2024 Ford Ranger Raptor
Price As Tested: $78,665 CAD
Colour: Shelter Green
I wept when they cancelled the original Ford Ranger. It was like losing a really great dog. Hope was rekindled when they brought the Ranger back, but it was different because it was no longer the small, practical pickup I knew and loved but bigger and far more technical. It had both power windows and A/C that my old 3.0L Sport lacked. These accoutrement were lovely but it lacked the spirit of it’s predecessors. Add to that the first generation of the new Ranger (try to keep up) wasn’t a great car. It was itself an outdated design from Mexico and felt cheap and shoddy. The second generation has seen massive improvements across the board. It’s a respectable truck now. This means Ford couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tinker with it and give us a “Raptor” version. While the Ranger has moved on from its roots, the Raptor is a great iteration of a new generation of and something special all on its own.
What makes a Raptor a Raptor? Some would say a high price point and a bunch of fancy stickers. Others would say it’s the Raptor’s ability to hit the ground running in the bush and go anywhere your heart desires. My definition is a little more ethereal. There’s a spirit to the Raptor identity. It certainly serves well as a poser display piece for your driveway to impress your dude neighbours and it will do the rough stuff just fine. The Raptor iterations of the Ford product also have to have a spirit of fun to them. Do they bring me joy? This is the question that plagued me during my time with the Ranger Raptor. Ultimately, I had to answer yes. It brought me much joy indeed.
The Ranger Raptor has only one drivetrain. The 3.0L Ecoboost engine which somehow delivers 405hp and 430 lb/ft of torque. That’s a lot in a small truck. Much like its big brother the F-150 Raptor, this doesn’t mean the Ranger Raptor is a sports truck. Not at all. But it does mean the Ranger Raptor will anything you want it to. It will go anywhere and absolutely will not stop. It’s also a comfortable drive and you can do the road trip thing with this truck which is no small feat.
The interior is a nice place to be. You get the oversized infotainment, leather, luxury equipment and other bits and pieces we are told we should demand in our vehicles these days. Admittedly, an off-road focused truck needs none of this stuff. It just needs ground clearance and tow hook, but Ford knows who will ultimately buy this truck and have prepared accordingly.
Should your intention be to take your Raptor off-road I can’t recommend the Ranger variant more. Its primary advantage is its size. It’s narrow track and overall smaller dimensions will work well when you’re squeezing past a bunch of 4Runners on a logging road in the middle of nowhere. Smaller is often better in the bush and the Raptor encapsulates that philosophy.
I like being pleasantly surprised by a car. It doesn’t happen that often anymore and it’s an experience to be cherished. The Ranger Raptor is a very unique and engaging vehicle to drive. It’s built to purpose and on top of that is handsome and versatile for daily use. If a mid-sized mini monster truck is your thing, the Ranger Raptor is your spirit animal.
