Here are six pros and cons to consider for anyone thinking about purchasing a new Ford Ranger Raptor.
New Contender
The debut of the all-new, 2024 Ford Ranger in the U.S. is big news for a lot of reasons, but perhaps none can match the fact that the Ranger Raptor is also debuting in that part of the world for the very first time. For years, we've watched from afar as other parts of the world were able to purchase the off-road-focused model, but now, we can finally join the party, too. Recently, MotorTrend was able to spend some time with the new Ranger Raptor, and came away with some interesting pros and cons that those looking to purchase one may want to be aware of.
Photos: Ford
Pro: Fun to Drive
While it's designed to be an off-road capable vehicle, MT found that the Ranger Raptor was also quite a lot of fun to drive on the pavement, too, particularly when compared to its rivals. "Of the three trucks taking part, some thought it was the most carlike on pavement," it wrote, adding that it's "more like a pseudo-sporty car than the other trucks. Sliding the Ranger around in 2WD-High with Baja mode selected, on pavement and dirt, was a cinch and rather amusing."
Photos: Ford
Con: Shifting
However, MT wasn't a fan of the way the Ranger Raptor's 10-speed automatic shifts. “The only way you can make it fun off-road is to shift manually,” said features editor Scott Evans, noting that this is due to the fact that the transmission always seems to want to stay in a higher gear. Others weren't fans of the "idiotic gear-selector lever," which they found to be clunky and counterintuitive to operate.
Photos: Ford
Pro: Exhaust Note
One thing that MT did enjoy was the exhaust note coming from the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6, which in this guise churns out a cool 418 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque. The "blatty exhaust note underscoring its benign handling when driven in a hooligan manner" proved to be quite satisfying, in fact.
Photos: Ford
Con: Off-Road Disappointment?
Shockingly, however, the Ranger Raptor disappointed in one area where it should excel - off the pavement. “It doesn’t feel similar at all to how the F-150 or Bronco Raptors are set up or perform in desert environments,” said features editor Christian Seabaugh. “Both the Tacoma TRD Pro and Canyon/Colorado ZR2s it competes against in the market are better. I wonder if there’s something to the theory that there was little cross-pollination between the U.S.-born F-150 and Bronco Raptors and the Australian-engineered Ranger Raptor. Regardless, there certainly seem to be different philosophies at play between the three Ford off-roaders.”
Photos: Ford
Pro: Cushy Ride Quality
However, the Ranger Raptor does at least share one thing in common with its Raptor brethren - its supreme ride quality. “It’s comfortable, with that classic wallowy, pillowy ride Raptors are known for - and that’s maybe the only Raptor-ish quality about this truck,” said deputy editor Alexander Stoklosa.
Photos: Ford
Con: Competitive Disadvantage
Ultimately, MT found the Ranger Raptor to be at a bit of a disadvantage against the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, specifically, which hasn't universally been the case in the world of automotive reviewers. Regardless, it's an interesting take, particularly when we consider that the Ranger Raptor was largely developed in Australia, while its counterparts - the F-150 Raptor and Bronco Raptor - stem from the U.S.
Photos: Ford
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