Feature article
Ford Raptor Review: Buying Guide
Ford has turned its Raptor range into a sub brand synonymous with sand blasting and jumping big dunes.
Last updated: 26 August 2024
Ford has turned its Raptor range into a sub brand synonymous with sand blasting and jumping big dunes. The original Ford F-150 Raptor first leapt onto the scene in the US back in 2010. The Raptor tag has since been used on the Ranger and Bronco to signify the top performance model in each range.
The Raptor was inspired by the desert racers in the USA, those that take on the infamous Baja 1000 where man and machine pound the rough desert paths for hours on end in a test of mechanical and mental endurance.
The original F-150 Raptor, available from 2010 through to 2014 set the formula for Raptors to follow; a hi-po engine upfront, in this case either a 5.4- or 6.2-litre V8, aggressive race-ready styling and substantially upgraded suspension underneath. The F-150 Raptor is now in its third generation, currently powered by a 3.5-litre twin turbo V6, while a crazy Raptor R makes use of a supercharged 5.2-litre V8 cranking out a whopping 540kW and 875Nm of torque. However, this, and the Ford Bronco Raptor, are currently only sold in left hand drive guise. If you wanted to own one of these in New Zealand, they would need to be converted to right hand drive, which is a costly process.
Raptor Ranger can fly
Lucky for us in New Zealand, the Raptor can be had as a Ranger, the top model in Ford’s local ute line up. It’s also a better fit for NZ too, quite literally, as the Ford F-150 is huge.
First introduced here in 2018, the Ranger Raptor follows the same formula as the F-150 with a wider body covering the enlarged wheel tracks. Underneath, the suspension is substantially upgraded with Fox shocks used to absorb the big hits, and unique suspension arms used on the front. At the rear, the biggest difference for the Raptor is its coil suspension replacing the usual leaf springs. Along with trailing arms and a Watt’s link, this gives the Raptor far superior handling to the regular Ranger. An added bonus is a much improved ride quality too over all sorts of terrain. The slight downside of the suspension upgrade is a reduction in payload and towing capacity, the latter down from the usual 3.5 tonnes to 2.5.
The first Raptor was only made available with the 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel hooked to the Ranger’s ten-speed auto. It has the usual switchable 4x4 driveline, with 2 high and 4 high settings, along with a low range for tougher off road tasks. Variable drive modes make the most of the 4x4 hardware, including a Baja mode which makes the Raptor great fun to drive on loose surfaces like gravel.
On the second hand market, the first gen Raptor listings on Trade Me show they can be had for around the $50k - $60k mark.
Second gen Raptor adds power
When a new Ford Ranger came along in 2022, we didn’t have to wait long for the range topping Raptor to appear, which was on the ground later that same year. It was a similar story come time to transform the regular Ranger into the flying Raptor with a wider body and enhanced suspension. The latter again adopted coil springs at the rear and Fox shockers all round. The big news was the injection of power in the form of a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol making 292kW and 583Nm. The ten-speed auto processed the power while the 4x4 driveline now included an AWD mode, the system pushing power to the front wheels when required. This was alongside the usual 2 High, 4 High and 4 Low settings.
Ford re-introduced the 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel option late in 2023. The V6 powered Raptor is furiously fast (for a hulking 4x4 double ute) and makes a great sound, but is horrendously thirsty. The diesel delivers good everyday torque, but goes much further between refills. It’s also cheaper, the Raptor V6 currently retailing for $96,490 while the diesel is $86,990.
Author
Kyle has been reviewing cars since starting at NZ Autocar magazine in 2003 and has been editor since 2009. In that time he’s become an expert on what makes for a good vehicle while also gaining insights into the local automotive industry.
Other articles you might like
