‘L.A. Times’ Gives the Raptor a Workout
Despite Its Hefty Price, Says the Times, Ford’s New ‘Cadillac-comfy’ Truck is Destined to Win Over Consumers
After initially being announced at the 2016 NAIAS, the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor is finally here and the second iteration of the Detroit automaker’s off-road version of its best-selling truck definitely lives up to the name. So far, the Blue Oval’s newest “It” truck has won over countless critics and auto enthusiasts, including us here at FTE!
Now, one of the West Coast’s biggest local newspapers, the Los Angeles Times, is stepping up to talk everything Raptor — the good, the bad, and the badass!
Despite the 2017 model’s more efficient engine (18 mpg highway), the Raptor is not a commuter like the regular F-150, according to the L.A. Times review of the vehicle. The reason, writes Times auto reviewer Charles Fleming, is mostly because of the lack of perks in the cabin. Granted, we’ve gotten used to trucks with several creature comforts thanks to the advent of luxury models. However, a high-performance pickup with off- and on-road capability is meant to be used for either, even if it only has a couple cup holders and features a more utilitarian interior (i.e.: heated and ventilated front seats are not standard).
Fleming, who mentions that he took Ford’s prized new truck for a couple of spins around the City of Angeles, seems to be most won over by the Raptor’s level of comfort, efficiency and practicality. The truck even handles some folks’ biggest challenge–parallel parking a behemoth vehicle–with ease.
“[The 2017 Raptor] accelerates easily—thank you, torque—and corners well,” writes Fleming. “Equipped with a lot of glass and a very good rear-view camera, it’s even easy to parallel park.”
‘At 60 miles an hour, on a dirt road, over washboard and ruts, the Raptor was Cadillac-comfy, as quiet and restrained as it had been at the same speed on the 101 [freeway].’
Giving equal attention to the Raptor’s on- and off-road capabilities, the writer also took the truck for some off-roading on the edge of the Mojave desert.
“At 60 miles an hour, on a dirt road, over washboard and ruts left by recent rains, the Raptor was Cadillac-comfy, as quiet and restrained as it had been at the same speed on the 101 [freeway],” says Fleming in his coverage.
After getting the Raptor stuck in a mud pit while in two-wheel drive, Fleming recalls experiencing a little big of anxiety before switching to four-wheel drive, which allowed the Raptor to rock and roll right out of the ditch.
Performance is first priority for the Raptor and every other aspect comes second. It is wider, taller and more powerful than its predecessor, and more efficient. One thing it is not, is cheap. This is something that Fleming counts as one of the Raptors drawbacks, along with, he says, it’s limited options for more power and hauling versatility. The 2017 Raptor has only one engine option and bed size. But it’s the sticker price that seems most sticky to the reviewer. After all, the base-model Raptor will run consumers a little under $50,000—about $20,000 more than the base F-150. For all the extra bells and whistles, expect to add another few thousand dollars onto an already expensive ticket.
Nevertheless, despite a few proverbial hiccups during his test drives, and regardless of its cost, in the end, the L.A. Times reviewer admits that “judging from the many thumbs-up I received driving the Raptor around town for a week, the company won’t have trouble selling the ones it builds.”
