(Pre)Historic Pickup: The Ford Ranger Gets Raptor’d

If you’re on the hunt for a Ford Ranger for sale, there are now more options than ever. The 2024 Ranger Raptor represents an enticing choice for drivers seeking one of the more powerful midsize pickups on the market.

Inspired by the now-legendary super truck that is the F-150 Raptor, the Ranger Raptor is Ford’s midsize pickup in its most rugged form, featuring a unique, powerful engine, cutting-edge technology, and a host of heavy-duty off-road equipment that allows the Raptor to go where no Ranger has gone before.

First introduced in 2019 in the Australian and European markets, North American drivers have had to exercise a little patience to get their hands on the US model—but it’s well worth the wait. So what makes this midsize pickup so special, and is it deserving of the hallowed Raptor name? Join us as we take a closer look at the debut 2024 model and see if the Ranger Raptor lives up to the hype.

A New Off-Road Contender

Off-road models have been on the rise recently, but the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor sets itself apart from the crowd with a full spectrum of premium off-road equipment that goes a long way in justifying this pickup’s price tag. The Ranger Raptor has all the goodies one would expect from an off-road model—a full-time all-wheel drive system with locking front and rear differentials, an electronic two-speed transfer case, and an impressive 67.88:1 crawl ratio—but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The 2024 Ranger Raptor rides on a heavy-duty off-road suspension bolstered by FOX’s 2.5-inch Live Valve Internal Bypass dampers paired with coil-over shocks, which improve the ride quality to such a degree that you might fail to notice that you left paved surfaces behind miles ago. The impressive amount of wheel travel enabled by the FOX shocks allows the Ranger Raptor to cruise over bumps, rocks, and other off-road obstacles with ease; it can even sense when the wheels leave the ground and will adjust to ensure a smooth landing.

FOX has imbued their premium shocks with a new Teflon-infused oil design to reduce friction and prevent heat buildup during heavy use, which means you’ll be able to enjoy a full day of off-road exploration without putting your suspension through the wringer. The rear end of the Ranger Raptor features the same FOX dampers and coil-over shocks, as well as trailing arms and a Watts-link design that replaces the leaf springs found on the garden-variety Ranger.

Of course, the Ranger Raptor also looks every bit the off-roader with a bold, sporty design and a host of exterior upgrades that have a noticeable effect on performance. From upsized fender flares and a one-of-a-kind front fascia to improved approach and departure angles and 10.7 inches of ground clearance, the Ranger Raptor is designed to withstand the trials and tribulations of off-road use in a way that few other midsize offerings can match. Add in the 17-inch wheels (or optional beadlock wheels) paired with grippy 33-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain KO3 tires, a 2.3-mm steel bash plate to protect sensitive underbody components, dual exhaust pipes, and a full-size spare tire, and you’ve got a pickup that can go toe-to-toe with the competition.

Power in Spades

While the Ranger Raptor’s arsenal of heavy-duty off-road equipment might hog all the attention, Ford certainly hasn’t skimped on what’s under the hood. When the first-generation Ranger Raptor hit the international market in 2019, it was powered by a 2.0L EcoBlue BiTurbo diesel engine, putting out around 210 hp. The second-gen Ranger Raptor made some significant improvements, with Ford gracing the pickup with a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 rated at 392 hp in Australia but just 282 hp in Europe.

The second-gen edition marked a major improvement over the first Ranger Raptor, but Ford knew it would need to get that number up to compete with its domestic rivals. Engineers tweaked the 3.0L twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 on the North American version of the Ranger Raptor to produce some 405 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. With almost double the horsepower of the first-generation model and almost 120 more than its overseas cousin, the 2024 Ranger Raptor is never hurting for power.

So, how did Ford manage to squeeze so much power out of this 3.0L engine? It all comes down to a few unique design choices. Ford engineers opted to go with a compacted graphite-iron cylinder block for the EcoBoost V6, which makes the engine 75% stronger and stiffer than a traditional iron-cast engine. Of course, the twin-turbochargers also play a big part, with the forced induction technology allowing drivers to achieve a feat of off-road strength that would have hardly seemed possible in the past. These turbochargers are further enhanced by a race-inspired anti-lag system lifted from the Ford GT and Focus ST, which makes it easier than ever to access that all-important boost.

