Raptor vs Lightning: Comparing Two $80K Ford F-150s

The Ford F-150 Raptor and F-150 Lightning are based on the same truck, cost about the same, and couldn’t be much more different.

We live in some interesting times, at least for automotive enthusiasts, who are slowly watching all-electric vehicles begin to gain favor (and market share). It certainly feels like a transitionary time, even though we obviously won’t be giving up our ICE-powered rides any time soon. Regardless, we’ve driven and loved both the third-generation Ford F-150 Raptor and the all-new Ford F-150 Lightning, with each presenting its own pros and cons, as is typically the case. But the folks over at American Trucks recently decided to do a direct comparison between these two similar yet different offerings, and it’s quite interesting, to say the least.

What’s particularly notable about the Ford F-150 Raptor and Lightning is that in this particular spec, they’re price roughly the same – at around $80k. Obtaining either at that price will obviously prove difficult as both face eyebrow-raising markups for the most part, but we digress. Obviously, the two couldn’t be much more different on the the outside, in spite of the fact that they’re based on the same model, with the Raptor presenting a wide, muscular, take-no-prisoners attitude compared to the Lightning’s more subdued yet futuristic appearance.

One the inside, these two trucks share quite a few similarities, however, with the biggest difference being the Lightning’s massive 15.5-inch infotainment screen that dominates the dashboard. The Raptor is no slouch thanks to its 12-inch screen, and it also sports comfy Recaro seats and some other unique appointments.

Both the Raptor and Lightning diverge big time in terms of powertrains, of course, with the former serving up 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque thanks to the turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. The extended range version of the Lightning, on the other hand, wins this battle with 580 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque coming from a pair of electric motors.

Off-road, it’s obvious who wins this battle, as the Lightning simply doesn’t have the ground clearance to get over larger obstacles, and it doesn’t soak up bumps like the cushy Raptor. That transitions to on-road comfort, as the Raptor feels “like an old Buick,” basically just floating down the road, though the Lightning also proves to be quite comfy in that environment, and it’s obviously quicker, to boot.

Of course, the elephant in the room is the fact that the F-150 Lightning takes far longer to “refuel” than the Raptor (or any ICE-powered vehicle, for that matter) and can’t travel quite as far on a charge, with massive penalties for towing heavy loads. But for those with $80k to burn on a new truck, both of these examples serve up plenty of positive attributes that make them worth considering.

Photos: American Trucks

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.