F-150 Raptor is ‘the Off-road Truck that Does It All,’ says Roadshow
Neither cold Michigan winters or rough Detroit streets can stop the 2019 Raptor from being the right truck for all jobs.
The first thing one usually thinks of when it comes to the F-150 Raptor is how hardcore it is. Tons of power, plenty of off-road prowess, just add desert or sand dune.
Roadshow, though, found the Raptor capable of so much more than its reputation as a desert demon suggests. And what better way to prove it than taking the muscle truck through the rough roads of Detroit in the middle of a cold Michigan winter.
The reviewer found the Raptor’s biggest improvement was the electronically adjustable shocks, which adjust in real time thanks to the truck’s array of computers. On the road, the Raptor provided “remarkably solid body control that provides a whole lot more confidence on the road,” avoiding the usual trap of off-road specials whose softer suspension is great for climbing rocks, not so much for rounding curves.
Roadshow also heaped praise upon the Raptor’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 and 10-speed automatic combo, allowing the truck to move like a linebacker across the gridiron despite the lack of two extra cylinders. The truck’s ability to be a truck, especially where towing and payload are concerned, impressed the reviewer, as well.
As for the inside, the publication suggests Recaro seating as “a must-have upgrade if you’re regularly doing the sort of off-pavement adventures that’ll jostle you around in the standard seats.” They found the Sync 3 system to be a breeze to use, while finding the overall restrained use of technology in the tester a welcome change from the usual clutter of safety and info tech packages in other vehicles.
Overall, Roadshow says the Raptor is “a beast in every sense of the word,” from the immense power and tough looks, to the tons of utility it provides over other off-road specials. Their final verdict: “No matter your demand, the Raptor can handle it.”