When operating in Baja mode, the anti-lag system will allow the turbochargers to keep spinning for three seconds after the throttle has been released, giving drivers a longer window to access the boost; this means that when you put your foot back on the gas, there’ll be no waiting for the turbocharger to get up to speed, giving drivers the sort of instant acceleration that makes high-performance driving so much fun. The turbocharger has one more trick up its sleeve: individual turbocharging boost profile for all ten of the automatic transmission’s gears, so you’ll always enjoy peak performance whether you’re just getting up to speed or maxing out the engine.

Potent engine aside, pony power isn’t always the best measure of an off-roader. Torque—specifically low-end torque—is vital for any off-road vehicle as it improves traction and control while helping to keep the engine from overheating and reducing overall wear and tear. With 430 lb-ft to play with, the Ranger Raptor is one of the torque-best pickups in the midsize segment, making it the ideal companion for your next off-road excursion.

Customization Is Key

A bevy of robust off-road equipment and a powerful, innovative engine with an anti-lag system borrowed from some of Ford’s most exhilarating models… What else does the 2024 Ranger Raptor have in store?

Well, all the power and off-road equipment in the world isn’t worth much if you don’t know how to harness it, and that’s where the pickup’s eight customizable drive modes come in. These tailored drive modes have become increasingly popular in the pickup segment as of late and are particularly well-suited for off-road driving, where you’re never quite sure what types of conditions you might encounter. Are you trying to scale some steep, mountainous terrain or navigate a boulder-strewn trail? Just throw the Ranger Raptor into Rock Crawl mode, and you’ll have all the traction you need to overcome any obstacles. Looking to get down and dirty with a little good old-fashioned mudding? Mud/Ruts mode will let you escape from even the deepest pits, no worse for the wear. Sand and Baja modes are great for any loose desert trails, allowing drivers to live out their Baja 1000 dreams every time they get behind the wheel.

These off-road-oriented drive modes can be a lifesaver when it comes to your next four-wheeled adventure, but what about daily driving? Unlike some of the full-size super trucks on the market, the Ranger Raptor doubles as a great around-the-town vehicle, with its smaller size and comfortable ride allowing it to perform just as well on city streets and highways as it does on the wide-open trail. Ford has put this sort of adaptability front and center for the Ranger Raptor, loading their pickup with three drive modes that go a long way in improving the on-road driving experience.

Normal mode is a good baseline experience, while Sport mode ups the excitement, allowing drivers to enjoy each of the truck’s 405 horses by improving the accelerator pedal response and steering while adjusting the transmission for better acceleration. Meanwhile, Slippery mode is great for inclement weather, lowering the Ranger Raptor’s throttle response, adjusting the transmission’s shift point, and tweaking the stability control to reduce wheel spin.

If none of those seven choices fit the bill, you can always do a bit of fine-tuning. Like the F-150 Raptor, the Ranger Raptor allows drivers to select between four steering modes (Normal, Sport, Comfort, and Off-Road), three suspension modes (Normal, Sport, and Off-Road), and even four exhaust modes (Normal, Sport, Quiet, and Baja, with the last producing such a racket that’s so loud it’s not even street legal). Adjust the settings to your heart’s content, and once you’re done, save the configuration with the eighth drive mode known as MyMode. Activated by pressing the “R” symbol on the steering wheel, MyMode gives drivers the opportunity to preserve their custom settings; once you’ve found a setup that works for you, simply press and hold the “R” button to save the current configuration.

The High King of the Midsize Market

It’s easy to see why the Ranger Raptor has been generating so much buzz in the segment as of late. While US drivers might have missed out on the first-generation model, Ford is making up for lost time with the debut of the 2024 Ranger Raptor.

Between its powerful, twin-turbocharged engine that leverages Ford’s anti-lag technology (often found on the automaker’s legendary luxury and performance models) and the gold standard that is FOX’s 2.5-inch Live Valve Internal Bypass dampers—now with Teflon-infused oil—the Ranger Raptor is a whole lot of truck for a relatively modest price.

Breaking into the world of off-roading can be an intimidating task, but Ford has made it a whole lot easier by giving drivers a well-rounded option that can keep up with even the craziest custom rigs. The F-150 might have popularized the Raptor name, but the Ranger Raptor is here to prove that the midsize segment can have just as much fun as the big boys.