In case you missed it, Ford Philippines re-introduced the FX4 last week. And if that’s not news enough on its own, they also refreshed the entire Ranger line-up this year. Now, while most of the attention has been on the obvious new features, here’s one that’s mind-blowingly simple, but life-changing for most motorists: a high-mount USB.
With today’s fancy electronics, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out a way to route a power source near the rear-view mirror. Yet, Ford’s the first to do it, and it’s a sign that they’re actually listening to customer feedback. What’s the use of this high-mount USB port, you ask? Well, since everyone’s installing dash cam nowadays, typically you’ll have to find a way to snake the power cord from the windshield all the way to the power point. This makes for a pretty messy-looking install, and frankly, in some cases, might even be a distraction when driving. Of course, savvier owners can opt to hardwire it to the battery, but not everyone’s brave enough; not to mention, there’s the issue of possibly voiding the warranty as well.
By simply adding a USB port near the housing of the rear-view mirror, Ford’s done every dashcam user a favor—it eliminates the problem of messy wires while also negating the need to actually hardwire the dashcam for those looking for a clean-looking install.
Sure, the Ranger Wildtrak and the Ranger Raptor now feature Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection as standard equipment—but that’s pretty much expected for someone who wants to be a safety leader in the pickup truck segment. But the addition of the high-mount USB? It’s a simple yet pleasant surprise. In fact, here’s hoping it will be made available in more Ford models in the future.
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