Ranger Raptor, against which the Ford Ranger Wildtrak acts as a "high-class pickup for every day" - but it does this role well!

 Secondly, it goes fast. The Wildtrak version received a 213-horsepower turbodiesel mated to a 10-speed "automatic" - and this combination endows the car with such impressive dynamics that I only knew pickups with V6 or V8 engines faster than the Ford Ranger Wildtrak. The engine and gearbox are only commendable. Thanks to the presence of two turbines, the bi-turbodiesel pulls in the widest range of revolutions: when acceleration is required, at any moment when the accelerator pedal is pressed, there is always a margin of traction. The traditional "automatic" gears shift imperceptibly and silky: as if the operation of the variator, only without the traditional "variator rubber", but with a clear and unambiguous relationship between the motor and the wheels. It is possible to catch a gear change only by changing the hum of the motors - and this is the first remark to the car. Indeed, in general, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak gives the impression of a very high-class pickup, subconsciously you already expect better sound insulation from it.