2020 Ford Ranger Raptor - CAR REVIEW

The pick-up truck segment is currently one of the most popular vehicle segments in the Philippine automotive market. This is thanks to the TRAIN Law, the law which everyone feared to increase car prices by a large percentage. While most car models in the country did get price increases, it wasn’t too bad. Pick-up trucks however were exempted, this means pick-up trucks are relatively affordable especially compared to their SUV counterparts.

We’re definitely at an advantage here as for less than Php 2-million we can get the Ford Ranger Raptor. Nothing is more recognizable than the huge grille with FORD spelled out and it’s wide muscular stance. This truck is not all looks, it’s a raised sports car. With that, we’re so happy that for our first ever lend-out from them, Ford Philippines was really awesome to bring us the Ranger Raptor and it’s not just another Ranger variant.

Exterior

The main distinguishing point of the Ranger Raptor against the rest of the local Ranger lineup is the exterior design. When Ford came up with this version, it was not as simple as putting on the huge FORD grille and raising it up a few inches plus a new set of wheels. No. Ford gave the Ranger some Raptor exclusive upgrades starting in front where it gets a different front bumper with aluminum skid plates to protect what’s underneath. Recovery hooks can also be found just in case the unexpected happens, and of course, the huge FORD grille that signifies Raptor.

On the side the Ranger Raptor gets larger fender flares and rear quarter panels which give it its wide and muscular look. These aren’t just for style though as they were done to accommodate the wider track which is the space between the left and right wheels. Speaking of wheels, the Raptor actually gets smaller diameter wheels at 17 inches but gets larger Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Tires which are sized 285/70 R17. The side mirrors and door handles are also blacked out giving a sportier appearance, and the running boards are also exclusive to the Raptor.

The rear is a bit of a different story compared to the rest of the exterior. Here it looks a bit more like the rest of the Ranger family except for the wider rear quarter panels and bumper. Recovery hooks can also be found back here which will be of great help when the unexpected happens while off-roading. The tailgate is also different in a way as it has lift assist which makes it easier to open and close. You can even close it by just pushing with one finger. More on the bed later.

Interior

Anyone who has ridden or sat in any Ford Ranger or Everest will find the Ranger Raptor very familiar. Only minimal changes have been done to differentiate the regular Ranger from the Raptor but that isn’t a problem because the former already has a very nicely designed and good quality interior.

Changes can be found first on the steering wheel where the leather wrap of the rim is a bit thicker making it nicer to hold. There is also a red on-center marker on top and the Raptor logo on the bottom part. On the steering column you’ll also find some really nice aluminum paddle shifterNext is the blue stitching on the dashboard and steering wheel which gives them a more athletic appearance. The most obvious change inside are the front seats which are unique to the Raptor. They feature thicker bolsters and a combination of alcantara and leather materials which should guarantee to hold you in place when cornering.

As for the backseats, they also get the same alcantara and leather materials as in front. They are equally as comfortable except for, as expected from a pick-up, the non adjustable backrests. They are slightly pre-reclined which makes them a bit more manageable. Legroom is excellent for someone of my height which is 5 feet and 7 inches.

Storage

Storage is of course a strong point for the Ranger Raptor with its bed which is actually the same size as on the rest of the Ranger lineup. In terms of volume, the bed can hold up to 1,234 liters. Payload capacity on the other hand is down from other Ranger variants at just 766 kg. For reference, the cheaper Ranger Wildtrak variant can hold up to 1,120 kg. This is because of the long-travel Fox Racing suspension so if you plan to haul lot’s of heavy cargo with the Raptor, choosing a different variant or a completely different pick-up model might be the better choice. The bed also features a nice 12-volt power outlet and a light.

Storage spaces are not as limited as it would be in a pick-up truck. There are spaces on the doors of course and a good number of cupholders. Other than those usual storage areas, the rear seat bench can be folded up, revealing two storage cubbies which can be used to hide items from prying eyes.

Technology and Safety

Being the most expensive model in the Ranger lineup, the Raptor is expected to come packed with tech and safety features. You won’t be disappointed because it does get a handful. As with many other Ford models in the country, the Ranger Raptor comes with the blue oval’s SYNC3 infotainment system which is controlled through an 8-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. As expected from its price, it also comes with a power-adjustable driver seat, dual-zone climate control which can be controlled from the touchscreen as well, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, parking sensors, and smart keyless entry with push button start. Behind the auto-dimming rear view mirror you’ll even find a USB port for dashcams. Rear passengers can get some work done on their laptops as there is a 220v socket that can be used for charging appliances.

