Ford F-150 Raptor — A livable off-road warrior

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

A tremendous amount of copy has been written about the off-road exploits of the Ford F-150 Raptor since its inception in 2008, including its success in the Baja 1000, one of the most grueling endurance races in the world that winds through a Mexican desert littered with boulders and dry creek beds. The in-your-face Raptor has proven to be the epitome of off-road prowess.


The all-new second generation Raptor that can literally go anywhere has more power than the outgoing truck; it has shed up to 500 pounds through the use of high-strength military grade aluminum alloy and has the most advanced powertrain, transfer case and suspension ever put into an F-150 truck.


Photo by MotorwayAmerica.com

It comes with such off-road conveniences as a Terrain Management System that allows the driver to select from six preset modes with terrain-specific powertrain calibrations such as street, Baja, mud and sand to optimize performance in any driving condition. The Raptor gets a reinforced frame, long-travel suspension, flared fenders, skid plates, upgraded off-road tires, and overhead auxiliary switches for add-ons and special interior trim with leather and cloth upholstery. Other advances include three steering modes and an exterior visibility 360-degree camera.

The Raptor has more than six inches of added track width compared to the standard F-150 with two inches of extra ground clearance. The Raptor stands tall with wide shoulders. The front end features a large octagonal grille with Ford displayed in huge letters, LED clearance lights, and high-clearance bumpers that provide a good approach angle.

So this begs the question, why do a majority of the owners of such a specialized machine keep it in their driveway only using it for everyday transportation — and perhaps some minor off-roading and chores no more taxing than putting a boat in the water — at a price that can easily top $65 grand? There are less expensive options, to be sure.

It's more than likely because they desire a status symbol, an in-your-face truck with huge tires, a menacing grille, and — most of all — a specially tuned 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine making 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque mated to Ford's newest 10-speed automatic transmission.

The six-cylinder engine is smooth and works well with the new transmission performing flawlessly. The V6 replaces the V8 of the previous generation with increased performance measured at 5.1 seconds from 0-to-60 and a quarter mile time of 13.8 seconds @ 100 mph — this quickness in a truck weighing in at nearly 6,000 pounds.

We discovered that the Raptor is an excellent on-road companion displaying an easy driving demeanor. Steering feel is good through the hefty, contoured steering wheel with thumb rests and a straight-ahead stripe in the 12-o'clock position. Three steering modes are available — Sport, Comfort and Normal — and we found that simply using the Normal setting was the best bet. There's obviously no lack of performance for any eventuality. This truck screams get the hell out of the way in a driver's rearview mirror.

The Raptor's sport seats, with additional side bolstering, are firm and comfortable. Even the knobby BFGoodrich tires are well behaved. There’s no perceptible tire hum.

Making driving life easier our test truck came with such driving aides as side mirror blindspot monitors and adaptive cruise control. It's always tough to park a big pickup in a crowded mall parking lot, but we found the surround-view camera system a great aid to backing and parking straight between the lines.

The radio, climate controls and four-wheel drive control are all operated by huge knobs — very nice! It also comes with the excellent Sync 3 evolution of MyFordTouch. It's relatively intuitive and provides a raft of information including navigation. Inclu
ded in our test truck was an excellent-sounding 11-speaker Sony audio system with satellite and HFD radio.

Our Raptor test vehicle was in SuperCrew format with a 5.5-foot bed with spray-in bedliner. Rear-seat passengers will find the SuperCrew very frien
dly with scads legroom and considerable head room. In fact, it is one of the few vehicles on the market today that will actually sit three adults across in relative comfort.

The base price of the Raptor is $49,520, many thousands above a standard well-equipped F-150. You have to pay for the Raptor's off-road equipment as well as its macho stance. If you want some of Ford's very desirable options, be prepared to open your wallet wider. Our test truck included more than $13,000 worth of optional items bringing the bottom line to $65,965.

Essentials
Base price: $49,520; as driven, $65,965
Engine: 3.5-liter turbocharged V6
Horsepower: 450 @ 5,000 rpm
Torque: 510 pound-feet @ 3,500 rpm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Drive: four wheel
Seating: 2/3
Wheelbase: 146 inches
Length: 231.9 inches
Curb weight: 5,924 pounds
Turning circle: 47.8 feet
Towing capacity: 6,000 pounds
Fuel capacity: 23 gallons (regular)
EPA rating: 15 city, 18 highway, 16 overall
0-60: 5.1 seconds (Car and Driver)
Also consider: Ram Power Wagon

The Good
• Outstanding off-road capability
• Muscular engine
• Attractive interior
• Macho styling

The Bad
• Pricey with options

The Ugly
• Gas mileage in teens