The comparison started early: the all-new Ford Ranger Raptor 2024 being likened to a rally car. In an era where automakers frequently use this term, skepticism is a natural reaction. However, after spending a day behind the wheel of the Ranger Raptor, any doubts quickly dissipated. This isn’t just a truck; it’s a machine engineered to rip, and rip it does. Ford invited us to Utah to experience the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor firsthand, and what we discovered was a vehicle that redefines the mid-size performance truck segment.
The original Ford F-150 Raptor debuted in 2010, a groundbreaking high-speed off-roader that defied expectations. Its immediate success paved the way for a Raptor variant in the mid-size Ranger series. With the Ranger’s return to the American market in 2019, anticipation for a Ford Ranger Raptor grew rapidly. Finally, the wait is over, and North America now gets its own taste of Raptor performance in a more agile package.
Sharing Ford’s robust T6 platform with the Bronco Raptor, the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor packs a potent twin-turbo V6 engine, delivering 405 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. Significant enhancements underpin its performance capabilities. The frame is reinforced, with lightweight upper and lower control arms, and advanced Fox live-valve suspension. Equipped with front and rear lockers, impressive approach, breakover, and departure angles (33, 24.2, and 26.4 degrees respectively), a generous 10.7 inches of ground clearance, a two-speed transfer case, and rugged BFG KO3 tires, the Ford Ranger Raptor 2024 is built for serious off-road adventures. Its aggressive styling further reinforces its performance-focused nature.
To truly understand the capabilities of the Ford Ranger Raptor 2024, we attended the Raptor Assault School, an exclusive driving program offered free to Ranger Raptor owners. Despite the somewhat aggressive name, the school provides an invaluable opportunity to master the truck’s features and off-road prowess. The program starts with an on-road driving session, highlighting the Ranger Raptor’s surprisingly refined road manners and improved steering compared to the standard Ranger. This quickly transitions to a rock crawling course nestled in the Utah mountains.
Here, participants get hands-on experience with the rear locker, hill descent control, and utilize the truck’s camera system for precise tire placement. The course, designed for varying skill levels, effectively demonstrates the Ford Ranger Raptor 2024’s rock crawling competence. It becomes clear that the Raptor is more than capable in technical terrain, inspiring confidence even for novice off-roaders. The ease with which the Ranger Raptor navigated the course underscored its inherent off-road DNA.
The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor boasts a comprehensive suite of driving modes, each tailored to specific terrains and driving conditions. These modes, including Normal, Tow/Haul, Sport, Slippery, Off-Road, Rock Crawl, and Baja, genuinely enhance the driving experience by optimizing vehicle settings for the situation. While some drivers may prefer a simpler approach, the breadth of modes in the Ranger Raptor offers a high degree of control and adaptability for diverse environments.
Following the rock crawling segment, the Raptor Assault School transitioned to high-speed off-road driving exercises. This is where the Ford Ranger Raptor 2024 truly shines and differentiates itself from typical off-road trucks designed primarily for low-speed rock crawling. The Raptor is engineered for speed across loose surfaces, delivering exhilarating performance that few mid-size trucks can match.
The exercises were structured to progressively build driver confidence and familiarize them with the Ranger Raptor’s high-speed handling. Even with instructors advising against manual gear selection using paddle shifters and limiting each exercise to a couple of runs, the truck’s capabilities quickly became apparent. Initial exercises focused on basic maneuvers like acceleration, turning, and braking on loose surfaces.
Pushing the Ford Ranger Raptor 2024 revealed its exceptional suspension. Even aggressive left-foot braking to induce slides is remarkably absorbed by the Fox live-valve system, maintaining composure and control. However, during these high-speed runs, some drivers noted instances of power reduction, even in Baja mode, the most permissive setting. This power intervention, as explained by Ranger Raptor Program Manager Justin Capicchiano, is intentionally designed to manage slides, allowing for an initial satisfying slide but then reducing power to prevent drivers from chasing larger, potentially uncontrollable slides. Once understood, this characteristic can be driven around, allowing for continued high-speed fun.
For those seeking the full, unadulterated Ford Ranger Raptor 2024 experience, there’s a way to fully disable traction control. By pressing, releasing, and then holding the traction control button, the electronic safety net is removed, unleashing the truck’s raw potential. While not explicitly encouraged during the Raptor Assault School program, doing so reveals the true rally-car spirit of the Ranger Raptor.
With traction control fully off, the Ford Ranger Raptor 2024 transforms into an off-road performance beast. While its height and weight preclude it from being a true rally car replica, it delivers incredibly controllable and exhilarating slides. The truck explodes out of corners with ferocity and carries immense speed, even becoming airborne over jumps on the Baja course. Driving the Ranger Raptor in this mode is a profoundly enjoyable experience, leaving a lasting impression of its capabilities.
Priced starting at $56,960 including destination, the Ford Ranger Raptor 2024 enters a competitive mid-size truck market where value is critically assessed. While the price point can quickly escalate with options, the Raptor delivers a unique blend of off-road performance and everyday usability. One consideration for overlanding enthusiasts is the Ranger Raptor’s reduced payload capacity of 1375 pounds, which might impact its suitability as a base for extended camping setups.
However, for buyers prioritizing high-speed off-road thrills and a truck capable of tackling extreme terrain with confidence, the Ford Ranger Raptor 2024 justifies its price. While direct comparisons to competitors like the ZR2/AT4X require further testing, the Ranger Raptor currently stands as one of the most enjoyable and capable modern pickup trucks in terms of pure driving fun and off-road performance. It’s a testament to Ford’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of truck performance and delivering vehicles that genuinely excite.
