2023 Ford Ranger Bi-Turbo Wildtrak 4x4 Review

The Ford Ranger has long been the lifestyle pickup truck of choice, but this Next-Generation model takes the cake. It appears that Ford has doubled down on its thrust with the Ranger. Pickup trucks have evolved into so much more than just pure workhorses, and the Ranger is evidence for that claim. 

We got to test out the Ranger in its 4x4 Wildtrak trim. The unit came to us fully loaded and ready to go so we did exactly that, took it out, and went. The more time we spent with the Ranger, the more its lifestyle orientation showed. This is not totally a workhorse of a truck since it feels a lot plusher, but that doesn’t stop it from being able to accomplish almost anything you throw at it, at least in our experience. Read on to find out more about what made our experience with the Ranger and what didn’t. 

There’s much to love about the Ranger’s new design. If you like the F-150, and we think that you do, then the Ranger’s design will be appealing to you. The big and burly look of the F-150 translates well on the midsize Ranger. 

The LED lights are gorgeous, and they also illuminate the road really well. The output is also matched by the level of innovation that Ford has put in because, on top of being some of the brightest beams in the business, the light fixtures also turn when you turn, allowing for unprecedented levels of visibility at night and on twisty roads. These are some of the best lights that we’ve tested so far, and Ford did well to put them on the Wildtrak. 

Other than that, it’s a standard pickup truck. Apart from the front, the rear is rather similar to what we’re used to (there’s only so much that you can do with the rear bed of a truck). The assisted tailgate got us, and the fact that the model comes with a bed liner is just icing on the cake. 

Overall, the Ranger is in the best shape that it has ever been, and we love what Ford has done, especially for this top-of-the-line trim. Even in a monotone color, the Ranger looks serious and ready to get down to business. There’s also a certain sense of authority that the pickup projects, more so than the Ranger’s Japanese rivals. 

Looks can be subjective, but if you’re not quite sold on the exterior design, perhaps the interior will change your mind. The design of the dashboard is very utilitarian and well-laid out. The F-150 inspiration continues through, with the dashboard appearing mostly flat and angular. There are no swoopy lines here, just hard corners that look right on a pickup truck. 

However, there are a few nitpicks that we have, which are with regard to the plastic quality and the placement of some elements on the dashboard. Prior to the Ranger, Ford put emphasis on the push-start system by making sure that it gets its own spot on the dashboard, however, the current placement of the switch in the cabin looks like a little bit of an afterthought. Unfortunately, the push-start is located by the steering wheel, the usual place where you’d find a key barrel, which makes it feel slightly less special. 

For that one low light, however, the rest is mostly highlights. We can note that the interior plastics and panels have a very Ford quality about them. They’re not absolutely solid like that of a premium vehicle, but they hold up well and most of the touchpoints are backed by some very plush upholstery that comes with ample padding. We also like the placement of the door latches since it will only take one motion to get the door to open on you. However, the shifter still retains the plasticky feel that its predecessors had, which is to say, not so great. We wish that Ford would revise this part in keeping with the premium feel of the rest of the interior. Even the gear selector button feels unintuitive to use, but we barely touched it anyway. 

Other than that, passenger space is adequate, but slightly above average for the midsize pickup segment. The Ranger is bigger than most pickup trucks, while its cabin space can accommodate taller passengers with ease. The rear seats are sat quite upright, but what can you expect given that it has a bed at the back? Aside from that, the power-adjustable driver seat and the tilting and telescoping steering wheel are also appreciable items, as are the cushy yet supportive seats. The buttons are also decent to press with soft, but not too soft, feedback which adds yet another premium touch to the cabin.   

Whether you’re sitting or driving, the Ranger is surprisingly comfy for a pickup truck. We’d pin it as one of the most comfortable trucks out there, but the plushness has a few drawbacks, though more on that later in the driving section of this review. 

No matter how you cut it, the Ranger is one of the best pickups in terms of comfort. Whether you’re going on the highway and up against a lot of wind and road noise, the Ranger performs admirably. If you’re going over bumps the Ranger will do well, but please do not expect crossover-like comfort, if you closed your eyes while rolling on a smooth road, it’s possible you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference, probably. 

Until now, the technology package in the Ford Ranger remains one of the highlights of the model. One of the very best tech packs in pickups gets a whole lot better now thanks to some choice inclusions and a few other ones that really make this model a joy to use on the daily or on vacation, whatever you prefer. I see that most of the features are useful for pretty much everyone, and Ford hasn’t packed in too much that would overwhelm most consumers, and we feel that the implementation of each is intuitive enough for most people to grasp. 

