That little bit extra
Bakkies with longer cabs are perfect for couples seeking more interior space. Ford provides a fine example.
These kinds of bakkies go by many names: Toyota dubs theirs an Xtra Cab, Isuzu has the Extended Cab, Nissan has a King Cab and Ford’s version is called the Super Cab. Naturally, there are perks to a stretched single-cab bakkie. Not only do you get secure indoor space for valuables like camera gear – a double cab also offers this – but there are tax advantages as well, similar to a standard single-cab bakkie.
Under the value-added tax law, a doublecab bakkie is considered a “passenger car” and is therefore not tax-deductible. In contrast, the same law views a vehicle of which the rear interior is primarily designed for cargo transport as a “delivery vehicle”, which is indeed tax deductible. So, you can register a posh Ford Ranger Wildtrak Super Cab under your business name as a ‘mere’ delivery vehicle and claim back a portion of the tax on it, even if you also intend to use it as an overland rig. But financial wizardry aside, let’s first examine its features before we take it for a spin.
Features
There’s no denying that the new Ford Rangers, particularly the Wildtrak, are well appointed. The seats are comfortable – adjustable in eight directions – and the ergonomics regarding how far you must reach for a button is well considered.
The space behind the seats is ample enough for a sizeable fridge/freezer and a camera bag, or your bedding if you don’t want it to get dusty in the load bed. There are two storage compartments in the floor of the interior cargo area. One is empty and large enough to stash important documents and two bottles of wine. The other compartment holds a jack, its crank and a triangle.
We had to fix a flat tyre, but the crank (which you have to assemble) didn’t fit into the winch which lowers the spare wheel. We consulted the owner’s manual, and according to the diagrams, it appears a part was missing. Do make a mental note to have the salesperson demonstrate that the crank works before you leave the showroom.
Our Wildtrak test vehicle had a rolling shutter over the load bed. It is supposedly strong enough for an adult to stand on, but we decided not to test the claim. (Of course, it depends on the weight of the adult – Ed)
The load bed’s rolling shutter and tailgate are fairly dust-resistant, but not entirely dustproof – they could, however, keep out
rain. Inside the load bed, there’s a 12 V and 230 V power outlet, as well as lights so you can find your camping gear at night.
How does it drive?
Nowadays, all luxury bakkies drive like sedans in terms of comfort and handling, and the Wildtrak Super Cab is no exception. We racked up almost 3 000 km in the week we drove the bakkie, and we never tired of driving it or worried that it would fail us.
We did a fair bit of off-roading, and the Wildtrak Super Cab’s four-wheel drive system was up for everything until its side steps and rear load bed got hung up. It’s a common issue for all bakkies.
The Wildtrak Super Cab boasts an abundance of safety systems, earning it a five out of five NCAP rating. One such system is lane-keeping assist, which alerts you if you’re too close to the lane markings and intervenes if the computer thinks you’re driving sloppily. We were, however, annoyed by the alarm that scolded us – and even tried to adjust the steering – when we swerved to avoid potholes.
The Wildtrak also has a camera in the upper windshield that reads speed signs next to the road and warns you if you’re driving too fast. Our test vehicle cautioned us not to exceed 30 km/h on gravel roads – sometimes 20 km/h. Where it got these speed limits from is anyone’s guess, as the farm roads we drove on had no such speed signs.
When those same farm roads were overgrown with weeds, the proximity sensors that warn you of hazards nearly went berserk, and we often had to turn them off. In fact, every time we got into the bakkie, we switched off as many of the safety features as we could, precisely because they were so intrusive, which defeats the purpose of having them in the first place…
Conclusion
It’s a good vehicle, but there are a few snags. The nagging alarms can be switched off, yes, and the hokey spare wheel crank is a minor issue. Overall, we are impressed with the Wildtrak Super Cab. You and your travel partner won’t go wrong considering one.