2023 Ford F-150 Raptor

by Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury. August 23, 2024

Ford

The Good:
– Monster offroader
– Cabin space and features
– Drives pretty well on-road

The Bad:
– Pricey with options
– Fills out parking spaces
– Fuel economy

The Ford F-150 is an American icon, and the Raptor was the only game in town if you wanted a factory-ready monster offroader. But over the years, Ford’s chief rivals were inspired by Ford’s success in the segment and decided to dole out their own manly variants of their 1500 trucks. For its latest iteration, Ford builds on the revolutionary changes it introduced in 2014 with an aluminium body and turbocharged engines, playing it safe on the surface, but with some rather interesting updates under the skin.

On the surface, the “new” F-150 Raptor a couple of years ago might seem like a conservative update, but Ford claims that 92% of the truck is new or revised, including every exterior panel. The subtleties of this redesign become apparent up close, largely in the redesigned grille and headlights, which have again been facelifted for 2024. The faded-looking “37” stickers lets the world know that our tester is the 37-inch tyre version with the turbo V6. This model sits in between the base-spec Raptor with 35-inch tyres and the top-spec Raptor R with the supercharged V8.

Based on the same aluminium-bodied platform as the standard F-150, the third-generation Raptor retains its aggressive, wide-fendered stance with a massive black bulge on the bonnet and dual exhaust tips out back. The Raptor 37 Performance Package adds those 37-inch BFGoodrich rubber and 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, the bed-side graphics pack, Recaro seats with blue upholstery, and specially tuned shocks.

The interior, while still retaining that blocky truck vibe, has been significantly revamped. There’s a clear upgrade in materials, with padded areas on the upper door panels and dash, with stitched leatherette all over the place, and the contrasting blue seat upholstery as well as some carbon-fibre bits breaking up the otherwise black cabin. Hard plastics are relegated to lower reaches of the cabin.

The cabin itself is enormous in the four-door SuperCrew configuration, offering limo-like rear legroom and immense headroom, though some might find the space excessive for a vehicle that seats only five.

The driver’s seating position is commanding, and while the high perch might initially feel daunting, it quickly becomes second nature. The front seats are well-bolstered, fully power-adjustable and cooled.

Storage is abundant, with deep cubbies, door pockets, and even a space under the rear seats, which can flip up to create an indoor cargo area for tall items. And of course, there is the huge bed in the back, with bedliner and lighting, although a bed cover would probably be a prudent buy.

Ford has gone all out with the F-150’s tech features. The touchscreen has grown so the number of buttons has reduced. But the 12-inch touchscreen is still supported by hard buttons for the audio and the decent climate control system. The 18-speaker B&O Play audio system is excellent, while the Sync4 touchscreen interface comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A full-LCD gauge cluster display, 360-degree camera system, panoramic sunroof, power-folding mirrors, and smart key with remote start and more are included, making the all-terrain Raptor feel like a luxury vehicle.

Along with the usual array of airbags and passive safety features, the truck offers Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite of active safety technologies, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

Under the hood, our test Raptor’s 3.5-litre turbo V6 offers more than enough performance, although Ford saw it necessary to offer a 720 hp supercharged 5.2-litre V8 for the Raptor R as well. With 450 hp at 5850 rpm and 691 Nm of torque at 3000 rpm, the boosted V6 offers plenty of low-end punch, delivered through a 10-speed automatic transmission. Lighting up the rear tyres rather easily, our test yielded a 0-100 kph time of 6.4 seconds, which already feels too quick for a vehicle of this size.

The transmission, despite its numerous gears, shifts smoothly most of the time, though the occasional slurred downshift pops up once in a while.

Fuel economy, as expected, isn’t great. We recorded 22.5 liters per 100 km in mixed driving conditions, including off-roading. The V6’s exhaust note has apparently been improved, and it sounds nicely grunty now.

Driving the Raptor can initially be intimidating due to its size and annoying to park, but it handles surprisingly well. The steering is light and responsive, with driver-selectable firmness settings, and the metal paddle shifters are quick to react. The brakes are strong, with a progressive pedal feel that inspires confidence.

The ride can feel a bit floaty, but it smooths out over rougher terrain, handling potholes and speed bumps with ease. It’s not as dead-silent as the F-150 Platinum, but it’s very quiet for a truck with knobby offroad tyres.

Like the model before it, this third-gen Raptor rides on a wide-track double wishbone front suspension, with maximum wheel travel increased from 330 mm (13 inches) to 355 mm (14 inches). But it now has a new five-link coil-spring rear suspension, which is not shared with any other F-150. Ford has also fitted Fox internal bypass Live-Valve adaptive dampers and optimised them for the new suspension.

Off-road, the Raptor truly shines. It’s built to conquer the desert, and it does so effortlessly. During our summer test, we didn’t even bother deflating the tyres, yet the Raptor floated over soft sand with ease. Steeper climbs required a bit more throttle, but the truck’s capability was never in question. The Terrain Management System offers various driving modes, but we found that simply selecting 4-high and “baja” mode was enough to tackle most obstacles.

And of course, the Raptor is one of the few stock offroaders that you can drive on desert trails at daft speeds, swinging its tail just for the heck of it, and taking little jumps that bring your stomach up to your throat. It’s possible to overdo it, as many owners of older models find out to their detriment, but if you can keep within its physical limits, the Raptor is more fun than a roller coaster.

While every American truck brand now offers a competent rival, the Raptor was the first of its kind, and deserves to keep its spot at the top of this segment. It’s a masterclass in blending power, technology, on-road and off-road capability. While it’s expensive, especially with all the options, its versatility and sheer capability make it a worthy investment for those who need a truck that can do it all, whether that’s conquering the desert or cruising in the city.