2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Review – Bigger Isn’t Always Better

As much fun as driving the exceptionally capable can be, there are situations in which it is simply too much. After all, we’re talking about a full-blown high performance desert runner truck here. At nearly seven feet wide and almost seven feet tall, there are a lot of places the F-150 Raptor won’t fit. Ironically, this can even include two-track trails. I say ironically, because Raptors are built specifically with off-roading in mind. However, this is where the proves bigger isn’t always better. The Ranger Raptor will go anywhere the F-150 Raptor will go—and a lot of places it can’t. The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor’s pricing starts at $55,365. The price as tested was $59,045.

2024 Ford Ranger Raptor First Impressions

Given the Raptor-ization of Ford’s mid-sized pickup platform, the Ranger Raptor (perhaps predictably) looks like a smaller F-150 Raptor. The same styling cues are present. The blacked out grille, the oversize tires on bead locked wheels and, of course, the extroverted Raptor logo emblazoned upon its rear flanks all fall into line. However, being some two feet shorter, four inches lower and four inches narrower, there’s a pretty good chance the Ranger Raptor will fit in your garage. The F-150 Raptor might not.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

Power is sourced from Ford’s 3.0-liter twin turbocharged V6. The stated output is 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. Power is routed to all four wheels by a ten-speed automatic transmission, which feeds into front and rear locking differentials. In my “scientifically unscientific” zero to 60 runs, Ranger Raptor required just over five seconds to get to 60 from a dead stop. Not bad, when you consider the Raptor-ized Ranger weighs 5,372 pounds.

However, the cornering limits are on the lower side. I’ve seen a 0.69 g skidpad quote. Understeer is the order of the day, and braking distances can also be quite long, owing to those extra beefy 33-inch BF Goodrich KO3 all-terrain tires.

Designed for slogging through mud, digging into loose dirt and sand, as well as clambering over rocks, The KO3’s are somewhat challenged to perform on pavement. However, everything that hampers the Raptor Ranger on the street makes it a hero on the trail, where it also delivers a compliant ride. Of course, 10-inches of suspension travel will make the features of even the roughest of terrain feel like minor annoyances. The Ranger Raptor also offers a 33-degree angle of approach, 26.4-degree angle of departure and a 24.2-degree breakover angle.

Performance Specifications

2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Fuel Economy

Officials at the Environmental Protection Agency advise buyers to expect 16 miles per gallon in the city and 18 on the highway. I averaged 17 overall, according to the Ranger Raptor’s trip computer. Granted, that’s not exactly stellar, but let’s strap a pair of 33-inch tires to each of your feet and see how efficiently you’ll move them. Seriously though, given all the go-fast gear and heavy-duty suspension kit the Ranger Raptor is tasked with transporting, that’s not terrible. By comparison, the standard Ranger returns 19 in the city and 23 on the highway with a 315-horsepower V6 and four-wheel drive.

Interior Design And Comfort

The most readily apparent difference between the interior of the Raptor-fied Ranger and the standard model is the preponderance of red trim elements. There are also more heavily bolstered seats and a more aggressive looking steering wheel. The latter features a red band at the 12 o’clock position to help you get a sense of which way the front wheels are pointing when the Ranger gets air.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Raptor logo is also emblazoned at the wheel’s six o’clock position. Standard features include dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and remote start. Offered only in crew cab configuration, seating is comfortable up front, but a bit cramped in the back seat. In a nod to company founder Henry Ford, buyers can have any interior color they’d like, as long as it’s black—albeit with red accents.

Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

A vertically oriented 12-inch touchscreen dominates the dash treatment. Another 12-inch monitor, this one oriented horizontally, is found behind the steering wheel. Ford’s Sync 4 operating system manages data for both monitors. Operation is intuitive and the platform responds to voice, as well as touch inputs. The instrumentation behind the wheel is reconfigurable in a number of different ways to display information pertinent to your current circumstances.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot, are standard. Several charging ports can be found throughout the cabin, as well as in the truck bed. Options include navigation and a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. Driver assistance tech includes automatic high-beam headlamps, lane-departure warning, automated emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control, all as standard equipment.

Cargo And Storage Space

A five-foot box is Raptor Ranger’s only offering out back. The good news is it’s capable of handling four-foot panels of drywall or plywood lying flat within its confines. Just as with the standard Ranger, you’ll find several tie-down points. A spray-in bedliner is offered as an option. The bed also hosts 110- and 12-volt outlets, under-rail lighting, and numerous attachment points for various factory and aftermarket gear.

The Raptor Ranger must eschew the standard Ranger’s optional bed step though, as it would run afoul of the Raptor’s dual exhaust outlets. Inside, you’ll find a pair of glove boxes and storage pockets in each of the four doors. A generously proportioned storage compartment lies beneath the center armrest.

2024 Ford Raptor Ranger Vs. Its Competitors

The Ranger Raptor’s closest competitors are the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison and the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. The Ford bests both of them in horsepower, while the Toyota boasts the highest torque number. While horsepower is great for returning impressive top speed numbers, torque gets you up and over obstacles. The figures aren’t that far apart though, so even with the highest torque number, the Toyota doesn’t necessarily have that much of an advantage in that regard. Price wise, the Raptor falls in between the ZR2 and the TRD Pro, with the Toyota commanding the highest price.

How The Ford Raptor Ranger Compares To The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison

Powering the ZR2 Bison is a 2.7-liter turbocharged inline four. The cited output is 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission feeds all four wheels through front and rear locking diffs. The Bison wears 35-inch tires on beadlock wheels, but features a leaf-spring rear suspension configuration, where the Ford and Toyota use coil springs. These improve ride quality and respond better in high speed, off-road situations. However, Bison does offer a 38.2-degree approach, 26-degree departure, and 26.9-degree breakover angle. This can be quite advantageous when the going gets especially rough. Pricing starts at $60,540.

How The Ford Ranger Raptor Compares To The Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

Employing what could arguably be termed the most technologically advanced propulsion system among these three, anchored by a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline four. The total system output is 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic conducts power to all four wheels. TRD Pro gets a locking rear diff, while traction control is relied upon to keep the front wheels in check.

Toyota also fit 33-inch tires to the Tacoma. We’ve already mentioned the coil spring rear suspension setup enjoyed by the Tacoma and all four of its shocks are adjustable. The Toyota also comes equipped with the company’s IsoDynamic performance front seats with integrated shock absorbers. Tacoma TRD Pro offers a 33.8-degree approach, 23.5-degree breakover, and 25.7-degree departure angle, which isn’t quite as generous as the Chevy. TacomaTRD Pro’s $63,900 base price makes it the most expensive of the three.

Our Recommendation For Which Model You Should Buy

If numbers are your thing and boasting the highest ones are what float your boat, the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is the undisputed jaw-dropping champion here, especially when it comes to price. If getting the most you can for every dollar you spend is more of a concern, the Raptor comes in with the lowest price, starting at $55,365. The Raptor also offers front and rear locking diffs, as well as the largest engine and the most horsepower. With that said, all three of these trucks will outperform the expectations of 99% of the motoring public. However, if you’re among the one percent for whom hardcore off-roading is your jam, you’re likely to be the most impressed by the Bison. Again though, if you’re looking for the best balance of performance and price, the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor is the one to buy.