Field test Ford Ranger Wildtrak
Horses cannot see red. But you will notice exactly when something is out of the ordinary. Our test car of the week, a Ford Ranger Wildtrak in eye-catching canyon orange, is not only causing excitement at the Icelandic horse farm in this regard. Its dimensions are also beyond the scope of what towers normally pull up to transport the shaggy four-legged friends from the far north. With its length of 5,36 meters, a width of 1,86 meters and a height of 1,84 meters, the Cologne truck with loading area as the market leader in this segment belongs to the mid-range pick-ups, but it now leaves all the SUVs and station wagons look comparatively puny in their surroundings.
With a tensile load of 3.500 kg, hardly anyone can fool the ranger
Also in terms of train and payload. With the fixed trailer device, the 2,2 ton all-wheel-drive platform with the 213 hp four-cylinder turbodiesel can pull up to 3.500 kilograms. Theoretically, that's enough to take a trailer with three Icelandic horses from farm to farm. Today we are only dealing with a four-legged passenger. He takes plenty of time to get into the rolling shelter before it is then a matter of quickly climbing the double cabin of the ranger himself using the protruding footboards and giving the horses under the hood the spurs.
A whopping 500 Nm are ready at an early stage
After pressing the start button, the self-igniter grumbles to speak. A whopping 500 Nm are ready for propulsion at just 1.500 rpm and, in cooperation with the smooth-running six-speed gearbox, get the load moving smoothly. The four-legged friend behind us thanks. Also on board the Ranger produced in South Africa: switchable all-wheel drive with reduction and a separately lockable rear axle differential. So the easy terrain up to the federal road succeeds even without all-wheel drive. Due to its comparatively direct steering, the giant can be easily circled through the curves using the steering wheel, which is comfortable to hold and thickly covered with leather. The horse is slumbering on the long motorway stage and the rider is relieved by adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning.
Understanding connectivity solutions
In the well-made cockpit of the "Forester" there is order, the instruments are clearly arranged. The classic analog speedometer is framed by a color display with information from the rev counter to the representation of the fast-calculating navigation system. The music program of the smartphone appears on the eight-inch color display and SYNC 3 obeys the voice command “A Horse With No Name” without hesitation. In keeping with the emerging WildWest feeling: Music from "America".
The ranger shows his true talents in the field
A little later the ranger can show his true talents in the "Bergisches Land" because of a road block. Of course, he easily completes simple forest paths, but on hills with muddy ground, the grip for the differential lock is inevitable. The off-road expert effortlessly digs through the terrain with his 265 off-road tires to his destination, where the load is already expected. Now everything can't go fast enough. The opening of the loading area cover requires plenty of strength and momentum until hay supplies brought in at eye level with the four-legged friend attract as a reward. Meanwhile, the information about an average consumption of almost 10 liters delights the driver.