What the regular Rangers don’t get is the Terrain Management System. This feature gives the Ranger Raptor six different driving modes for different kinds of conditions. These are Normal, Sport, Weather, Mud/Sand, Rock Crawl, and Baja modes. Baja mode in particular optimized the truck’s traction control, transmission, and acceleration allowing high-speed off-roading. This would have been nice to try considering we did most of our test driving in Pampanga but sadly the quarantine restrictions limited our drives to paved roads.

The Ranger Raptor also comes standard with Lane-Keep Assist. This is helpful for expressway drives and we did try it out. It works pretty well and will actually steer you back into your lane when you start veering out of it without using your indicators. If you force your way out of the lane without indicators, the steering wheel will vibrate. The system did work pretty well. I just wish that this had Adaptive Cruise Control as it would work great in tandem with the lane-keep feature.

In terms of safety, the Ranger Raptor will surely keep you safe. Standard are 6 Airbags, Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Lane-keep assist, Driver Alert System, Terrain Management System, Electronic Stability Control, ABS with EBD, Roll-over Mitigation, Traction Control, Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Assist, and ISOFIX.

Engine

Under the hood of the Ranger Raptor is a 2.0-liter Biturbo diesel powertrain, shared with the Ranger Wildtrak and Everest Titanium. It sounds small if you think of it as most pick-up trucks (including the older Rangers) come with larger 2.5- to 3.2-liter engines. Output and torque will say that this isn’t small though as the 2.0 Biturbo produces 210 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque which are the highest in the segment. This is paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Driving and Comfort

Given the Ranger Raptor’s umm…Raptor name, the driving experience should be great as expected and it does not disappoint at all. Acceleration is really good thanks to the 500 Nm of torque which reaches its peak as early as 1,750 RPM. Once you step on the pedal, you’ll really feel the truck quickly move forward as the engine roars. The 10-speed automatic transmission also shifts really smoothly most of the time. I did notice a bit of delay at times but it was not too bad. Definitely more than enough for city-use. On the highway, the Raptor is also very smooth. Getting up to highway speeds is very easy and you won’t have any problems catching up with other vehicles. Just make sure to keep it within boundaries as pick-up trucks aren’t meant to be driven at very high speeds especially with an empty bed.

What does make this a bit more difficult to drive in the city is the overall size of this truck. It’s huge, plus the raised suspension makes it a bit harder to see lower stuff. A 360-camera system would do wonders though the sensors do work. The size though won’t be felt when steering as it is surprisingly very light. It does of course get heavier at higher speeds for more grip but the light feeling makes the Raptor an easy drive for anyone.

Ride quality and comfort is really good. There were only three of us and no cargo in the vehicle which should make it ride a bit more stiff. It did but it was still a lot smoother compared to other trucks thanks to the soft suspension. Bumps are very well absorbed and you won’t even need to slow down much at speed bumps. Considering that this is a performance-oriented truck, it’s surprising to have a very comfortable ride. NVH insulation is quite excellent as well. You can hardly hear any road noise and any other external noises. Road noise will eventually find its way in at around 100 kph but that’s probably because of the all-terrain tires which are normally noisy. Engine noise is what gets in the cabin the most but atleast it sounds nice.

Regarding fuel economy, it isn’t really important in a performance-oriented truck like the Ranger Raptor. We did however clock-in between 7-10 km/l while driving in a mix of light and heavy city traffic. Out on the highway we were only able to get a maximum of 12 km/l which I think could have been better.

You might be wondering, but we weren’t able to take this bad boy off-road. Sad, I know. Maybe once the Philippines is finally safe from COVID-19 then we can have some real fun.

Conclusion

Priced at Php 1,998,000, the Ford Ranger Raptor is definitely a steal. While it may be the only performance-oriented model in its segment and for less than Php 2-million, what it offers is still far from what the next most closely priced pick-up truck can offer at Php 1.830M. The Ranger Raptor definitely offers more than what you need whether for weekend trips or even daily drives to work and other errands. It’s fast, fun to drive, comfortable, and provides an excellent driving experience.

Despite it being the most expensive among its possible competitors, it goes to show that this really is an excellent truck with so many driving on the road today, especially in the provinces. The hype when it was first introduced in the market was definitely worth it.