Discover the Ford Wildtrak Super Cab: a new era in bakkie performance and comfort
Image: Kevin Ritchie
The age-old questions about bakkies have always been: what do you do with only two seats in front, and how do you protect the stuff in the back?
The answer for the first was the double cab, which started hitting South African roads in the 1980s, evolving from a cab and a half with facing jump seats behind the driver and passenger until it effectively became a sedan with a 'bak' in terms of quality and space.
The second answer was the either/or option of a tarpaulin or a fibre glass canopy, clipped onto the load bay of a single cab, which, with the addition of a foam mattress, could double as a kid's playground or a teenager's fantasy at the Drive-In.
This was the general fate for single cabs, which for much of their history seemed relegated to a life of commercial drudgery, with the same lack of respect as those destined to operate them.
Breaking preconceptions
Ford's Wildtrak Super Cab shatters all these preconceptions.
Equipped with a lockable, retractable tonneau cover, the load box is as secure as any boot in any car, while the Super Cab, effectively a 11½ cab, is a revelation of ergonomics, technology and luxury.
Accessed through oppositional hinged 'suicide doors', the space behind the two seats is generous in the extreme. There's space for pets or two small children or a rather small adult if absolutely needed.
It's a great space for the transport of the kind of personal effects you'd prefer to have closer to you on a long journey, rather than in the load box, such as laptops, cameras and picnic bags. You can put your entire luggage behind your seat, leaving the load box free to carry anything else.
The load box is equipped with tie-down points for securing cargo, as well as a three-prong plug point and a cigarette charger outlet to run anything from a fridge for the camper to power tools for a small business.
There are also down lights that assist with nighttime access to whatever you have put within the load box.
Ford The general build quality of the vehicle is top class, there is no road noise whatsoever in the cabin and the sound system is sublime.
Image: Supplied
Build quality
The general build quality of the vehicle is top class, there is no road noise whatsoever in the cabin, and the sound system is sublime.
The attention to the smaller details is understated, though omnipresent, like the courtesy lights that come on beneath the side mirrors to illuminate the ground as you get in or out of the vehicle in the dark.
There's just about every mod con you could hope for within the cabin, including a range of driving aids that literally make you stay in your lane with more interactive backseat driving/hectoring than even those that have been married for many years would be used to – including nanny like injunctions to stop for a coffee when the Wildtrak thinks you're tired.
The Apple CarPlay is seamless, projecting onto an iPad-sized screen in the middle of the console that effectively becomes an extension of your phone, ensuring there's no awkward relearning of other onboard GPS or music systems. You literally arrive, pair and drive off.
For those without either Android or iPhone, the Wildtrak does come with its own independent systems, all of which can be controlled via the oversized screen or directly from the steering wheel.
The only thing the steering wheel doesn't control is the aircon; everything else is accessible without having to move your hands too far down (or God forbid, for the onboard nanny, to take one hand off).
There's just about every mod con you could hope for within the cabin, including a range of driving aids that literally make you stay in your lane.
Image: Supplied
Effortless driving
This is a big bakkie by any metric, but after a very short while, it feels like an extension of the driver because everything is so intuitive. There are very helpful sensors and cameras fore and aft, with a panoramic one above, which are vital for parking – and especially when carrying a load that obscures the back window.
Having said that, the big side mirrors have sensors in them that light up when vehicles come up close behind you and overtake.
Despite its size, this vehicle is nimble; the 2-litre bi-turbo engine and the 10-speed automatic gearbox ensure there's plenty of power, but at the same time, the engine is very efficient.
1200kms on the clock, of which 200 were in town and 1000 were down to Kimberley and back, returned figures of 8.5l/ 100kms, but on the open road this dropped to 8l/100kms, making the Wildtrak the same cost to run as that of a much smaller vehicle over the same distance.
Versatile
The Wildtrak is incredibly versatile. Fully 4x4 with a substantial road clearance, dirt roads are no challenge and the off-road beckons with no trepidation, but it won't look out of place either in the executive parking bays of a blue-chip company.
Its very clean lines, unlike some of the aerodynamic-defying lines of some of its competitors, add further allure to a vehicle that refuses to be pigeon-holed.
Adept in different settings, versatile without compromising on performance or build quality, the Wildtrak Super Cab is a shape shifter that changes perceptions about what a bakkie can do and, more importantly, should do.
