The Ford Ranger Raptor is all-new for 2024. It’s the little sibling to the F-150 Raptor. This mid-size pickup is a beast on extreme terrain and comes loaded with equipment and features for serious off-roading.
Base Price: $55,365
As Tested: $59,045
Horsepower: 405
Mileage: 16 mpg city/18 mpg highway/17 mpg combined
The Ranger Raptor joins the line-up for the 2024 model year and is only the third Ford vehicle and the smallest to get the Raptor designation, along with the F-150 and Bronco. The Ranger Raptor’s smaller size makes for easier maneuverability than the larger Raptors.
The 2024 Ranger Raptor starts at $55,620. It comes standard with four-wheel drive. It’s only available as a crew cab with a five-foot bed. There’s room for five passengers in two rows of seating.
The 2024 Ranger Raptor is powered by a stout twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder EcoBoost V6 that makes 405 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. This is the same powerplant as the Bronco Raptor. The transmission is a 10-speed automatic.
It’s designed to conquer extreme terrain, from dunes to rocks to steep hills, with a new electronically controlled on-demand two-speed transfer case, front and rear locking differentials, and 33-inch BF Goodrich KO3 all-terrain tires. Ford says the FOX Live Valve Internal Bypass system changes damping performance based on the Ranger Raptor’s many drive modes. Choose from Normal, Tow/Haul, Sport, Slippery, Off-Road, Rock Crawl, and Baja. Each adjusts the tuning of the engine, transmission, ABS calibration, traction control, steering, throttle response as well as the instrument cluster and information on the touchscreen.
When you’re not on the trails, the Ranger Raptor is surprisingly civilized as a daily driver. Acceleration is quick and it can speed up like a rocket for merging and passing at freeway speeds. The ride is composed with the suspension soaking up bumps and rough terrain. The 10-speed shifts up and down quickly and smoothly as needed. Steering feel is a bit vague but brakes are smooth. Visibiliy is good all the way around. Yes, this Raptor is a blast to drive!
When properly equipped, the Ranger Raptor can tow up to 5,510 pounds. The payload capacity is 1,375 pounds. This is less than the standard Ranger which can to up to 7,500 pounds and carry 1,805 pounds.
Fuel efficiency isn’t great but is what you’d expect in a Raptor midsize pick-up. EPA ratings for my tester are 16 mpg city and 18 mpg highway with a combined rating of 17. I got 17 mpg during my week with a mix of highway and city driving.
The cabin is attractive and practical. There are hard plastics but also some nice soft-touch materials and eye-catching “Code Orange” trim. Front seats are supportive and comfortable with side bolstering to help keep you in place. Passengers in the front row have good leg- and headroom. Taller passengers may wish for a bit more room in the second row. A 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and 12-inch touchscreen dominate the dash.
Standard features include push-button start, remote start, rear view camera, 360-degree surround-view camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-trimmed and heated front bucket seats with 10-way power driver and eight-way power passenger adjustments, driver seat memory settings, leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, infotainment system with 12-inch touchscreen, navigation, 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, satellite radio, HD radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Wi-Fi hotspot, A and C USB ports, wireless device charging, ambient lighting, automatic high beam headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, universal garage door opener. Ford’s advanced towing and trailer tow packages are also included on the Ranger Raptor.
Available features include keyless entry, spray-in bedliner and drop-In bedliner.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, rear cross traffic alert, front parking sensors, active park assist 2.0, and driver attention monitoring.
The infotainment system looks great with its huge 12-inch touchscreen. But the system can be a tad slow to respond to commands. And several functions are controlled through the touchscreen which can be cumbersome. And climate settings are controlled via the touchscreen as well as physical buttons which can also be a pain.
The good:
An off-road beast
Brisk acceleration
Smooth, comfortable ride
Practical, attractive interior
Standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Fuel efficiency isn’t good
Can’t tow and haul as much as the regular Ranger
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $55,365. The securicode keyless key pad is $95. The 17-inch gray PTD Beadlock capable wheel kit is $1,495. The Toughbed spray-in bedliner is $495. Destination fee is $1,595 bringing the grand total to $59,045.
Bottom line:
Ford has succeeded in making a midsize pickup that can sure do double duty as a daily driver and off-road beast. The smaller size of the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor can make for better access to remote trails without sacrificing daily driving comfort. This Raptor also comes with a comfortable and practical cabin and many standard features and tech.
