A dual cab ute that is as adept in mud as it is on the road may have just become Australia’s quickest affordable four-door sports vehicle.
The Ford Ranger Raptor, with its 3.0 liter twin-turbo V6 engine producing 292 kilowatts of power, has as much grunt as practically any V8 car and can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in less than six seconds despite its weight.
With a price tag of $85,490, the most expensive Next Generation Ranger is perhaps Australia’s best four-door performance car that doesn’t cost six figures, and it can travel off-road with ease owing to improved cruise control technology.
This ute has the potential to dominate the performance arena formerly occupied by high-speed cars, and there are a large number of Australians on a nine-month waiting list.
Down below is a video
A ute is now perhaps Australia’s fastest affordable four-door performance vehicle (pictured is a Ford Ranger Raptor at the Sirromet Winery in Mount Cotton, Brisbane)
Prior to the departure of the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore, the Chrysler 300 SRT with 350kw of V8 power was the automobile of choice for petrol heads.
However, Chrysler no longer sells American muscle cars in Australia in favor of Ram pickup trucks.
The Toyota LandCruiser twin-turbo V6 and the Nissan Patrol V8 are two large four-wheel drives that offer 200 to 300 kilowatts of power and four doors for less than $100,000.
With 292 kilowatts of raw power, the Ford Ranger Raptor can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in less than six seconds.
Oversized American pickup trucks like Ford, Chevrolet, and Ram feature engines with approximately 300 kilowatts of power, but when fully-optioned, they often cost six figures or must be converted to right-hand drive.
And not everyone wants to drive something nearly six meters long, leaving the Raptor as the high-performance ute without the size that isn’t just for construction workers.
Holden Special Vehicles’ idea for a V8 Colorado was canceled when General Motors discontinued the Holden brand in 2020, rendering this Ford the only high-performance pickup in Australia.
While it is manufactured in Thailand, the Raptor, along with the other Ranger models and the Everest four-wheel drive, were all created in Melbourne and constructed on the T6 chassis, making them the only cars still designed from scratch in Australia.
A high-speed rally drive over dirt courses at Brisbane’s Sirromet Winery at Mount Cotton highlighted the Raptor’s superiority on muck while seated in leather racing seats.
Daily Mail Australia has driven both the outgoing Raptor and the new model, both of which have a superior Fox shocks racing suspension that absorbs bumps and corrugations exceptionally well.
With a price tag of $85,490, the most expensive Next Generation Ranger is perhaps the best performance car with four doors that doesn’t cost more than $100,000 – and it’s easy to drive off-road.
Daily Mail Australia tested both the outgoing Raptor and the new model, both of which have improved racing Fox shocks suspension that absorb bumps and corrugations remarkably well.
Unlike the previous top-of-the-line Raptor model, which went on sale for the first time in 2018, this one includes position-sensitive damping in the suspension, which automatically monitors the track or road surface beneath the wheels.
After speeding up to 80 km/h, the ride was much smoother and more even, especially on those muddy turns.
The upgraded model also performed a difficult muddy turn at high speed with greater comfort and without drifting.
This 10-speed automatic is also equipped with anti-lag technology, making it faster around the dirt track than the previous model, which had the typically delayed acceleration that plagues turbos.
This pickup truck has the potential to occupy the performance niche formerly occupied by high-speed sedans, and the nine-month-long waiting list is testament to its popularity.
The new Raptor’s 292kw, 3.0L, V6 EcoBoost twin-turbo engine obliterates the original Raptor’s 157kw, 2.0L, bi-turbo four-cylinder engine, making it comparable to the mid-1990s base model, straight-six Ford Falcon.
During hot laps on the winery property, Thomas Randle was able to reach 120 km/h off-road in a new Raptor, which was quick enough to kick up some muck.
In comparison, the optional single-turbo V6 engine available on the new Ranger XLT, Sport, and WildTrak variants offers 184kw of power.
At $85,490, the new Raptor is more expensive than the previous model, which sold for $77,690, bringing it closer in price to the new Wildtrak, which retails for $70,190.
Thomas Randle, a Supercars racer who survived testicular cancer two years ago, reached 120km/h off-road in a new Raptor while giving journalists and social media influencers hot laps on the vineyard property.
