About 15 years ago, Ford introduced the Raptor, an F-150 purpose-built to tackle off-road terrain at high speed. In 2022, the Bronco Raptor joined the mix. Now, Ford is adding a third member of the Raptor family: the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor.
While the Ranger Raptor is available in other global markets, this is the first time the high-performance midsize pickup truck has come to America. Boasting more than 400 horsepower, bold styling, a premium interior, and off-road prowess, this new truck checks all the proper boxes to deserve the Raptor badge.
Ford invited me to put the Ranger Raptor through its paces at the company's new off-road school outside Salt Lake City, Utah. Not only did the new Raptor deliver impressive performance, it was great fun to drive.
Read our full 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor preview for more background and details.
Photo: Perry Stern
The 2024 Ford Ranger gets its first significant redesign since this popular midsize pickup truck returned to the market in 2019 after an eight-year hiatus. The midsize Ranger resides in the Ford lineup between the compact Maverick and full-size F-150. As part of the Ranger's 2024 redesign, the new Raptor variant takes its place at the top of the model's lineup.
Ford offers the 2024 Ranger in four trim levels: XL, XLT, Lariat, and Raptor. All come as four-door crew cabs with a 5-foot bed. The Raptor comes standard with four-wheel drive (4WD); all other trims get rear-wheel drive (2WD) with the option of 4WD. Prices range from around $34,000 for the XL 2WD to around $57,000 for the new Raptor.
At the event in Utah, I drove a 2024 Ranger Raptor equipped with the optional 17-inch Gray Beadlock Capable wheels, a spray-in bedliner, and the SecuriCode keypad entry for a total manufacturer's suggested retail price of $59,150, including the $1,595 destination charge.
Production of the new Ford Ranger and Ranger Raptor is underway at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, and the trucks are already arriving in showrooms.
Photo: Perry Stern
The entire Ranger lineup gets a new look for the 2024 model year, but the Ranger Raptor gets bolder styling that distinguishes it from the rest of the line. All Rangers get new vertical LED headlights with wrap-around LED running lights, similar to the other Ford pickups. However, the Raptor gets a distinct grille emblazoned with "FORD" in large letters—a trademark shared with its Raptor siblings.
The bold look continues with the high-strength-steel skid plate below the grille, bold fender flares, dual exhaust, and standard 33-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain KO3 tires.
While the Ranger Raptor looks tough on the outside, it is spacious and comfortable inside. The Code Orange trim is the first thing that grabs your attention when climbing into the new Raptor. Code Orange is the color Ford uses to highlight all Raptor variants, and the Ranger Raptor gets stitching, seat highlights, steering wheel trim, and vent surrounds all in this eye-catching color. The Raptor logo in Code Orange is on the steering wheel and seat backs.
Except for dedicated climate controls and a volume knob, almost all access to functions is through the standard 12-inch vertical touchscreen display. A 12.4-inch digital driver's display adds to the high-tech look of the Ranger Raptor's cabin.
The center console has good storage space, with a sizable bin under the armrest and a wireless phone charger under the center display. Two glove boxes and a shelf in front of the passenger seat add to the useful space in the cabin.
The standard Ford Performance sport seats trimmed in Ebony leather are stylish and comfortable. The thick bolsters provide good support and do an excellent job holding you in place during spirited driving.
The rear seats have the same style, along with the Code Orange accents and stitching. Passengers will find good headroom and legroom in the back, and even the middle seat is usable—although three adults may be cramped.
Cubbies under the rear seat provide secure storage space, and the seat back folds flat for added versatility when hauling loads that can't ride in the open bed.
Photo: Perry Stern
The Ranger Raptor's standard 12-inch vertical display features Ford's innovative Sync 4A infotainment system. The big screen provides enough space to show a large navigation map, while climate functions remain static at the bottom of the display. Redundant climate functions with physical buttons are immediately below the display.
Shortcuts to functions like communications and media remain static on the Home screen. At the same time, a button at the top opens a menu providing access to almost all vehicle and infotainment settings. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard with a wireless connection, and my Samsung Galaxy S23+ connected quickly and easily.
The Raptor comes standard with the latest advanced driver assistance systems as part of the Ford Co-Pilot 360 package. The package includes the expected features, like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and rear cross-traffic warning, as well as adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, automatic emergency steering, and post-collision braking.
For the drive to the off-road school on UT-36, I set the adaptive cruise control to the speed limit of 65 mph. The system can automatically adjust the set speed based on signs with the posted limit, which can be quite helpful. As I entered a town along the way, the truck automatically slowed to the new 35-mph limit. It came smoothly to a stop behind another vehicle waiting at a stop light, all without me having to touch the brake.
Photo: Perry Stern
At the heart of the new Ranger Raptor is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 tuned by Ford Performance to deliver 405 hp and 430 pound-feet of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission is standard.
In addition to its powerful engine, the Raptor comes standard with an advanced 4WD system featuring an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case and locking front and rear differentials. The Raptor also gets chassis upgrades and reinforced frame rails for better stability and durability during high-speed treks off-road, further enhanced by the off-road suspension with Fox 2.5-inch shocks.
I picked up my Ranger Raptor at Ford's Performance Racing School in Tooele, Utah. I drove it to the company's new Ranger Raptor Assault off-road driving school. The purchase of a new Ranger Raptor includes a one-day class at the Assault school, allowing new owners to learn about their new truck's extreme capability.
While the Raptor is purpose-built for off-road adventures, I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable and smooth the truck is on paved roads. The Ranger Raptor easily cruised at 65 mph down the two-lane highway, and with plenty of power on tap, passing slower vehicles was simple and quick. I did notice some wind and road noise at higher speeds, but it wasn't particularly bothersome.
The real fun came once I left the pavement and tackled the off-road handling course at the Raptor Assault school. The truck can be set up in multiple drive modes for different situations; Baja mode is the appropriate choice for high-speed off-road running.
Full throttle from a stop on the loose surface launches the truck quickly and in complete control, accompanied by a lovely, growling exhaust note. Powering through the course with changing elevation and tight corners is an absolute blast in the Ranger Raptor. Incredibly easy to control, even when sliding through turns, the truck stays on track with precise steering as well as excellent handling and performance.
At the same time, the Ranger Raptor is quite capable of tackling rocky mountain trails. The Raptor easily grappled up the steep trail littered with loose rocks and larger boulders. While the Raptor does an excellent job absorbing the bumps on a high-speed track, the truck bounces a lot on the rougher terrain for a rather harsh ride.
Off-road enthusiasts patiently waiting for Ford to bring the Ranger Raptor to America can rejoice. Their truck has arrived, and it is terrific. Not only does its bold styling stand out from the crowd, its powerful turbocharged engine and all the off-road goodies make this truck very capable when the pavement ends.
But the big surprise is how nicely the Raptor drives and handles on the pavement. With a comfortable, roomy interior and the latest advanced safety features, this new Ranger Raptor works well as a daily driver. Other midsize pickup trucks built for extreme off-road adventures include the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison, GMC Canyon AT4X AEV Edition, Nissan Frontier Pro-4X, and Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road. While they are also quite capable, the new Ranger Raptor is a tough competitor and has set the bar high.
Perry Stern has worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years and has always been a car enthusiast. Driving almost every new car on the market, Perry has written for multiple publications in addition to his work for jdpower.com. Recently relocated to southeast Michigan, Perry is still crazy about cars, especially his 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
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