Things like the 360-degree monitor that was a huge help while we tried to get this pickup truck to fit in a parking slot. The addition of a huge infotainment screen was also a big bonus since we no longer had to squint at the screen to get a clearer view of the camera footage. The portrait orientation of the screen was also a game-changer in terms of usability, and we get why Ford chose this orientation for the model moving forward. Meanwhile, Wireless CarPlay and Wireless Android Auto were great features that we simply could not-not use. To add to that, you can wirelessly charge your phone, so you don’t have to worry about any cables or wires to bring on your journey. While we don’t like having the air conditioning controls on the infotainment screen, we don’t mind it here as it’s always displayed and it doesn’t get in the way of the infotainment section of the head unit. This is hands-down, one of the best infotainment experiences we’ve had so far, but it’s not without its cons. 

There were times when the infotainment system would crash, and we think that this is due to the fact that the system is relatively new for Ford. Down the line, we’re sure that Ford will update SYNC4, and give it more stability while in use. 

On the safety front, the Ford Ranger is one of the safest trucks out there in preventing accidents and keeping occupants safe while maintaining a level of convenience in the way of its adaptive cruise control functions and its forward collision warning system, and automatic emergency braking. Ford’s Advanced Driver Assist Technology includes all of the stuff mentioned prior with stop-and-go, lane-centering, pedestrian detection, auto high beam, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert and braking, reverse brake assist, and an evasive steering assist. 

On top of that, you also get the full suite of airbags plus a knee airbag totaling seven, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, hill launch assist, roll-over mitigation, an electronic stability program, a traction control system, parking sensors, an electronic parking brake, and an electric brake booster. Overall, it’s everything that you need and more. What more can you ask for? Giving context, we feel that Ford has one of the better executions when it comes to its safety kit. The sensitivity of these systems is dialed in just right, and they don’t get in the way of your driving. 

Speaking of driving, the Ranger Wildtrak 4x4 gets what appears to be the same 2.0-liter Bi-Turbo motor mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, but it feels as if Ford has done some refinement work to the powertrain, resulting in a drive that is much smoother than we had anticipated. Putting your foot down in the Ranger feels a lot less clunky than before, and the engine has a very smooth pull from idle to redline. The Ranger feels a lot less truck-like when it comes to its engine. 

Then we get to the suspension, which is actually something that is a double-edged sword when driving spiritedly. Under normal driving, the suspension is pliant, the steering is light but not too light because the rack returns more feel than before which is hypothetically good in terms of handling. While the model rides comfortably and close to that of a crossover, it doesn’t handle too well, even as a pickup truck. The brakes are good, and they’re good enough to activate the ABS system consistently on the car even under slightly heavier braking conditions. The stock tires are to blame here, at least in our opinion. Ford could have gone with a better tire model, but perhaps the comfort of the Ranger might take a hit if you decide to change to a grippier tire. 

All-in-all, the Ranger is a very easy-going pickup truck that’s great to push in a straight line, but not all out on mountain roads. One has to remember that this truck is a safe and plush pickup. Handling is usually a give and take, and skewing heavily into comfort might have taken away a bit of handling sharpness. 

However, that’s not to say that the Ranger is a bad-handling automobile, not at all. In fact, for most people, it will be one of the best, if not the best, riding and driving midsize pickup trucks they’ve ever tried, and there is nothing wrong with that, in fact, it’s in keeping with the Ranger’s positioning in the market as a lifestyle pickup truck, but nothing too hardcore by the feel of it. 

For fuel economy, we were able to get a real-world figure of about 9 km/L in mixed city conditions which means light and heavy traffic. Meanwhile, the highway figure that we managed to get was around the 14.5 km/L mark, accelerating and decelerating with some slowdowns. 

Overall, it’s a decent fuel economy score for the Ranger. Nothing too great, and nothing too appalling. We have no complaints here, but you do get the most powerful pickup in its class with 210 hp and 500 Nm of torque, so that’s something to consider as well. 

Quite frankly, we were a bit perplexed about the Ranger and its somewhat unsure handling. We know that there are different lifestyles to choose from, but apparently, the Ranger would like you to take things easy more or less. It can still go with a passion when you tell it to, after all, it is the most powerful pickup currently in the market, and now with a smoother engine, it’s one heck of a drive on the highway and off the line. 

The model is worth a long and hard look. “Long” because there are a ton of features that’ll take a lot of time to unpack, and “hard” because there is no going around the fact that the price of P1,910,000 is a bit steep. Given that it is, however, and comparing it to its rivals, it’s a relative steal, being a rather middle-priced option in the market in the realm of high-end pickups. 

In short, it’s a great truck to get and something that breaks away from the normal Japanese fare. Judging from the number of sales that the model has been enjoying lately, it appears that Ford has hit the nail on the head. With the number of owners continuing to clamor for the model, perhaps it would be wise to put in your order now at your local dealer. We think there are quirks to this model, but if you’ve reached the end of this review, it’s likely that you’ve already decided and are looking for a reason to get this truck. In our opinion, if you really want it, we don’t think it’s a bad choice.