Many moons ago, I was an adorable passenger prince, providing food and entertainment to my designated drivers. I was happy being the navigator and staring at myself in the side mirror.

I guess life took a 180; I found myself taking the wheel, driving an enormous pickup truck across cities.

Having the Next-Gen Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 for a week gave me a fair amount of opportunities to try things for the first time.

Navigating an expressway alone (and not missing an exit), speeding up to 100km/h, crossing pitch-black roads at midnight, and being able to drive under heavy rain; It was euphoric to have sundry accomplishments for a few days.

But my biggest win was driving from East to South to North and back. It was my first long drive and boy, you never really forget your first. I was living on the road for a week!

Ready for battle

It wasn’t my first rodeo at the Next-Gen Ranger. I brought the XLT variant with me when I took part in a back-to-back Spartan race in the trails of Vermosa.

However, I didn’t take it past my set destination because, at that time, I was still afraid of hauling a gargantuan vehicle.

Having the Ranger Wildtrak was a game-changer, though. Being in the driver’s seat was so comfortable, thanks to the 8-way power adjustable driver seat. Having short legs didn’t bother me at all.

Driving didn’t feel like a chore then, so I volunteered to pick up my friends from their homes in Laguna and Cavite. (Who am I?)

With only a grande Starbucks cold brew and a Taylor Swift driving playlist from Spotify streaming via Apple CarPlay, along with a charged iPhone and highly responsive Maps appearing on the 12-inch Portrait Touchscreen, I felt armed enough to drive alone.

It was an adventure, navigating different types of roads under different conditions. I crossed a flooded street after a heavy downpour and it didn’t even reach half of the tires. (That’s what I like about driving huge, towering cars.)

I even took on slopes, curves, and dimly lit highways while raining. Not once did I feel scared knowing the vehicle I have sports C-Clamp LED headlamps on its grille. Some motorists even thought we were on high beam!

And in some occasions, we even had to navigate narrow streets that seemed one-way. My skills were tested as I had to make way for other passing vehicles.

I’m incredibly grateful for the 360-degree camera on how it helped me alight in tight spaces. I’m certain I would cry in panic if I didn’t have the technology with me.

When I became Mr. Overtaker

What gave me the confidence boost to take on my first long drive is how accustomed I’ve been to Ford’s Advanced Driver-Assist Technology.

Being familiar with its system assured me that the vehicle had my back, and sometimes, it could even do the brunt of the legwork for me.

On occasions when I speed up on the freeway, the Ranger often alerts me when it can’t feel my grip on the steering wheel, then automatically navigating and helping with lane centering. This is extremely helpful in the curves.

I was also dubbed ‘Mr. Overtaker’ by my friends, seeing how I easily maneuvered the vehicle on the freeway and national highways. The Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross-Traffic helps me in overtaking slower cars and changing lanes

When vehicles in front of me abruptly stopped or slowed down, the Ranger was quick enough to issue a forward collision warning. The system worked even faster when there was a truck in front of me that suddenly hit the brakes, and I had a close call. The automatic emergency brake helped prevent a possible collision.

Moreover, it helps when reversing and passing motorcycles won’t just give way. I vividly remember how the Ranger prompted me to step on the brake because of incoming motorists and pedestrians as I was trying to reverse back to the highway.

Built for adventure

Everything about the Next-Gen Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 screams adventure, with its tough-looking exterior and sophisticated interior.

It felt apt for the Next-Gen Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 to be our vehicle of choice as we joined the staff of Spartan Race Philippines. We were part of the media team (and your boy is an official photographer) for the two-day race, where national athletes, top trail runners, and even celebrities competed.

The venue was situated on the hilly side of Bacnotan, La Union, making the roads steep, narrow, and a bit rocky.

Even the bypass roads between San Fernando and San Juan were cranky and muddy; I had to trail off and feel the power of the vehicle so we didn’t get stuck. On certain parts of our drive, I just had faith in the Ranger because I know it’s made for the great outdoors. Like yours truly, it can handle any obstacles you throw at it.

I’d like to think my passengers and I had a comfortable ride all throughout, knowing I haven’t heard any complaints since then.

At some point, they were all freezing from the air conditioning inside, but I took control of the temperature so they couldn’t do anything about it.

I’d do it again in a heartbeat

We took a detour to Poro Point to see the lighthouse and the baywalk before we drove back to Manila. Lots of stop-overs, heartfelt conversations, a barrage of laughter, and misadventures occurred during our long drive.

New memories were made and I don’t have any regrets when my knees screamed in pain after the trip. It was extremely fun to take on long drives with people close to your heart.

The tailgate lift assist is perfect for hanging out and dillydallying when you have free time. During one of our stopovers, we sat at the truck bed and exchanged stories while eating and drinking.

My first long drive, which started in the slopes of Rizal down to the forested part of Laguna, across the busy streets of Cavite, and towards the beachside and mountainous trails of La Union, is quite a memory that I’d like to cherish.

Every moment is worth remembering, and it’s great to have companions who are game for every adventure you’d like to try. And yes, the Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 is a great outdoor buddy.

It’s strong, adventure-ready, and packed with creature comforts to make any long drive cozy and feel like home — even when on the road. Plus, the safety features and technology make you feel like the Ranger has your legs and back.

Don’t get me wrong, though; I’d still love to be a passenger prince and stare at myself in the side mirrors. But if you ask me for a long drive once more with a Next-Gen truck like the Ranger Wildtrak 4×4, I’d do it again in a heartbeat, no doubt.

Next-Gen Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×4

For more information about the Next-Gen Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×4, visit the Ford Ranger page. Reserve the Next-Gen Ford Ranger through www.ford.com.ph or check your nearest Ford dealer.

SEE ALSO:

• Home away from home: Next-Gen Ford Everest makes long trips cozier
• Why the next-gen Ford Ranger is a Spartan-approved vehicle