By Salaphezulu Masindane

The lifestyle bakkie market is a forever growing one. What is that you ask? Well, the simple is answer are those bakkies that aimed at pavements of Sandton, look the part, but can be adventurous on the weekend. Ford has not been left behind in this trend and we spent time with their iteration of this bakkie being the Ford Ranger Wildtrak X.

How does it differ from the rest of the line-up?

It is identifiable from the rest of the range thanks to a broader stance, Cyber Orange/black accents, a durable steel bash plate and cast aluminium side steps.

Other notable enhancements include new 17-inch General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tyres and Ford’s optional Flexible Rack System, which is a versatile sliding load rack with five lockable positions and foldable roof racks stored within the roof rails. The Flexible Rack System is easy to use without the requirement of two people to slide it to a desired setting. The cosmetic enhancements on the Wildtrak X may be minimal, but they are visually appealing to set it apart from its sibling which is the Wildtrak.

Interior

Inside, the Wildtrak X mirrors the standard Wildtrak’s modern interior, featuring leather seats adorned with vibrant orange accents, a Bang & Olufsen sound system and a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The cabin is class-leading and the addition of the Bang & Olufsen sound system takes things up a notch.

Drive and performance

Under the hood of the Wildtrak X is a 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine with outputs of 154kW/500Nm, and it is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The diesel motor provides sufficient power to pull the 2.4 tonne bakkie without much fuss. The ride and drive of the Wildtrak X remains relatively the same even with the upgraded suspension and all-terrain tyres. Our time with the Wildtrak X returned a fuel consumption of 9.6 l/100km across city, highway and urban cruising.

Final Verdict

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak X is a perfect middle ground between the Wildtrak and the Raptor, It is also just as capable as both of its siblings but adds the exterior aesthetic.

Pricing for the Ford Ranger Wildtrak X starts at R1,040,600 that includes a with 4-year/120 000 km general- and 5-year/unlimited km corrosion warranties and 4 years’ roadside assistance (unlimited km).