2024 Ford Ranger Raptor provides plenty of muscle power

By Jerry Robbin

The Ford Ranger Raptor is finally here and adds real muscle to the lineup. Everything has been replaced or tweaked in some way to help with overall performance. There are even different seats up front with more aggressive bolstering and larger, more comfortable headrests.

Driving Impression
Ford’s Raptor Ranger drives well on dry or wet pavement with its aggressive all-terrain tires. The Raptor has a comfortable ride quality that mitigates most road imperfections.

It delivers at slower speeds, its power delivery is easy to handle and you can always tell there’s a ton of power under your right foot.

A button in the center console transforms the screen into an off-road display, with a forward-facing camera view on top with guidelines for the front wheels, and controls below it for the locking differentials and a few other settings. The screen gives the driver quick access to the camera and other off-road setup options with the single push of a button.

 

Safety Features
The Ranger Raptor comes standard with a host of driver-assistance features, including automatic high-beam headlamps, lane-departure warning, automated emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. For more information about the Ranger Raptor’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
• Rear-view camera.
• AdvanceTrac with roll stability control.
• Airbags – Front, driver and passenger.
• Airbags – Front, driver and passenger seat-mounted side.
• Airbags – Safety canopy side curtains.
• BLIS with cross-traffic alert.
• BLIS with cross-traffic alert and trailer tow coverage.
• Curve control.
• Four-wheel anti-lock brakes.
• Safety belts – Active Restraint System, three-point manual lap-shoulder belts with height adjusters, pretensioners and energy management retractors on outside front positions.
• Tire pressure monitoring system.
• Perimeter anti-theft alarm.
• Remote keyless entry system.
• Remote start system.
• SecuriCode keyless entry keypad, driver’s side.
• SecuriLock passive anti-theft system.
SOS Post-Crash Alert System.

Under the Hood
The Raptor’s power comes from a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 with 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. The Raptor offers four-wheel drive and a 10-speed automatic transmission, and there’s a long list of drive modes, including Normal, Tow/Haul, Sport, Slippery, Off-Road, Rock Crawl and most excitingly, Baja.

 

Inside
The Raptor Ranger has well-bolstered sport seats lined in leather and suede. Orange highlights line the interior, giving the Raptor a sporty appearance. It comes equipped with a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as the vertically oriented 12-inch infotainment system. The system uses SYNC 4a software and supports both wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

There are buttons that surround the center stack, including your controls for the transfer case and the drive mode selector. The rear seats are comfortable enough when you access them and fold flat.

Convenience Standard
• Illuminated entry.
• Dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control.
• 12-inch digital productivity screen.
• Heads-up display.
• Adaptive cruise control
• Pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking.
• Post-collision braking.
• Cruise control.
• Delayed accessory power.
• Dome Light.
• Fade-to-off interior lighting.
• Gauges and meters – fuel, oil pressure, transmission temperature and engine coolant temperature; speedometer, odometer and tachometer.
• Grab handles (A-pillar) – front, driver and passenger side.
• Dual-note horn.
• Intelligent access with push-button start.
• Rain-sensing and intermittent windshield wipers.
• Lane-keeping system.
• Outside temperature display.
• Power door locks with flip key and integrated key transmitter keyless entry including auto-lock.
• Power-adjustable pedals with memory.
• 12V Powerpoint.
• Pro trailer backup assist.
• Trailer reverse guidance.
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror.
• Reverse sensing system.
• Forward Collision Warning
• Heated and ventilated front seats.
• Heated steering wheel.
• Upfitter switches – six in overhead console.
• Driver- and passenger-side illuminated mirrors.
• Wireless charging pad.

 

Entertainment
• SiriusXM with 360L.
• AM/FM stereo.
• B&O Unleashed Sound System by Bang & Olufsen.
• SYNC 4 with enhanced voice recognition.
• 12-inch capacitive touchscreen.
• FordPass Connect 5G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.
• Connected navigation (1-year trial).

Outside
From the outside, it’s easy to tell that the Raptor is not an ordinary Ranger from its prominent fender flares to the giant “F-O-R-D” text integrated into the grille. The Ranger Raptor has a stance unique to this truck.

Overview
The 2024 Ranger Raptor proves to be worth the wait with its powerful V-6 engine and nimble handling. Just like its larger siblings, the Raptor is perfectly adept to both low- and high-speed off-road driving

Specifications
• Wheelbase: 122.8 inches.
• Length: 209.4 inches.
• Height: 75.4 in inches.
• Width: 95.7 inches.
• Front head room: 40.8 inches.
• Rear head room: 40.3 inches.
• Front shoulder room: 66.7 inches.
• Rear shoulder room: 66.1 inches.
• Front hip room: 62.5 inches.
• Rear hip room: 62.6 inches.
• Front leg room: 43.9 inches.
• Rear leg room: 33.5 inches.