Why the Ford Ranger Raptor is the muscle car for today

A practical body, enormously powerful engine and blokey appeal combine in a model that reinvents Australian performance cars.

Man’s new best friend

Move over Rover and let Raptor take over. There aren’t many more masculine vehicles on – and off – the road than the new hero of Ford’s popular Ranger ute range.

Our test car arrived in “look at me” bright orange with muscular haunches and a Kenworth-like front grille emblazoned with FORD lettering.

The 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor looks mean.

A big alloy bash plate hints at the off-road capability, while vents on the bonnet and side guards suggest there’s something special lurking under the tough-guy sheet metal.

LEDs and projector headlamps give the front end a more modern look, while the rear tailgate is stamped Ranger, with a Raptor badge above. Mid-life crisis, meet your match.

Check your bank balance before you get too excited

This is no bare-bones, leave out the vanity mirror, tradie special. While the cheapest Ranger starts at about $40,000 drive-away, the Raptor will set you back roughly $92,000.

Why? For a start the standard 150kW/500Nm four-cylinder diesel engine is replaced by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 putting out 292kW and 583Nm.

The Ranger Raptor isn’t cheap.

The chassis is strengthened to cope with the rigours of high-speed off-road driving, while sophisticated coil-spring suspension is complemented by advanced shock absorbers that adjust their damping depending on the size and frequency of bumps you encounter.

The wheels are wider apart for better stability and chunky tyres bite harder into the dirt for more grip.

Raptor is to Ranger what an HSV was to a bog-standard Commodore.

The fun factor is dialled up to ten

From the minute you press the start button, you know this is no ordinary ute. The exhaust note sounds menacing in standard mode under light throttle but when you Select “sport” or “Baja” and floor the pedal it becomes feral.

The boy-racer theme extends to paddle-shifters that allow manual control of the ten-speed auto. Not that they are really necessary as the transmission does an impressive job of plucking the right gear for maximum drive.

Dual cab utes have replaced sedans in many driveways.

The V6 delivers rapid progress, although it’s a big heavy vehicle so it doesn’t feel V8 quick off the mark. It also likes a drink. The official average is 11.5 litres per 100km but that jumps to a claimed 14L/100km in the city.

In reality, if you drive it like you want to, you’ll be headed for the high teens.

There are some things it can’t do

The Raptor is more capable than other Rangers off-road, courtesy of extra ground clearance, low-range gearing and locking differentials, but there are compromises in other areas.

Those looking to tow or lug a load may be disappointed, as the Raptor can only tow 2500kg (a tonne less than diesel versions) and carry 717kg in the tray.

A high-tech cabin looks and feels great.

The diesel V6 has more torque and uses almost a third less fuel, making it a better companion for boat and caravan owners. The Raptor’s chunky tyres are great off-road but skatey on wet bitumen. This is not a car to lend to an inexperienced driver.

The cabin is foreman material

High-end utes appeal to well-heeled tradies because they can spend $90,000 on a set of wheels and still be one of the boys when they arrive at the worksite.

Make no mistake, though, the Raptor is more show pony than workhorse.

Sporty leather bucket seats with embossed Raptor logos leave you in no doubt this is the top dog in the yard, while the huge tablet-like centre screen and digital driver display match those in high-end SUVs.

Orange is the new red for sports models and the Raptor has orange stitching on the seats and steering wheel as well as orange surrounds for the aircon vents.

There’s no hosing out this cabin.

Originally published as Why the Ford Ranger Raptor is the muscle car for today