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- Highs Astonishing suspension, bonkers EcoBoost engine, looks like a Transformer.
- Lows Too much off-road truck for most people, cumbersome 10-speed automatic, as wide as a Freightliner.
- Verdict Hands down, the best pickup for pulse-pounding desert running and pure, dumb fun.
Overview
The Raptor is unlike any production pickup on the road. Ford fit the regular F-150 with advanced off-road equipment and widened its aluminum body for a purposeful appearance. A 450-hp twin-turbocharged V-6 is sheathed beneath its skin. Operate its paddle-shifted 10-speed automatic properly and its sophisticated drivetrain will rocket the Raptor to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. Its oversize dimensions make tight spaces treacherous, but an astonishing suspension and comfy cabin mean no territory is untamable and no trip is uncomfortable. Compared with conventional pickups, the Raptor is on another level—providing pure, dumb fun like no other. Spare no expense.
What’s New for 2018?
While the regular F-150 received significant updates for 2018, its alter ego, the Raptor, is mostly the same. The short list of changes includes a revised tailgate design (depending on package, “F-150” or “FORD” is stamped into the surface) and restyled taillights. There are also three new colors: Lead Foot, Guard, and Race Red. These replace Ruby Red and Avalanche for 2018. A new 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo is now optional instead of the Sony audio system that was available on 2017 models.
Trims and Options We’d Choose
- F-150 Raptor: $51,080
The Raptor doesn’t make sense for everyone; there’s the excellent Ford F-150 for those who never leave the tarmac. The Raptor can be too cumbersome in traffic-packed cities and requires patience when parking. While the F-150 XLT SuperCab 4x4 with the FX4 Off-Road package is more user-friendly, we prefer the more expensive Raptor for the enjoyment value alone. We’d opt for the spacious SuperCrew cab for an extra $2985 and the 801A package, which adds upgraded infotainment, interior features, and more, including: 8.0-inch Sync 3 touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated 10-way power-adjustable front seats, and a leather-trimmed interior. We’d also choose the spray-in bedliner and the 4.10 Torsen front differential for improved trailblazing, and we’d splurge on the awesome panoramic sunroof.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Attention: No F-150 Raptors were harmed during this test. Jokes aside, Ford’s pickup is pretty much a street-legal Trophy Truck. Its astonishing suspension allows composed cruising on the road as well as amazing control when you’re barreling across the Mojave Desert or soaring over state-park sand dunes. Despite a cushy suspension and oversized knobby tires, the Raptor is remarkably quick on pavement. The SuperCrew we tested clawed from zero to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, embarrassing all rivals. It feels even faster off-road, where it blasts over anything in its path and encourages inadvisable antics. Around town, the engine suffers from mild turbo lag and delayed downshifts. Driving in Sport mode helps by increasing throttle sensitivity and holding gears longer. The paddle shifters on the steering wheel look sweet, but slapping up and down all 10 of the transmission’s gears can be—dare we say it?—tedious. We admired the Raptor’s pothole-smoothing, family-transporting duality so much that we added one to our long-term fleet. The truck’s long-travel suspension isn’t unstable, but it takes a few miles to adjust to its roly-poly nature. Its suppleness is appreciated on the roughest roads, where the Raptor floats along like a Mercedes-Maybach. It’s pleasantly poised on the highway, too, and the oversized tires are surprisingly quiet. The Raptor’s natural habitat is, obviously, unpaved surfaces. It attacks two-tracks and rocky mounds with the ease of a Toyota Prius pulling into a parking spot. The electrically assisted steering feels heftier than the regular F-150's and provide improved feedback.
Towing and Payload Capacity
While the Raptor is too much truck for most people, its max tow and payload ratings should be sufficient. The four-door SuperCrew cab can tow up to 8000 pounds and carry up to 1200 pounds in its bed; the shorter SuperCab manages 6000 pounds and 1000 pounds, respectively.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The Raptor's rip-roaring power and unrivaled capability aren't diminished by poor fuel economy—at least not compared with its thirsty crew of competitors. Its EPA ratings also align with those of V-8 rivals. In our real-world testing, the Raptor matched its 18-mpg highway estimate, a number bettered by only one of its rivals. No competitor we tested exceeded its EPA figure, while the Nissan Titan and the GMC Sierra 1500 underperformed theirs by 3 mpg.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Raptor's comfy, laid-back interior is at odds with its macho visage. It's utilitarian in base form, but available features such as heated and cooled front seats, leather seating surfaces, and unique color choices can add a touch of luxury. The Raptor's 5.5-foot cargo bed is as useful as those of its short-bed rivals, and its interior cubby storage is the best among rivals. Those needing a longer bed that's easier for loading should consider the regular F-150.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The F-150 Raptor’s available Sync 3 infotainment system is robust and easy to use. While it supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot and speedier infotainment response times are reserved for better rivals. The standard six-speaker stereo has a single-disc CD player, Bluetooth connectivity, and a complimentary six-month subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio. A 10-speaker Sony stereo is optional, as is a Kicker subwoofer.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)
The Raptor does its best to avoid passenger extinction with excellent crash-test ratings. While rivals have similar options for active safety, Ford’s full-size pickups offer both lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control. Key safety features include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Available lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Available blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The Raptor has competitive limited and powertrain warranties that are only bettered by the Nissan Titan's 5 years or 100,000 miles. The Ford doesn't offer complimentary scheduled maintenance, unlike the Toyota Tundra and the GM pickups.
- Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
- No complimentary maintenance
