A Ford Ranger Raptor has been with us since April on a long-term test that will last six months.
Launched locally in February 2023, the second-generation V6 petrol turbo Raptor is priced at R1,270,000 and has a lot more power than its diesel predecessor, with improved suspension.
After racking up 9,000km in the blue oval’s high-performance, rally-inspired double cab, here are nine things we’ve learnt:
It is hot-hatch fast
The new Raptor has nearly double the power of its predecessor, replacing the previous 157kW 2.0 turbo diesel engine with a 3.0 V6 twin turbo petrol producing 292kW.
With anti-lag technology and a 10-speed automatic transmission with steering-mounted paddle shifters, the Raptor rules the fast lane and romps from 0-100km/h in a hot hatch-like 6.7 seconds.
You can alter its personality
You can select the suspension firmness, steering and throttle response and exhaust note, including a Baja setting that sets the Raptor into full-attack mode for maximum performance on rough, high-speed terrain.
A pre-programmed favourite setting can be called up at one touch with a button on the steering wheel.
It jumps like a rally car
Compared to a regular Ranger, the Raptor’s chassis is reinforced to handle harsh off-road conditions, the suspension has more travel and the ground clearance is raised to a towering 272mm.
High-profile BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres ensure the Raptor has a plush ride on bumpy trails and pothole-ridden roads. Selectable 2H, 4H and 4L modes, and locking rear and front differentials, provide grip for just about any off-road situation.
When it’s playtime off road, there are few production vehicles that can jump like this Ford. Position-sensitive Fox dampers that adapt to driving conditions allow the bakkie to make rally-style leaps without bottoming-out the suspension on landing.
You can get it stuck
An accidental encounter with a swamp revealed that you can’t freestyle with the rules even with this Ford’s formidable trail-tackling ability. With the Raptor sunk down to its belly in the zero-traction mud, it took two other vehicles to winch us out.
It doesn’t have to drink you into bankruptcy
One of our first adventures was a fuel economy run between Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast, where we drove at the speed limit but focused on accelerating lightly. The result on the down run was 11.6l/100km, and 12.6l on the uphill return to Jozi.
If you regularly play with the bakkie’s eager acceleration, the consumption spikes to well over 14l, but the exercise proved the big, burly Ford can be respectably frugal.
It has jet fighter-inspired seats
The seats are inspired by jet fighters, with prominent bolstering and suede inserts in contrasting colours. They provide vital support during high-paced off-road driving and great long-distance comfort.
It is a sound hound
The V6-powered double cab has an active valve exhaust system that allows for adjustable exhaust sounds, and in Baja mode it roars more like a Mustang than a bakkie.
If you get tired of listening to that, you can set the exhaust to quiet mode and enjoy the 10-speaker 660W Bang & Olufsen sound system instead.
The aircon can get dazed and confused
The climate control system sometimes gets befuddled, chilling or warming the cabin with little regard for the interior temperature you’ve set.
It’s a heffalump to park
This is a big meneer of a bakkie and it’s wider than regular Rangers, so it can sometimes feel like a buffalo in an antique shop when parking. The 360-degree parking camera and beeping proximity alerts are vital, but you still need to frequently make corrections to squeeze it into a bay.
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