Ford Ranger: Elite Storm Troops (test drive)

[[MC]Ronin[MC]]

Ford Ranger: Elite Storm Troops (test drive)

It can carry over a tonne of cargo, carry 3.5 tonnes of towed cargo, attack water obstacles with a depth of up to 850 mm, is off the road among the most capable vehicles left on the market. The Ford Ranger is a native farmer's dream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I write these lines, thousands of Alliance troops have to gather in Europe for the largest joint military exercise with the United States (Defender-Europe 20). Common sense seems to have prevailed because the event has been canceled, but there are about 6,000 US stormtroopers on the Old Continent who "occupy" European territory. They are not here with their full combat gear, which over four decades has dominated the automobile market in the US, but its European counterpart deserves no less attention than that.

Ford Ranger Wildtrak GalleryFord Ranger Wildtrak GalleryFord Ranger Wildtrak GalleryFord Ranger Wildtrak Gallery
And while low prices, vast territories and the need for an iron horse have made the "red doors" raise a pickup cult behind the ocean, in Europe this kind of car has a slightly different role. Yes, they continue to be a favorite vehicle for native farmers, but they can also be used for a pleasant weekend in nature, as their load capacity and superior off-road capabilities make it an ideal vehicle for this.

 

I'm neither a farmer nor a fan of off-road machines, but my adventure with the Ranger dates back to the 13 years I've always liked it. From my first meeting with him in Innsbruck in 2007 to this day, I have a real fondness for the car.

First of all, it is Ranger's capacity to carry over tonnes (max. 1252 kg) of payload, which makes it an indispensable business partner. Moreover, the pickup can carry up to 3.5 tonnes of towed cargo, making long camping in Greece a song. Perhaps hauling such a load will cause fuel-consuming questions, but the Ranger responds as well.

Personally, I will neither use a pickup truck for business, nor tow a caravan to the sea. So I just mark his abilities. However, I cannot ignore the appearance of the test model as design is of particular importance to me. I almost let a tear drop when I realized that it wouldn't warm me to sit behind the wheel of a Ranger Raptor and make those jumping into the "tube" (the steel protection of the entire floor allows it), but the orange Ranger Wildtrak is more than worthy alternate. The model is extremely attractive, and fans of good old offroader will be more than pleased with its male appearance.

It has a matte black grille, door columns and side mirror covers. The silver armor, the trim strip and the rails on the roof put their finishing touches. Against this backdrop, the Nissan Navara (which I managed to do a round for direct comparison) looks rather lean, to say the least.

 

But off-road fans are looking for many different qualities than the exterior beauty that abounds here. Normally, considering that entering the Ranger Wildtrak requires a step and a grip on the handle of the front A-pillar to keep your trouser legs from getting muddy. This implies that the 230 mm clearance and the possibility of drafting up to 850 mm water suggest the capabilities of the model. More familiar will say that the angle of departure varies from 28 to 32 degrees, and the angle of departure from 24 to 25 degrees.

Personally, I didn't try to test its full off-road capacity, but for the sake of the nice pictures I decided to shoot it in the snow. My wife panicked (literally) after dropping one of her tires into a rather deep ice track, formed by the melting of snow. The case (ridiculous for me, but difficult for her) resolved after I switched to slow (L4) gears. The small maneuvering space (and maneuvering with a 3220mm wheelbase is a tricky job) forced me to pry my butt a little deeper into the groove behind me. The woman again panicked, as she was not used to spinning the wheels and the result would not. The solution here was the rear differential lock button. I didn't take pictures (the woman, you know), but I had fun with her shouts.

Fans of the make and model will love it because of one more fact, namely the transmission that is built into the Mustang and F-150. It is automatic and with 10 gears, which is the first time I have the opportunity to test. Works in conjunction with the new 2.0-liter EcoBlue Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) engine, replacing the current 2.2 TDCi. For the various modifications (standard, super and double cabs) the engine is available in 130 hp versions. (340 Nm), 170 hp (420 Nm) and 213 hp (500 Nm). It is with its most powerful version that this orange beast is equipped. With its parameters (213 hp and 500 Nm) it is 13 hp. and 30 Nm more powerful than the 3.2-liter TDCi.

The two lower-power versions have one turbo, while the top variant has two turbines that cascade at low rpm for greater torque and more agile response. At higher rpm, the gases surround the smaller turbocharger, and fresh air only pumps the larger turbocharger.

Factory data says (based on real-world tests) that fuel consumption is reduced by up to 9% with 10-speed automatic and up to 4% with mechanical variants. In my test drive I did not load more than 9.6 l / 100 km, with the minimum I saw on board the computer was 8.9 l / 100 km. I make it clear that I have neither towed nor transported euro paleo.

 

The interior is great, but with the reminder that it's a Wildtrak. My brother was like a little kid in front of an ice cream showcase, as he owns a pickup truck (and years ago a Ranger) and a big fan. He had more leather seats and dashboard garnished with orange contrast stitching because he used his machine for work, not for fun (I exclude hunting). However, I prefer luxury. With these materials, the Ranger looks like a luxury crossover, not a machine to work with (this particular one is more like the so-called lifestyle spectrum). The model has a digital instrument panel and a Ford SYNC 3 with an 8-inch color touch screen and navigation. The FordPass Connect board modem turns the pickup into a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot that can connect up to 10 devices.

I should point out the fact that the updated Ford Ranger is the first car in this class to offer a Pre-Collision Assist system with pedestrian recognition and intelligent speed limiter.

Everything sounds great so far, but that doesn't mean the Ranger doesn't have his say. Personally, I will say that I had a lot of fun with the road behavior of this huge car, which literally flies over the terrible roads in Bulgaria. Its leaf springs at the back give a reflection on stability, but I immediately counteract myself with the ability to carry up to 1252 kg of weight in the lungs. Just comparisons between the road behavior of an SUV and a pickup truck should not be made, especially since the Ranger has off-road qualities that are currently underpowered by no more than 10 models on the Bulgarian market. For me, the biggest criticism remains the sound of the engine, which is like a truck. Yes, I know that in the US they are called trucks, but nevertheless this particular feature of the new motor made me anxious.