It’s like comparing apples with oranges, he told Daily Mail Australia, referring to the contrast between the previous generation and the Next Generation Raptor.
“We’re off-road on gravel and mud, and as a driver who knows what to expect from a vehicle, I feel very in control of this vehicle.”
It is a true all-terrain vehicle.
Unlike the previous flagship Raptor model, which went on sale for the first time in 2018, this one incorporates position sensitive dampers in the suspension that automatically monitor the position of the wheels.
By turning a dial on the centre console, Randle drove the rally car in the 4H, or four high, mode.
The Raptor may be driven in Normal, Sport, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, Sand, Baja, or Rock Crawl modes for off-road excursions.
Thomas Randle remarked that comparing the old and new Raptors was akin to comparing apples and oranges.
The Baja mode, named after the Mexican state, resembles safari rally driving the most, combining speed and control.
Daily Mail Australia also tested the 4L, or four low, mode with the hill descent function, which allows a driver with no prior four-wheel driving experience to down a very steep incline without having to brake or accelerate.
The driver just uses a switch on the steering wheel to set the off-road cruise control to a walking speed of 5 km/h, with the feature shutting itself off when the accelerator is pressed.
The off-road cruise control function is also advantageous for climbing steep hills in the wilderness.
As the range-topping Ranger, the Raptor includes a larger 12-inch screen with camera views of the road – or off-road – ahead and a 360-degree perspective.
From the comfort of leather racing seats, a high-speed rally drive on dirt courses at Brisbane’s Sirromet Winery revealed the Raptor’s superiority on mud.
Off-roading is a cross between cruising and being an IT specialist, with a highly automated driving experience – where the driver selects a mode on a large screen and the vehicle does the work.
This makes it easy to select where to position the wheels, especially on a muddy track with deep grooves.
It also indicates that Ford is adopting the Tesla dashboard design in which a huge screen dominates the dashboard and there are no buttons located above the air conditioning controls.
Apple Car Play is wonderful for seeing a reverse camera or a massive Google Maps display, but it is less intuitive for changing radio stations.
Off-roading is a cross between cruising and being an IT professional, with a highly automated driving experience – the driver merely selects a mode on a large screen and lets the machine do the work.
Daily Mail Australia also tested the 4L, or four low, mode with the hill descent function, which allows a driver with no prior four-wheel-driving experience to descend a very steep incline without having to brake or accelerate.
Trail Control is a new off-road cruise control feature introduced on the 2017 Raptor. The driver sets a pace below 32 km/h, and the pickup truck handles acceleration and braking over challenging terrain.
Trail Control is a new off-road cruise control option for the 2017 Raptor. The driver selects a speed below 32 km/h, and the pickup manages the accelerating and braking over challenging terrain.
This function made driving at low speeds on a highly bumpy and uneven road a breeze, but for driving through enormous puddles after heavy rain, conventional acceleration with intense attention proved superior.
On the slick roads surrounding Mount Cotton, the 4A or all-wheel drive mode offers excellent traction in the rain.
A trip through the Redland Bay region also provided an opportunity to test the new Raptor’s acceleration, with one tester reaching 100km/h in seven seconds, though less than six seconds is possible.
Although the Raptor is a high-performance pickup, it lacks the towing and carrying capacities of other Rangers.
It has a tray payload of 717kg, however the bestselling XLT and Wildtrak variants have carrying capacity of one tonne – either as a diesel V6 or bi-turbo four-cylinder.
The Raptor, the lone petrol engine in the diesel-only Ranger lineup, has a reduced towing capability of 2.5 tonnes compared to the other Ford utes’ 3.5-tonne towing capacity.
Although the Raptor is a high-performance pickup, it lacks the towing and carrying capacities of other Rangers. It has a tray capacity of 717kg, but the bestselling XLT and Wildtrak variants have carrying capacities of one tonne – either as a diesel V6 or bi-turbo fours.
Unlike other Rangers, the Raptor lacks a rear step integrated into the rear bumper, possibly for aesthetic reasons as Ford introduces the first all-new shape Ranger since 2011.
Unlike past Rangers, the Raptor lacks a rear step built into the bumper, likely for cosmetic reasons as Ford introduces the first Ranger with a completely new design since 2011.
