After a decade of facing zero competition, a new rival for the F-150 Raptor has emerged. But will it be able to claim the crown?
Competition Coming
Since it debuted back in 2010, the Ford F-150 Raptor has essentially faced no competition in the off-road-focused, full-size, light-duty pickup segment. However, that's getting ready to change, as the Ram TRX looks to be a serious competitor aimed directly at Ford's dominating Baja blaster. And on paper at the very least, the TRX looks like it came to play.
Photos: Ford
Power Play
In terms of powertrains, the TRX simply trounces the Raptor. It's powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 producing a whopping 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, far more than the Raptor's twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, which is rated at 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. The TRX utilizes an 8-speed automatic gearbox, while the Ford employs a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Photos: FCA
>>Join the conversation about the Raptor vs Ram TRX right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Power to Weight
The TRX does weigh a significant 650 pounds more than the Raptor, but still touts a power-to-weight ratio advantage of 9.05 pounds per horsepower versus the Raptor's 12.66. The two trucks' 0-60 times reflect this as well, as the TRX gets up to speed in 4.5 seconds, while the Raptor takes 5.1 seconds. It doesn't hurt that the TRX has launch control either, which is something that you typically see in sports cars - not big trucks.
Photos: Ford
>>Join the conversation about the Raptor vs Ram TRX right here in Ford-trucks.com.
All About Efficiency
One interesting difference between these two trucks relates to their four-wheel-drive systems. The TRX comes with a full-time 4WD driveline, while the Raptor is able to run in a more efficient two-wheel-drive when the extra traction isn't needed. Along with its weight advantage and smaller displacement engine, that gives the Raptor the edge in fuel economy at 16 mpg combined versus the TRX's meager 12 mpg rating.
Photos: FCA
>>Join the conversation about the Raptor vs Ram TRX right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Sizing Up
As far as size goes, these two trucks are very similar. However, the Raptor is 8.8 inches wider than the TRX, while the latter sits 2.4 inches taller. Both also feature adaptive dampers and 4L crawl ratios. Underneath, the TRX utilizes a coil spring suspension in the rear, while the Raptor continues with a tried-and-true leaf spring setup. However, recent rumors point to the Raptor changing to leaf springs when the next-gen model debuts in 2021 or 2022.
Photos: Ford
>>Join the conversation about the Raptor vs Ram TRX right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Massive Gap
The biggest difference between these two trucks comes down to price, and it's a big one. The TRX starts out at just under $70k, while the Raptor can be had for a hair over $53k. That's a large pill to swallow for the extra horsepower, obviously. Plus, the next-gen Raptor will launch in the next year or two and is rumored to offer the Shelby GT500's supercharged 5.2-liter Predator V8 as an option, so you can bet that this battle is only getting started.
Photos: FCA
>>Join the conversation about the Raptor vs Ram TRX right here in Ford-trucks.com.
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