2024 Ford Ranger Raptor
The revised Ford Ranger gave the company an opportunity to expand the lineup of their mid-sized pickup truck. They wanted to add a halo trim level that would bring off-road enthusiasts to their showrooms.
Outside of this country, such a high performance off-road ready pickup truck exists. It was a matter of time before Ford offered it here.
They did not have to look too far to accomplish this. At the same assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan, Ford was already building the Bronco Raptor alongside the Ranger. This high-performance off-road SUV was already gaining a huge following. It made sense for Ford for finally deliver a Ranger with the Bronco Raptor’s driveline.
And, here it is. Ford sent us a 2024 Ranger Raptor to see if it worked according to plan.
The Ranger Raptor only comes in a SuperCrew four-door cab with a five-foot box and four-wheel drive. There are plenty of visual differences between the regular Ranger and the Raptor. That starts with a specific grille that take the same theme as the Bronco and F-150 Raptors – including bold Ford lettering. The ground clearance is higher at 10.7 inches, thanks to its large BF Goodrich all-terrain tires riding on available 17-inch gray beadlock alloy wheels.
Our Raptor tester in Cactus Gray only wore a decal on the rear side of the bed. A spray-in bedliner was added onto our tester for better protection in the back. Otherwise, it has the presence you expect in a vehicle wearing the Raptor name.
Inside, a fully digital 12-inch instrument cluster offers some customization. It is also clear to view. The 12-inch center portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen, powered by SYNC 4A. Its portrait orientation is clear and easy to use. Tactile controls are available for climate and audio controls, as well as throughout the cabin.
Inside, the Ranger Raptor tester offers good comfort for up to five people in the four-door SuperCrew. Black leather upholstery with orange accents covers the seats in both rows. In all, we found that headroom was superb for taller drivers and rear seat passengers. Rear seat legroom was also fine.
The Ranger Raptor is powered by a 405-horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine. It also puts down 430 pound-feet of torque. It connected to a standard four-wheel drive system channeled through a ten-speed automatic transmission using a two-speed transfer case to send power to all four wheels.
The Ranger Raptor with can tow up to 5,510 pounds, while carrying 1,375 pounds of payload. There’s plenty of performance when you need it, especially on the highway. That performance translates better off the highway with plenty of low-end grunt for tougher terrain. There are several drive modes available that will help dial in the Ranger Raptor’s ability to handle various terrain and conditions – including those that enable four-wheel drive automatically on desert or mountainous surfaces. As for fuel economy, we averaged 17.2 MPG.
The ride quality was quite livable. The FOX Racing Shocks and Watts-link rear suspension provided an absorbent ride that you expect in an off-road ready pickup truck. Handling-wise, there is a bit of roll and lean through the turns at speed. However, it does maneuver around hazards quite nimbly, even with the 17-inch off-road tires.
We found the turning radius was on the larger side, but quite responsive overall. On-center feel tended to be soft. Braking was also fine, with a solid pedal feel. We experienced decent stops in normal and panic situations.
The 2024 Ford Ranger lineup offers four trim levels, along with final drive options and engines. Pricing starts at $32,820. Our 2024 Raptor SuperCrew tester came with a sticker price of $59,045. Prices for 2025 has only increased by a few hundred dollars across the lineup. For example, this tester would cost $59,405 for the 2025 version.
When it comes to off-road ready mid-size pickup trucks, the Ford Ranger Raptor is set to change the game. Even if the game already has its share of contenders. Those rivals include the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, GMC Canyon AT4, Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Trailhunter, and Nissan Frontier PRO-4X.
As the reigning North American Truck of The Year, the Ranger delivers on the fun in the Raptor. It was a long time coming, but we’re glad it’s here for the off-road enthusiasts to play with.