The new Raptor has a plastic dashboard beyond the center console, whereas the previous model featured a leather finish with stitching and a screen that was significantly smaller.
On the new model, a conventional handbrake has been replaced by an electronic, finger-operated handbrake.
The Toyota HiLux consistently outsells the Ford Ranger, which is only available with a four-cylinder engine.
Ford is adopting the Tesla dashboard design in which a huge screen dominates the dashboard and there are no buttons above the climate settings. This is fantastic for displaying a reverse camera or a map, but it is less straightforward for changing radio stations.
As Australians move away from typical passenger cars, rendering gasoline-powered sedans and hot hatches relics of the past, drivers desiring speed and four doors must settle for a vehicle with more ground clearance and off-roading prowess. The Raptor is the answer for high performance
With significant demand for the Raptor and other V6 Rangers, it is only a matter of time until Toyota reintroduces a V6 to the HiLux lineup, but it remains to be seen if a high-performance variant will be offered.
The Isuzu D-Max is offered with a V6 engine, although it is not near as powerful as Ford’s V8 rival.
The Raptor weights 2.4 tons, but its performance is equivalent to a significantly lighter turbo hot hatch such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Ford Australia is abandoning the high-performance, similarly quick Focus ST hatchback.
Dick Johnson, 77, a Ford touring car legend who previously raced Falcons at Bathurst, was among those who test-drove a new Raptor at Mount Cotton.
The Raptor weights 2.6 tons, but its acceleration is equivalent to that of a somewhat lighter turbo hot hatch like the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
As Australians move away from typical passenger cars, rendering gasoline-powered sedans and hot hatches relics of the past, drivers desiring speed and four doors must settle for a vehicle with more ground clearance and off-roading prowess.
The Raptor is the high-performance solution if you do not require a carrying capacity of one tonne.
Daily Mail Australia visited Brisbane as a Ford guest.
Complete Ford Ranger pricing
$35,930 for an XL 4×2 single crew cab with a 2.0-liter single turbo and a six-speed automatic transmission.
$38,430 for an XL 4×2 super crew cab with a 2.0-liter single turbo and a six-speed automatic transmission.
XL 4×2 double crew cab, 2.0 litre single turbo, six-speed automatic: $40,430
XL 4×2 double cab pick-up, 2.0 litre single turbo, six-speed automatic: $42,330
XL 4×4 single crew cab, 2.0 litre bi-turbo, 10-speed automatic: $47,030
XL 4X4 super crew cab, 2.0 litre bi-turbo, 10-speed automatic: $49,530
XL 4X4 super pick-up, 2.0 litre bi-turbo, 10-speed automatic: $51,430
XL 4X4 double crew cab, 2.0 litre single turbo, six-speed automatic: $48,030
XL 4X4 double crew cab, 2.0 litre bi-turbo, 10-speed automatic: $51,530
XL 4X4 double pickup, 2.0-liter single turbo, 6-speed automatic: $49,930
XL 4X4 double pick-up, 2.0 litre bi-turbo, 10-speed automatic: $53,430
XLS 4×2 double pick-up, 2.0 litre bi-turbo, 10-speed automatic: $46,730
XLS 4×4 double pick-up, 2.0 litre bi-turbo, 10-speed automatic: $54,330
XLT 4×2 double pick-up, 2.0 litre bi-turbo, 10-speed automatic: $53,990
XLT 4×4 super pick-up, 2.0 litre bi-turbo, 10-speed automatic: $59,190
XLT 4X4 double pick-up, 2.0 litre bi-turbo, 10-speed automatic: $61,190
XLT 4X4 double crew cab, 3.0 litre V6, 10-speed automatic: $62,290
XLT 4X4 double pick-up, 3.0 litre V6, 10-speed automatic: $64,190
SPORT 4×4 double pick-up, 2.0 litre bi-turbo, 10-speed automatic: $63,690
SPORT 4×4 double pick-up, 3.0 litre V6, 10-speed automatic $66,690
WILDTRAK 4×4 double pick-up, 2.0 litre bi-turbo, 10-speed automatic: $67,190
WILDTRAK 4×4 double pickup, 3.0 liter V6, 10-speed auto: $70,190
RAPTOR 4×4 double pick-up, 3.0 litre V6 EcoBoost (petrol), 10-speed automatic: $85,490