It’s difficult to believe, but the Raptor has been with us for 12 years. In that time, we’ve seen multiple engines and ever ballooning capabilities, but the machine’s mission has remained the same: combine high-speed off-road capability with the no-nonsense functionality of an F-150. On paper, Ford aced that goal. The 2021 Raptor packs an impressive 8,200-pound towing capacity, which is more than adequate for a truck that’s made to do 100 mph over the open desert. But off-roaders have always known that payload and towing capacities are at direct odds with off-road performance. This week, we’ll find out if Ford has managed the impossible with the Raptor.
It certainly has the power. The high-output 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 produces 450 hp and 510 pound-feet of torque, and it all gets funneled through a 10-speed automatic transmission. That means the truck has the right gear at the right time for any situation. Throw in a 4.10 axle ratio, and the Raptor has the bones to make for a solid side-by-side hauler when it’s not bashing through the underbrush.
Our tester came equipped with the pricey 37-inch tire option. Checking that box will set you back $5,250, and will net you an extra inch of ground clearance over the standard 35-inch BFGoodrich KO2 All-Terrains. That’s probably not an option we’d go for on a vehicle that was aimed at towing duty, but there’s no denying how great the extra sidewall looks.
We would, however, go for this rig’s $4,755 Raptor High Package. That kit includes the $695 Torsen Package, which adds a Torsen limited slip front differential to the Raptor’s driveline as well as the slick Rigid fog lights up front. The High Package also includes the upscale 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo, heated and cooled seats front and rear, and LED projector headlights. This tester’s build sheet also included the $2,395 Blue Interior Package, which swaps the black leather seats with blue suede Recaros. Someone cue Elvis. In the flesh, the dark blue hides look gorgeous, if a little frilly for a machine that’s made to go bouncing through the mud.
There are a few options on this truck we’d likely avoid, however, including the power tailgate. It works just like a power liftgate on a minivan, which means the system brings all of the infuriatingly slow, clunky dynamics of those systems to your truck’s tailgate. Pass.
Gimmicky tech aside, the Raptor remains an impressive machine, with multiple steering, suspension, and exhaust modes that can be tailored to your whims. Too loud? Not a problem. The exhaust has a quiet mode. Too stiff? Flick through the settings and the active shocks will turn buttery in an instant.
It’s true that the market has caught up to the Raptor in some ways. Competitors like the Ram TRX and Jeep Gladiator Mojave offer some of the same high-speed pickup-truck joy that the Raptor first brought to consumers, but the Raptor’s still a striking truck. And this particular tester looks great sitting at the trailhead or idling up a wide trail. We’ll find out how it handles towing duty soon.
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