Ford’s Raptor lineup has thus far proven to be a smash hit in every market where it’s available, and has also slowly expanded over the past few years. First came the Ford F-150 Raptor, which has been on sale for quite a few years now, and it was joined by the Ford Ranger Raptor in markets outside of the U.S. a few years ago. The Ford Bronco Raptor debuted for the 2022 model year and has also received plenty of critical acclaim, to boot. Now, with the arrival of the all-new, redesigned Ford Ranger in the U.S., the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor has joined the lineup for the first time – and true to form, it has received glowing reviews thus far, too.
Our first review comes from Dan Edmunds of Car & Driver, who points out that the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor has one big advantage over the larger F-150 Raptor – its more compact, trail-friendly size, even if it is just 0.1-inch narrower than a regular F-150. It’s also quick and capable, with a price tag quite a bit lower than its Raptor counterparts.
“The Ranger Raptor is the most trail-worthy member of the Raptor family because of its rightsized dimensions. It’s much more likely to be bought by off-road types who never gave the big Raptor a serious look,” Edmunds said. “It’s also the most affordable by a wide margin, so there’s strong appeal on the budget front. And it’s as quick as any other Raptor, except for the F-150’s V-8-powered R model. Anyone want to buy a slightly used 4Runner?”
Jered Korfhage of MotorTrend echoes many of these sentiments, deeming it plenty worth of the Raptor name that has garnered so much respect among enthusiasts in recent years.
“Driving the burliest Ranger on- and off-road raised questions about where it falls within its suddenly crowded segment. The Ford is neither the most cost-effective truck nor the best rock crawler, but it has heaps of power and buckets of torque, and it can hoon the dirt with the best of ’em,” Korfhage said. “And can you name another truck that lets you tune your own exhaust and suspension settings as you rally through silty turns? We’ll let you get dirty and decide what best fits your off-road needs. In the meantime, rest assured this truck deserves a place at the Raptor table.”
Finally, we have Andrew Collins from The Drive, who lavished considerable praise on the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor – even calling it an instant classic and a “legit desert rally truck.”
“The truck’s not perfect – I was bummed to see some mediocre interior panel fitment and I’m still not in love with the way the infotainment screen meets the eyes,” Collins said. “But for the level of performance this thing offers at its starting price of about $55,000, I think this is one of the best deals in new performance vehicles right now. Heck, I’m halfway thinking about liquidating four of my vehicles and taking out a loan to get one of these. If you are lucky enough to pick one up, do yourself a favor and drive it in the desert. The Ranger Raptor will be a blast in your backyard if you live in California or any of the four-corner states. If you’re in another corner of America, make the trip. Let it rip. But learn as much as you can about the vehicle’s limits slowly, and ideally, at a real racing school.”
We’ll have more on the 2024 Ranger Raptor soon, so be sure to subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford Ranger news, Ford Ranger Raptor news, and comprehensive Ford news coverage.
Comments
I would never consider owning a v6 raptor though maybe a rantor
Hey rapturd,
What are you doing here on a Friday night/ Saturday morning @ 1:33am? So much for your opinion.
5.0L Supercharged Ranger Raptor R? 700+ HP Ranger?
Sure slightly more trail worthy than the F150. What would be nice is regular cab availability for both Ranger and F-series Raptor.