Ford Ranger Wolftrak review: a wolf in mid-spec clothing

The Ford Ranger is in the slightly awkward position of being so good at what it does that making it better is becoming increasingly difficult.

The latest-generation ute has set a pretty high bar for ride, handling, refinement and outright grunt, particularly in V6 form, and while rivals from China are arriving thick and fast with increasingly impressive offerings, the Ranger remains a formidable all-rounder.

So how do you improve on it? Well, Ford's answer with the new Ranger Wolftrak is to add some distinctive styling, a few special touches and, most importantly, chunky all-terrain tyres.

The Wolftrak is based on the Ranger XLT 4WD V6, which means it starts with a rather good set of mechanical foundations, and while special editions can sometimes amount to little more than a set of stickers and a price increase, the XLT is already so well equipped that there isn't an enormous amount missing from the recipe.

The question is whether the Wolftrak adds enough character to justify its place in the range, or whether it's just a regular Ranger wearing a particularly enthusiastic outfit.

On the outside: what are the Ford Ranger Wolftrak's main design features?

The Wolftrak begins with the familiar Ranger shape - which is no bad thing - and adds a few distinctive touches to separate it from the standard XLT, with the most obvious being its alloy wheels. These feature a striking green insert in a single spoke, providing a little visual theatre without resorting to the sort of styling excess that can make some special editions look as though they've been assembled from the aftermarket accessories catalogue.

It's still unmistakably a Ranger, but one with a little more attitude.

There is, however, a small detail that might drive the more obsessively symmetrical among us slightly mad - because the green inserts are confined to individual spokes, their positions vary depending on how the wheels happen to stop rotating. If you're the sort of person who insists on lining up your wheel centre caps, you may find yourself spending rather too much time looking at them.

The green theme continues through the bodywork, with Wolftrak-specific badging and decals adding further distinction, while a black sports bar in the tray and matte-black door handles help complete the look.

The standard chunky all-terrain tyres give the Wolftrak a more adventurous stance than the regular XLT - and more in line with the Ranger Tremor model -  and overall the combination works well, with the green accents providing enough contrast to make the vehicle stand out. It's still unmistakably a Ranger, but one with a little more attitude.

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the Ford Ranger Wolftrak's cabin like?

Inside, the Wolftrak follows a familiar formula, starting with the Ranger XLT's practical, hard-wearing and surprisingly well-equipped cabin and adding a few special-edition details.

If you've driven a V6 Ranger XLT, you'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the Wolftrak.

The underlying layout remains unchanged, and while the Wolftrak-specific touches are largely cosmetic, but they're nicely executed. The seats feature green highlights and the Wolftrak name embroidered in a vivid yellow-green font, while dark-green dashboard inserts and matching surrounds for the air vents add a little colour to the otherwise familiar interior.

Green stitching on the doors continues the theme without making the cabin feel as though someone has accidentally left the interior-design department's highlighter pens behind. It's a subtle enough treatment to give the Wolftrak its own identity while retaining the practicality of the XLT.

There isn't a huge amount of additional equipment over the standard XLT, but the Wolftrak doesn't really need it. The regular Ranger already has a strong interior, and the special-edition details provide just enough extra character to make this version feel different.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the Ford Ranger Wolftrak like to drive?

If you've driven a V6 Ranger XLT, you'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the Wolftrak. Underneath the special-edition styling, the mechanical package is essentially unchanged, and that means one of the best-driving double-cab diesel utes on the market remains one of the best-driving double-cab diesel utes on the market.

The 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel is a highlight, delivering the sort of effortless torque that makes a large ute feel far less cumbersome than its dimensions suggest. There's plenty of muscle available for overtaking, carrying loads and towing, while the engine's relaxed character suits the Ranger's role as a vehicle that has to handle everything from weekday commuting to long-distance trips.

The transmission can occasionally feel busy, but the overall package remains impressively capable, with the V6's broad spread of torque making light work of most everyday driving.

The Ranger's ride and handling continue to be its real strengths. For a body-on-frame ute with a substantial chassis and the ability to carry serious loads, it manages to combine a comfortable ride with impressive body control and reassuring stability.

There's no obvious increase in tyre noise at motorway speeds, with any additional hum largely lost beneath the usual wind noise.

The big question with the Wolftrak, however, is whether the standard all-terrain tyres compromise that carefully judged road behaviour, as more aggressive tyres can bring additional road noise, a harsher ride and less precise handling, particularly on wet or slippery sealed surfaces. They're often a worthwhile trade-off for genuine off-road ability, but the compromise is something you notice every time you drive to work.

In the Wolftrak, though, the impact is surprisingly small - there's no obvious increase in tyre noise at motorway speeds, with any additional hum largely lost beneath the usual wind noise. The ride also feels much the same as a regular Ranger, with the suspension continuing to absorb road imperfections without becoming noticeably harsher or less composed.

At very low speeds, you can occasionally detect a slight vibration from the more aggressive tread, but you'd have to be paying attention to notice it. The handling remains reassuringly familiar, too, with no significant change to the Ranger's ability to settle into a corner or maintain its composure over uneven surfaces.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the Ford Ranger Wolftrak's warranty and servicing situation?

The Ranger carries a 5 year/150,000km warranty (so not quite as good as the passenger vehicles and Everest, with unlimited km). Servicing is required every 12 months/15,000km.

On the whole: what do we think of the Ford Ranger Wolftrak?

The XLT is already such a well-equipped, capable ute that there's not an enormous amount of room for improvement without venturing into the more expensive territory occupied by the Wildtrak and Raptor. But the Wolftrak makes a reasonable case for itself.

Sometimes the best way to improve a very good ute is simply to give it a little more attitude and the tyres to back it up.

The green detailing gives it a distinctive appearance, the cabin gets a few welcome special-edition touches, and the standard all-terrain tyres add genuine usefulness rather than simply filling out the accessories list. Most importantly, those tyres don't appear to compromise the Ranger's excellent road manners to any meaningful degree.

There's no dramatic increase in power, no major equipment upgrade and no fundamental change to the way the vehicle drives. The Wolftrak is, at heart, a Ranger XLT V6 with a little extra personality and a more adventurous starting point.

Sometimes the best way to improve a very good ute is simply to give it a little more attitude and the tyres to back it up.

Ford Ranger Wolftrak FAQs

What kind of car is the Ford Ranger Wolftrak?

A double cab 4WD diesel ute.

Does the Ford Ranger Wolftrak have hybrid or EV technology?

No. The Ranger Wolftrak uses a conventional 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

What’s the fuel economy of the Ford Ranger Wolftrak?

Ford quotes combined fuel consumption of 8.3L/100km under the WLTP test cycle for the V6 Ranger.

Is the Ford Ranger Wolftrak safe?

The Ford Ranger has a 5 Star ANCAP safety rating, based on testing conducted in 2022. The Wolftrak includes nine airbags, including front, side, knee, curtain and far-side driver protection.

What safety and assistance features does the Ford Ranger Wolftrak have?

What are the Ford Ranger Wolftrak's main rivals?

• Volkswagen Amarok Style V6 ($92,990): The cheapest way into an Amarok. Still a lot more expensive.
• Toyota Hilux SR5 Limited ($62,990): No V6, but fully loaded with gear and with those bold looks.
• BYD Shark 6 Performance ($78,990): Faster, considerably more frugal, but still not as good off road.
• MG U9 Explore Pro ($74,490): Bigger and with an even better ride, some may find the badge hard to swallow.
• GWM Cannon Alpha Vanta ($71,990): Blacked out looks, bigger and with an absolute mountain of torque.