The answer is that the best bakkies do everything and do it very well.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The South African
28 minutes ago
- The South African
State-of-the-art licensing centre opens in Soweto
A state-of-the-art licensing centre has been opened at the Protea Glen Mall in Soweto, as part of the Gauteng Provincial Government's commitment to bringing convenience and efficient services closer to the people. The modernised centre signifies substantial progress towards a more efficient and streamlined licensing process, while prioritising service delivery initiatives in or near areas identified as townships, informal settlements, and hostels (TISH). Boasting cutting-edge innovation with an emphasis on professionalism and community engagement, the centre will go a long way in enhancing the quality of licensing services offered in the area. MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, who officially opened the centre on Tuesday, said the department was actively seeking to meet the needs of underserved TISH communities. 'The establishment of smart Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) in these regions represents a laudable initiative in enhancing government services and expansion of regulatory frontline services in the townships, informal settlements, and hostels,' the MEC said. Diale-Tlabela added that by prioritising accessibility, efficiency, and customer satisfaction, this initiative aims to significantly improve service delivery and alleviate congestion frequently found at conventional licensing offices. 'Through meticulous planning, the integration of technology, and active community engagement, the Smart Licensing Service Centre is poised to become a significant addition to the existing infrastructure,' the MEC added. In terms of the National Road Traffic Act (93 of 1996), the MEC for Roads and Transport is responsible for the registration, testing and licensing of motor vehicle and drivers in Gauteng. The legislative function of licensing of learner drivers, qualified drivers, vehicles, driving schools, instructors, number plate embossers, number plate manufacturers, and many others is one of the largest portfolios in Gauteng. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.


The Citizen
19 hours ago
- The Citizen
‘The Rhino' at Rhino Week
ARMSCOR developed the Rhino Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle in the early 1980s following a private needs assessment, shortly after the conclusion of Project Sireb, which evaluated the feasibility of replacing the Buffel MRAP. Only twenty Rhino vehicles were manufactured for the South African Air Force. Based on the Samil 20 chassis, the Rhino was designed specifically for troop transport and patrol duties around air force bases. It has a crew of seven consisting of a driver, co-driver in the front, and five troops in the rear compartment. The vehicle features a fully enclosed V-shaped hull, offering excellent protection against landmines, while its armoured hull and ballistic glass windows provide effective defence against small arms fire and light artillery fragments. Key features include two roof hatches, firing ports beneath each window in the troop compartment, and provision for mounting a roof-mounted machine gun. The driver's cabin is accessible via side doors on both sides, reached by a short ladder, while the troop compartment is entered through a small door at the rear left of the vehicle. A spare wheel is mounted at the rear. Although originally intended for military use, the Rhino went on to prove its worth in a range of international humanitarian demining operations. It consistently demonstrated its reliability and adaptability as a platform in both conflict zones and peacetime missions. With the adoption of the Mamba MRAP family by the South African military in the early 1990s, the Rhino was gradually withdrawn from service and subsequently sold to the private security sector. The Rhino stands as a testament to South African engineering excellence and tactical innovation. * Dewald Venter is a professor at the Vaal University of Technology. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!

IOL News
20 hours ago
- IOL News
EXCLUSIVE: Durban City FC chairperson Farook Kadodia looking to revive Indian community interest in PSL football
Gavin Hunt and Farook Kadodia Gavin Hunt and Farook Kadodia accept a small fleet of BMW's as part of their partnership with the car brand. DURBAN City FC chairperson Farook Kadodia is looking to revive the interest of the Indian community in South African football with his newly-promoted Betway Premiership side. Speaking exclusively to Independent Newspapers at the announcement of their sponsorship from the BMW Durban South on Tuesday, Kadodia insisted that although this is not something he 'wanted to publicise', but felt he it was important to highlight the need for Indian representation in the local professional league. According to Kadodia, when he first formed Maritzburg United (now changed to Durban City), they were part of three Indian-owned teams in the PSL along with Manning Rangers and Santos FC. 'I come from the days where we used football as a method to demonstrate our stance against apartheid. There used to be an all-African league, an all-white league and then we had a league with players from all racial groups in it," said Kadodia. "I grew up in the sort of mixed fraternity where we fought and struggled together. I think football is a lot like that, because it's a fight to stay in this league. It's tough and you need to have your best all the time. But I'm a football fanatic, I don't think giving up is an option."