2007 Ford Ranger Trekker - The Ford Ranger scored a major upset before this twelvemonth when it successfully defended its Pickup of the Year championship against a duo of larger rivals. That was the previous model. Now a super sized, super powered, in addition to better-equipped Ranger steps into the ring.
The Ranger continues the no-nonsense await of its predecessor, alongside a billet-style front end grille that volition hold to propagate inside the company’s light-truck lineup. Simple in addition to straightforward seems to ask hold been the pattern brief.
To catch how the all-new pickup measures up, nosotros sampled 2 versions, a 4x2 Trekker in addition to the range-topping 4x4 XLT. Both trucks looked suitably brawny, alongside bulky fender cladding in addition to massive wheels, in addition to each of them seems to ask hold been attuned for specific driving purposes.
For on-road duties, nosotros climbed aboard the Ranger Trekker 4x2. The Trekker is non ridiculously tall hence getting inward in addition to out is easy, fifty-fifty without a stepboard. But its oculus pinnacle is withal elevated, giving an first-class sentiment of the route in addition to allowing us to catch over rider cars.
The Ford Ranger feels right-sized for Philippine roads. Driving some of its rivals is similar shopping for groceries using a forklift. The Ranger is really longer than other compact pickups but its moderate width allows it to dart easily through traffic in addition to gaps inward highway processions. Making maneuvers easier withal is the squared-off hood, easily visible from the driver’s chair. All of these contribute to a nimble, to a greater extent than compact feel.
The tall, upright cabin looks modern in addition to decidedly to a greater extent than car-like than before. Secondary controls similar good organization in addition to airc onditioning ask hold been raised high on the dashboard, opening upwards infinite for a large storage bin in addition to loving cup holders below them. The good organization tin read MP3 files in addition to adjusts book to compensate for vehicle speed, but an auxiliary input for your iPod is sadly missing. Plastics are difficult but the pump segment is finished inward shiny silver. The solely ancient combat hither is the twist-and-pull handbrake. The gauges are the default three-circle configuration, backlit inward brilliant green.
The 2.5 liter turbo diesel fuel is state-of-the-art, incorporating common-rail direct injection in addition to dohc 16-valve heads. Power in addition to torque are to a greater extent than than plenty for metropolis in addition to highway driving. The engine produces 143 hp, in addition to 330 Nm at simply 1800 rpm. Of all the pickups inward the Philippines, the Ranger has the smoothest in addition to quietest engine lineup. Turbo lag is negligible, in addition to in-gear acceleration is excellent. The engine is fifty-fifty capable of pulling away from standstill inward top gear.
The five-speed manual is a willing accomplice, allowing for quick, solid shifts. Gears are well-spaced, alongside outset gear truly useful inward metropolis driving. The lever has been raised, too, making it a convenient hand-drop away from the steering wheel.
The ride is inside pickup normality: predictably jiggly, but non uncomfortably so, fifty-fifty later a 300 km drive. The Ranger hits a sweetness spot at well-nigh lxxx km/h to 100 km/h when the ride all of a abrupt smoothens out. Road in addition to air current dissonance are commendably low, fifty-fifty when running at well-nigh 150 km/h. Rear topographic point infinite is forthwith adequate for moderately long journeys.
From our outset run into alongside the Ranger on the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo—through deep lahar, steep embankments, in addition to river crossings—we’ve recognized that the Ranger tin ask hold yous to the abyss in addition to dorsum alongside confidence. That go-anywhere mental attitude has ever been a Ranger trademark, in addition to the novel model is laid to hold the tradition. For this business office of the test, nosotros switched to the 4x4 variant.
Top Gear’s resident 4x4 skillful Beeboy Bargas constructed a exceptional off-road course of pedagogy to highlight the Ranger’s abilities. The rail looked challenging to say the least, but the Ranger made tardily locomote of it. The truck didn’t hence much equally endure the course of pedagogy equally musical rhythm out it into submission.
Rough gravel followed past times a depression climb started the sequence. Next was a side-sloping unclean trail. Despite the uneven traction, alongside its correct wheels plowing through mud in addition to its left wheels on firmer gravel, the pickup crawled through it confidently inward four-wheel crusade High. Then a path paved alongside wheel-sized boulders bounced the passengers around, alongside their seatbelts clicking on in addition to off similar castanets. The truck moved steadily frontward without much fuss.
Next was an enormous 45-degree incline paved alongside slippery mud. For that, nosotros engaged the low-range transfer case. Foot off the pedal, the Ranger climbed upwards the gradient practically on engine idle. The descent was at a perpendicular angle, hence nosotros had to twist the Ranger simply about a rattling narrow plateau. Its maneuverability proved useful here; a wider-turning vehicle would ask hold barrel-rolled downwards the slope.
The slice de resistance was comprised of 3 H2O obstacles, each i submerging the pickup inward 600 mm of Batangas’ muddiest. Throughout, the Ranger seemed hewn out of a solid block of metal, none the worse for vesture later repeated floggings at the course.
The Ranger 4x4 is propelled past times a class-leading 3.0-liter engine. 156 hp in addition to a massive 380 Nm available at simply 1800 rpm allow it to might its agency out of the stickiest terrain. The limited-slip bring upwards differential, reportedly the tightest inward the market, gave the truck superior traction. The manual gearbox was ideal for off-roading, but there’s an optional five-speed automatic. One indication of the Ranger 4x4’s dedication is the topographic point of the transfer-case lever. It sits simply at the driver’s correct knee, ready to live engaged without the driver leaning frontward or having to grope simply about for it.
This is the business office that gave us some serious pause. We knew nosotros weren’t at the Batangas Racing Circuit simply to play amid the cows, but nosotros were withal surprised when the pickup started hurtling downwards the track. Deep mud may live the Ranger’s natural habitat, but a high-speed race course? Formula 3 squad possessor in addition to race driver Pepon Marave showed us the lines simply about BRC hence allow us ask hold our turn thrashing the 4x2 Trekker.
This business office of the morning time was the greatest revelation. The truck’s treatment was predictable in addition to linear fifty-fifty through the track’s hairpins. It remained obedient fifty-fifty at the boundary of adhesion. The recirculating-ball steering may ask hold been optimized for off-road work, but it was sufficiently precise for the tarmac.
The brakes, equipped alongside four-wheel ABS in addition to EBD, were the most pregnant property here, allowing braking deep into the corners. We never thought that we’d live confident drifting a pickup on a racetrack, but the Ranger pulled it off nicely.
As befits its character, the novel Ranger doesn’t await similar a spaceship or a suppository; it’s clearly designed equally a tough, practical workhorse. The cabin is comfortable, but the charge bed size has non been sacrificed for it. The best drivetrain inward the marketplace tin describe in addition to haul good inward a higher house its class. New Ranger picks upwards properly from the original, offering attractive farmboy looks that disguise superhero performance.
Car Review - 2007 Ford Ranger Trekker In Addition To Xlt Features & Specifications
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Oleh
Lucy
