Ford has made it clear that it intends to boost its presence in the performance vehicle market. While the bulk of that statement is focused on the Ford Mustang, it also includes the Raptor lineup with the company now adding the Ranger into the fold in an attempt to get midsize pickup buyers who want off-road performance but aren’t ready to make the move up into a bigger F-150 model. But is the Ranger Raptor the perfect solution for buyers looking for the best of Raptor fun in a smaller package?
Ranger Raptor hits the gym
When we last saw the Ford Ranger, it was during Ford’s Ranger School event where the company introduced us to not only the standard model but also the beefed-up Raptor. It was here that we got to see all the exterior revisions that Ford applied to the lineup with designers attempting to infuse the Ranger with more F-150 DNA.
This includes the Raptor with models like our tester getting bigger fender flares and a model-exclusive front grille with the “RAPTOR” script placed in the center. The truck also gets a wider front and rear track with the corners featuring big 33-inch BFGoodrich KO3 all-terrain tires with the rubber being mounted to bead locking wheels. Meanwhile, the rear of the truck gets Raptor graphics and an active exhaust system with dual exhaust system. All of this together helps the Ranger Raptor stand out from lesser models with the platform itself being shared with the Bronco Raptor SUV. Payload and towing are lower than the standard Ranger with the Raptor only being able to tow up to 7,500 lbs and haul a paltry 1,411 lbs of cargo.
Raptor cabin is ready for thrills and comes packed with tech
Slip inside the Ranger Raptor and you’ll find that the interior’s core construction doesn’t stray too far from lesser Rangers with the interior still getting hard plastics and rubberized accents. However, Ford designers focused the bulk of their efforts elsewhere with the front seats being replaced with heavily bolstered Recaro seats with splashes of red accents adding some much-needed pop into the cabin. A flat-bottomed steering wheel is also included with a red center line being mounted at the top.
A key caveat is that the Ranger Raptor also follows the same script as the bigger F-150 version and will only be available as a crew cab with a five-foot cargo box being responsible for cargo hauling duties. Ford said that it did this to maximize comfort and to please customers with crew cab configurations being top sellers for all of their pickup models. The Raptor also comes with an impressive degree of luxury features including dual-zone climate control, heated front seats remote start, and other items.
Every Raptor gets a 12.4-inch infotainment system and a mirroring 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster with wireless Apple CarPLay and Android Auto arriving as standard equipment. A WiFi hotspot is also available and buyers can even equip it with a potent 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system.
Performance gets its muscle from the Bronco
The performance setup here on the Ranger Raptor is nearly identical to the Ford Bronco Raptor’s with the truck getting a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that makes 405 horsepower and a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard front and rear locking differentials. The key differences lie in some of the minor changes that engineers had to make to the truck’s platform and frame to accommodate it all including the long-travel suspension that not only provides better ground clearance but also ample amounts of cushioning in the event owners choose to make their truck go airborne out on the trail.
An active exhaust system allows owners to adjust the sound they hear but while the all-out Baja mode is great in small doses, we recommend keeping it in the Sport setting to avoid some of the droning that occurs when it’s placed in the aforementioned Baja mode. While Metro Detroit’s pothole-filled roads are no substitute for a good patch of wilderness, all the bumps did help us discover that ride quality is on the comfy side with the truck also delivering a decent amount of feedback from the steering wheel. The Raptor is not a Mustang though and the beefy trail-rated rubber has low cornering limits with the Raptor audibly telling drivers when it’s time to back off and let it go through turns at its own pace.
Braking is stable but the large tires also create longer stopping distances. Fuel economy is roughly on par with its Bronco sibling with the EPA saying that Raptors like our tester only get 16 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the freeway with the truck preferring a steady diet of premium unleaded.
Value Quotient
Pricing for the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor starts at $57,215 which includes the $1,595 destination fee. Our tester arrived with a small sprinkling of optional extras and that caused the final price of our tester to cross the $60,000 barrier. While that price may seem like a large pill to swallow, it’s actually a bargain when compared to the Bronco Raptor which has a $35,000 higher base price and only has a slight boost in power when compared to the Ranger.
Ford reps say that this is no accident with the Ranger Raptor being seen as a proverbial gateway model of sorts into the Raptor fold with buyers having the option to then move into a bigger F-150 or even a Bronco Raptor as their needs and lifestyles change. As far as the segment itself goes, the Raptor is slightly pricier than the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison but that truck makes do with an engine that’s not as spicy as what you get in the Ford. Look for this simple approach to payoff for Ford in the long run especially as the company prepares to enter an era where electrification will play a much larger role in its bottom line.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.