Unbowed beasts of burden

We wanted to show that even our base models can be as capable, versatile, comfortable and even safe as our other higher variants.

The Ranger is Ford’s impeccable flagship model. The workhorse has been its compelling sales driver for years. We have seen the Wildtrak models strongly contend in its own segment. Not to mention the undeniable rise of the ferocious Ford Ranger Raptor to the ranks of one of the most-coveted pickups in today’s local market.

However; only a few ever give the Ranger’s other lower offerings a second look. Obviously they’re not as exciting as those with Bi-Turbo engines or as captivating as the Raptor’s big badass guises.

Perhaps, true enough, as the age-old adage goes: “one does pay for quality.” As one opts to move up the Ranger’s price pecking order, so does the vehicle’s skill-set and premium features. Yet, as proven by the American marque, no matter what variant one throws into the fray, the Ranger will always be one thing — reliable. Like its ever persistent tagline, it will always be “born ready.”

Recently, Ford Philippines bequeathed a select group of motoring journalists this clear picture of reliability even at its very basics as we took its base models, the Ford Ranger XLT and XLS variants for a short spin around Pampanga and Tarlac.

With only a handful of scribes in the mix, we boarded two units of the Ranger XLT 4×2 AT, one unit of the Ranger XLS 4×2 AT and the sole 4×4 XLS variant in manual transmission.

TOWING a 3.5 ton rice and corn harvester manageably.

“We wanted to show that even our base models can be as capable, versatile, comfortable and even safe as our other higher variants,” EJ Francisco, Ford Philippines AVP for communication said.

“These variants are ideal for construction and farming businesses. With the activities that we have in store today, we will show everyone exactly just that,” he added.

After our relaxed pace drive from Manila and an eventual short trip to Ford Pampanga in San Fernando, the group headed to a construction supply store just a few kilometers away. Here, we loaded the pickup truck with twenty 40-kilogram sacks of cement at its bed, which summed up to 800 kilos in total. Seemed heavy, right? We didn’t think so. In fact, this even proved to be a piece of cake for the workhorse as the Ranger’s XLS and XLT variants have a 1,120 kilogram-payload capacity. And so, from the supplies shop, we proceeded to a construction site, wherein we unloaded the cargo.

The Ranger was steadfast the whole time, even nonchalantly cruising along the highway despite the load on its back. With its potent 2.2 liter TDCi engine, capable of 158 hp and 385 N-m of torque, everything sailed smoothly, if not effortlessly.

From the first activity in the morning, the pack then went to Tatuns Kambingan for lunch before heading to Gerona in Tarlac where we would spend the rest of the afternoon for the second activity.

This time around, the lone manual transmission Ranger 4×4 XLS variant was put to the test. We loaded it with 10 sacks of binhi (50 kilos each), 10 sacks of corn (10 kilos each) and eight sacks of bigas (25 kilos each) again for a total of 800 kilos, which we all transported to this 140-hectare farm property owned by the Cancio family, who‘s known for their sugar cane, rice, turnip and sweet corn plantations in the province.

EFFORTLESSLY carrying 800 kilos of cement sack.

This was still easy for the 4×4 Ford Ranger. The real challenge, however, came when it had to tow a 3.5 ton Kubota corn and rice combine harvester. Now, this seemed to be cut out straight from a movie scene, or even a commercial of sort as the bulky heavy machinery palpably dwarfed the pickup. Yet, reality indeed came close to what was being advertised on television. Everyone was just in utter awe as the workhorse managed to pull the harvester without much strain on its part.

The activities have proven that these models are as nifty and capable as its top-tier counterparts. These beasts of burden are just as highly capable. Their rugged looks combined with its cozy interiors are even exceptional.

In fact, their tough and smart characters are further amplified by driver assist technologies, adjustable speed limiter, anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution, child proof door locks, cruise control, front driver and passenger airbags and front seatbelt pretensioners.

And mind you, these are just the basics.