At R899 000, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2.3 EcoBoost give the impression it is a more expensive double cab then it really is. Spend enough time around Rangers, like any South African motoring journalist, and the diesel clatter and judder become ubiquitous. Press the starter on an EcoBoost and instead you get near-silence.

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2.3 EcoBoost is R59 400 more than the Sport 4×2 (R839 600) we drove earlier this year. And genuinely, it’s pretty hard to tell them apart. Both run the Blue Oval’s 2.3-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder with 222 kW and 452 Nm, through a 10-speed automatic and two-wheel-drive only. I’m reliably told the Wildtrak gets matrix LED headlamps over the Sport, and some Wildtrak badging and stitching inside and out, that’s about it …

FORD RANGER WILDTRAK 2.3 ECOBOOST A tried-and-tested interior now from the Ford stable with the portrait-style touchscreen much copied by competitors. Image: Ray Leathern

So, where do we start? How about refinement. Like the Sport, the Wildtrak is smooth, quiet and refined beyond measure. Throttle response builds smoothly from the first squeeze, with none of a turbodiesel’s lag-and-shove. And the 10-speeder shuffles through gears decisively without you noticing it in the background. You might hear a subtle turbo flutter when overtaking, that’s about it.

Performance wise, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2.3 EcoBoost is quick rather than Raptor fast. Both petrol, both revvy, but the EcoBoost delivers its oomph largely without theatre. And the zero to 100 km/h sprint is an 8.0 second affair.

As ever, interior tech is the second pro. The Ranger has the kind of semi-autonomous driving aids you used to expect only in an S-Class. We’ve said for ages that the cabin is a step above what other bakkies offer you. And as mentioned, the Wildtrak adds a couple of nice plush trim pieces and interior touches.

PETROL VERSUS DIESEL DOUBLE CAB A splash of colour on the black rims matches the eye-catching Ignite Orange paint job. Image: Ray Leathern

Then there’s the fuel you put into the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2.3 EcoBoost itself. 2026 has delivered the worst diesel price increases this century. Diesel sat at R33 a litre most of last month (October 2026), before a fuel levy reprieve brought it down a touch in November 2026. Sadly, with the price of diesel so volatile right around, the unlikely petrol Ranger is starting to look smarter by the week.

However, a turbo petrol double cab is always going to count thirst in its debit column. Ford claims 9.3 l/100 km on a claimed/combined cycle. Unfortunately, on this test, we got 12.5 l/100 km. And truthfully, this was on a pretty leisurely week, mostly urban driving, but hardly racing around either. And there’s the missing drivetrain hardware. This is a 4×2 only, which for a bakkie wearing a Wildtrak badge, does create somewhat of an identity crisis.

We can report, however, that the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2.3 EcoBoost is an accomplished city slicker. Bar perhaps its size when threading through tight carparks. Nevertheless, it’s for the urban or highway driver who wants some Wildtrak gloss without the diesel 4×4 baggage, and doesn’t plan to go too far off the tar.  

THE VERDICT Rear roller shutter and sports hoop included in the Wildtrak price. Image: Ray Leathern

Disagree with the concept all you want, but the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2.3 EcoBoost shows very few compromises. It’s refined, quick, quiet (perhaps too quiet) and brilliantly equipped. It’s exactly what you’d expect from the firm that brings you South Africa’s best-selling double cab. And we’d argue the R899 000 price is pretty enticing considering the Wildtrak halo status. If your life stays largely on tar, it’s arguably the best Ranger to get. Time will tell whether South African buyers vote with their wallets on this one …

THE FIGURES
  • Engine: 2.3-litre turbo petrol
  • Power: 222 kW & 452 Nm
  • Transmission: 10-speed automatic, 4×2
  • Economy: 9.3 l/100 km (claimed); 12.5 l/100 km (tested)
  • Price: R899 000