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If you’re reading this, chances are you already know the F-150 Raptor. It’s Ford’s big and brawny off-road offering, a hardcore but luxurious truck that doesn’t even need any modifications to complete the Baja 1000 desert race. This beast takes bumps and jumps with effortless grace, and its six drive modes make it easy for even inexperienced drivers to navigate tricky, off-pavement terrain almost effortlessly.
But then, who’s taking this truck off the pavement? The truth is that most Raptor buyers don’t need the vehicle’s comprehensive off-roading features. Instead, the Raptor is more likely to be used by everyday drivers, towers, and people who need a truck to run their business.
The question is: With its $50,560 price tag, is the Raptor still worth it?
Like most of today’s trucks, the Raptor doesn’t scrimp on size. The first thing you’ll notice when you climb into the cab is the amount of space. At six and a half feet high and seven feet wide, this truck isn’t exactly suited to life in an urban center. Drivers will no doubt have trouble squeezing into parking garage entrances with low clearance heights, and even backing this brute up will prove challenging in tight spaces. When it comes to keeping the Raptor in its own lane, drivers don’t have much wiggle room to work with. Yes, the 360-degree cameras can help in that department. But drivers will have to be extra careful not to crush the nearest SmartCar.
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Of course, things get easier when you take the Raptor out on the highway. Size is less of an issue, and more aggressive drivers might even see it as an advantage. In a vehicle of this size, it’s almost too easy to bully sluggish left-lane drivers into moving over. In rush-hour traffic, the Raptor’s size proves advantageous, allowing drivers to see far ahead and push their way into lanes.
The Raptor’s unwieldiness might be more of a problem if spending time in it wasn’t so damn great. Like most other F-150s, Ford makes it easy for drivers to kill a lot of time on the road in comfort. If you spend a lot of time in your vehicle—whether for work or pleasure—you’ll enjoy the heated and cooled seats and the SYNC 3 system, which comes equipped with either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. This truck even has a moving pedal box, which, in our opinion, makes it all too easy to forget you’re hitting near-triple digit speeds. Oh well.
You don’t need to leave normal mode to get the best out of the suspension and tires, two pairs of BFGoodrich All-Terrains manufactured specifically for the Raptor. For an off-road truck, the Raptor’s smooth handling will surprise you. Finally, the Raptor’s 10-speed automatic transmission means that at 70 mph, the engine barely spins above idle. And with the twin-turbo Ecoboost engine, there’s no need to fret about the noise.
All things considered, this is a monster of a truck. Though it’s kind of sad to think of some of this vehicle’s one-of-a-kind skills being lost on the average driver, it’s still a great ride.
