Ahh, New Zealand Summers, a time of dodging rain and like sheep, following the rest of Auckland to Whitianga or the like. But not for me. Aside from the predictable precipitation and this year’s high winds, I instead chose to stay local and head out on mini adventures – aided by the tried and tested Ford Ranger Wildtrak X.
Dressed in eye-popping Cyber Orange, this rugged off-roader isn’t a truck for wallflowers . With its unique front grille sporting auxiliary LEDs, tough-looking aluminum side steps, and that distinctive “X” badging, it’s like the Wildtrak went to finishing school and came back with muscles. It’s clear the Wildtrak X isn’t just another letter in Ford’s alphabet soup of variants – it’s a calculated move to fill the sweet spot between the regular Wildtrak and the desert-destroying Raptor.
Where the X really earns its stripes is when the pavement ends. The Bilstein shock absorbers with fancy “End Stop Control Valve” technology, combined with chunky General Grabber AT3 tires, give this rig an extra 26mm of ground clearance and a 30mm wider track. I’d like to say that during my extended time with the Wildtrak X, it tackled everything from rock crawls to water crossings with the confidence of a mountain goat, however, alas, what it did do, it take my family and I on day trips to far off places like Matakana, McLeod’s Pizza, Piha, and to the Mall for the sales – Built Ford Tough eh?
You see, this is exactly the point. The beauty of the Wildtrak X lies in its dual personality. During the work week (or with the family en-tow), it’s as civilised as a butler in a bow tie, offering a comfortable cabin with all the mod cons, including a 12.3-inch digital dash, 12-inch infotainment screen, and even a dedicated McDonald’s fries holder (yes, really!). The premium B&O sound system ensures your favorite tunes sound as crisp as the morning air on your weekend adventures. But as outlined before, should it be required, the truck can turn off-road brute and mix it up with the best of them.
Living with the Wildtrak X for an extended period gave me an insight to just how adaptable and versatile it is. On the highway, the adaptive cruise control makes for a more comfortable trip, it’s VERY aware of its surroundings and requires minimal input from your feet. Unfortunately, it does remove the image alert in the instrument cluster that tells you ‘you’re too close to the car in-front’, (and there’s me thinking tailgating was a Ranger rite of passage).
Entry and exit is easy, even with the increased height, thanks to strategically placed grab handles and the non-slip running boards. Seat comfort all-round is great, with preference being the Wildtrak embossed fronts, and although it is a BIG truck, the cameras and sensors make parking more palatable (even in the aforementioned Malls).
Then there’s the tray. My summer fling came with a retractable lid and a protective bed (that all sounds rather saucy), meaning that those chores I’ve been putting off for a while got done, well some of them anyway.
With the Summer ‘break’ coming to an end, so too did my time with the other orange bundle of joy, and I had to return the Ranger Wildtrak back to whence it came. It performed so well and even with its powerful diesel beating heart, I only had to top up the tank a couple of times. Sure I would have (and should have) taken it to some more gnarly places, but as I waved goodbye I was safe in the knowledge that we’d always have the summer of ‘24 to remember – sigh.
