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2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Review: Serious Off-Road Performance, With Real Trade-Offs

The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor is a fast, highly equipped off-road truck—but its roughly $57,000 historical launch price comes with lower towing capacity, fuel economy and pavement grip than practical-minded buyers may want.
Entry998 Date Time5 min MechanicCarCody Team

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The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor is a fast, specialized off-road midsize truck—not an all-around value winner. Its 405-hp twin-turbo V6, long-travel suspension, locking differentials and 33-inch all-terrain tires make it unusually well equipped for rough, high-speed dirt. But its historical launch price was about $57,000, its maximum tow rating is 5,510 pounds, and its off-road tires give up some grip on pavement. It makes the strongest case for its price if you will use the hardware; the claim that it has “no competition” is not established by the available comparison data.

What the 2024 Ranger Raptor is built to do

Ford positioned the U.S.-market 2024 Ranger Raptor as the most powerful Ranger and a Ford Performance-developed off-road truck. It is a four-door crew cab with a five-foot bed. Its defining purpose is not simply to look rugged: the powertrain, suspension, tires and recovery-minded hardware are aimed at driving quickly over rough ground as well as handling slower, more technical terrain.

Ford’s May 2023 announcement describes the Raptor as engineered for off-road capability. The company said it would be assembled at Michigan Assembly in Wayne, Michigan. Ford’s 2024 Ranger Raptor announcement

What did the 2024 Ranger Raptor cost?

The available prices are historical U.S. launch and test figures, not current used-market values. Cars.com reported a launch starting price of $56,960 including destination in 2023. Car and Driver’s March 2024 test listed a $57,065 base price and $58,405 as tested. Its test truck included $750 in graphics, a $495 spray-in bedliner and a $95 keypad. The figures differ by source and timing; neither establishes what a used Raptor costs today or what a particular dealer will charge.

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#1 Best Overall
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At roughly $57,000 historically, the Raptor asks buyers to pay for specialized equipment and performance. Whether that is worthwhile depends on whether you want the suspension and drivetrain for rough-terrain driving. If your priority is maximum towing, payload, fuel economy or pavement traction, the Raptor’s equipment may be the wrong use of your budget. Cars.com’s reported launch price · Car and Driver’s March 2024 test and pricing

Powertrain and off-road equipment

405-hp twin-turbo V6 and four-wheel drive

Ford specifies a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 tuned by Ford Performance, rated at 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. It works with a 10-speed SelectShift automatic and an advanced four-wheel-drive system with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case and locking front and rear differentials. Ford says Baja mode uses an anti-turbo-lag strategy, intended to help keep power available during fast off-road driving. Ford’s specifications and description of Baja mode

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Long-travel suspension and selectable modes

The Raptor uses aluminum upper and lower control arms, long-travel suspension, and a Watts-link rear setup with trailing arms. Its FOX 2.5-inch Live Valve internal-bypass shocks adjust damping according to drive mode. The modes are Normal, Tow/Haul, Sport, Slippery, Off-Road, Rock Crawl and Baja. Trail Control is also included to help manage low-speed off-road driving.

Protection, tires and wheels

Underneath, the truck has a steel front bash plate and shields for the engine, transfer case and fuel tank. Ford lists 33-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO3 tires on 17-inch wheels as standard, with optional beadlock-capable wheels. Car and Driver’s tested tire size was LT285/70R17. If replacing tires, verify the precise fitment and load rating for the individual truck rather than assuming a size alone is sufficient.

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Rank #3
Sale
Matchbox 1974 Ford F-100 Ranger Die Cast Car Red & White
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  • NUMBERED COLLECTIBLE: Numbered 69 out of 125, making it a uniquely identifiable piece for any Matchbox or Ford truck collection.
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How capable is it off road?

The hardware points to a truck that is especially suited to fast dirt and desert terrain: the long-travel suspension and electronically controlled FOX dampers are designed to manage repeated impacts, while Baja mode, four-wheel drive and the V6 support sustained off-road pace. The locking front and rear differentials, Rock Crawl mode and underbody protection also serve slower, more technical routes where traction and obstacle protection matter.

Car and Driver’s Dan Edmunds described the ride as settled and at times supple, and reported strong composure at high speed in the desert. Those observations are from one publication’s drive and should not be treated as a guarantee for every surface, load or driver. The central distinction is that this is not just a truck with a powerful engine: its expense and compromises are tied to a specialized suspension and traction package.

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How quick is it, and what does that cost on pavement?

In Car and Driver’s 2024 instrumented test, the Raptor accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds and ran the quarter-mile in 14.1 seconds at 97 mph. The same test recorded a 218-foot stop from 70 mph and 0.69 g on the skidpad. The review noted that the all-terrain tires that help off road reduce grip on pavement. These are results from one test vehicle, not universal performance guarantees; they illustrate the trade-off between off-road tire choice and on-road grip. Car and Driver’s instrumented results and driving impressions

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Towing, payload and fuel economy

Car and Driver reports a maximum tow rating of 5,510 pounds and payload of 1,411 pounds for the Ranger Raptor. For comparison, its report lists 7,500 pounds of maximum towing for a standard 2024 Ranger. Buyers who regularly tow near the limit should verify the specific truck’s ratings and account for passengers, cargo and trailer weight; the Raptor is not the Ranger to choose for the highest stated tow capacity.

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Best Value
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Car and Driver reports EPA estimates of 16 mpg city, 18 highway and 17 combined. Those estimates, plus the truck’s specialized tires and performance focus, make it a less natural choice for buyers prioritizing fuel economy. Car and Driver’s reported towing, payload and EPA fuel-economy figures

Is the Ranger Raptor worth its price?

The Raptor’s case is strongest for someone who will regularly use its high-speed off-road suspension, locking differentials, protective hardware and powerful engine, while still wanting a four-door midsize pickup for daily driving. Its pace is a genuine benefit, and the instrumented acceleration result backs up the impression that it is unusually quick for its class.

It is a weaker fit if “best” means the most practical Ranger. The standard Ranger’s higher reported tow rating, the Raptor’s modest EPA estimates, and the reduced pavement grip noted in testing are meaningful costs of its off-road focus. The historical price data establish that it was an expensive trim at launch; they do not establish current value in the used market. No exhaustive, same-date comparison with other performance midsize pickups is established here, so “no competition” should be read as a sales-style thesis, not a proven ranking.

Verdict

The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor is a compelling specialist: fast, well equipped for rough terrain and still sized for everyday use. Its price is easiest to justify for buyers who will take advantage of its suspension and off-road capability. For regular heavy towing, better efficiency or stronger paved-road tire grip, a standard Ranger or another less specialized truck is likely a better match.

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Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 2
Maisto 1:24 W/B Special Edition Trucks - 2017 Ford Raptor
Maisto 1:24 W/B Special Edition Trucks - 2017 Ford Raptor
True-to-scale detail; Rubber tires & detailed exterior.; Made of Diecast with some plastic parts
$37.90
Bestseller No. 4
2019 Ford Ranger 1:24 Maisto Blue Miniature
2019 Ford Ranger 1:24 Maisto Blue Miniature
+3 years; Collectible Miniature; Made of metal; Rubber tires; For collecting or playing
$39.99
Bestseller No. 5
Maisto New 1:24 W/B Special Trucks Edition - Blue 2017 Ford Raptor Diecast Model Car
Maisto New 1:24 W/B Special Trucks Edition - Blue 2017 Ford Raptor Diecast Model Car
Maisto 1:24 W/B SPECIAL TRUCKS EDITION COLLECTION; By Maisto; Scale: 1:24 DieCast Metal With Some Plastic Parts
$49.75

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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