Motoring: New Ford Ranger Raptor is a wide-stance off-road pickup that dominates off-road

A blast to drive, high-performance 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor is the baddest Ranger ever built. This off-road pickup truck is the perfect size for running trails and traversing city streets. Beneath Ranger Raptor’s hood resides a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 rated a whopping 405 horsepower. Techies take note: At least some of that lofty horsepower rating is due to longer exhaust pipes, a time honored performance trick. Interestingly, the anti-lag system keeps both turbos spinning up to three seconds after the driver backs off the throttle, keeping acceleration a mere blip away when exiting a corner.

So how fast does this five-passenger, four-door pickup ramble? It zooms from zero to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, finishing the quarter-mile in 14 seconds at 97 mph. The advanced four-wheel drive system, new electronically controlled on-demand two-speed transfer case, and front and rear locking differentials improve off-road traction.

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The heart and soul of Raptor is its purpose-built suspension founded upon a fully boxed frame. Details include reinforced front frame rails, front shock towers, rear shock brackets, and suspension mounting points. Technophiles will be keen to learn of Ranger Raptor's next-generation FOX 2.5-inch Live Valve Internal Bypass shocks, i.e., coil-overs at the front and piggyback reservoirs at the rear that reduce heat buildup for uninterrupted all-day-long performance.

Drive Modes include Normal, Tow/Haul, Sport, Slippery, Off-Road, Rock Crawl, and Baja. Each selectable drive mode appropriately adjusts the tuning of the engine and transmission. Choose a mode to fine-tune comfort, off-road control, capability, or ride quality at high and low speeds. Similarly the active valve exhaust system selects from several modes, including Quiet, Normal, Sport, and Baja settings. Ranger Raptor also comes equipped with Trail Control, so drivers can navigate tricky spots while the truck driver manages the throttle and brakes. Ranger Raptor rolls on 33-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain KO3 tires mounted on 17-inch wheels. Think lots of grippy lugs and grooves. One noteworthy option is beadlock wheels with available bead locks for running low tire pressures in sand and rocky conditions. In other words the big tires stay securely-mounted on the rim instead of sliding off.

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Situated behind the crew cab, the 5-foot cargo bed handily accommodates sheets of 4-foot plywood or drywall panels lying flat on the deck. Plus, the cargo bed is liberally festooned with multiple attachment points for factory and aftermarket add-ons. The only thing missing from this model is the optional bed step seen on the regular Ranger, an item omitted for the simple reason Raptor's dual exhausts run through the mounting space. The active valve exhaust system tunes to Quiet, Normal, Sport and Baja modes. Like picking a song on the pickup's Bang & Olufsen sound system, choose your mood.

Underbody protection includes a high-strength steel front bash plate complemented by the dedicated engine, transfer case and fuel tank shields. Performance front seats are supportive, with additional bolstering to hold drivers rigidly in place during high-speed cornering.

Ranger Raptor connects the driver to what's going on around him or her with a 360-degree camera and front-view camera. As needed, zone lighting illuminates the night around the truck’s periphery, while on launch ramps and on camping grounds, Pro Trailer Backup Assist helps back up boats and camper trailers.

Finally, Raptor’s high-resolution 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and 12-inch center touchscreen run SYNC 4A, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto wireless smartphone connectivity.

Automotive journalist, Tim Banse, wrote The Gazette’s Motoring car review column from 1989 to 2013 and has published stories in Popular Mechanics and Yachting magazine. He’s toured carmaker factory floors in the U.S. and Japan and raced cars at Riverside, Watkins Glen, and Michigan International Raceway press events. He’s stood close enough to a crash test to feel the shock wave reverberate off his chest. His first car was a vintage ‘56 Chevy Belair.