The offroad scene sure is an interesting beast. What is a dream rig for one, is another’s worst nightmare. The one thing we can all agree on, though, is that we love our offroading.
Offroading is also pretty subjective in a sense; as in, there’s more than one way to skin a cat. While it’s typically enjoyed slowly in low range, it doesn’t need to be. You can do it faster sometimes.
Love your slow offroad tracks? But occasionally get an itch that can only be scratched with adrenaline? Have we got the car for you.
You’re going to have to find something to sell
What you need to do is have a look around the house and see what you can sell. The boat, that rusty old box trailer, the bicycle you bought back in lockdown to get out of the house; sell it all. Raise about $95,000 and come with us. You won’t regret it.
Stroll into your nearest Ford dealer and place an order for a new Ranger Raptor. It’s the best offroad vehicle (soon to be) on the market, bar none. 292kW twin turbo petrol V6, 10 speed auto, and all the tech you could possibly dream up all jammed into a dual cab ute weighing under 2500kg. It’s pure happiness in vehicle form.
You get to choose from five different shades of monochrome, and two hero colours – Blue Lightning and Sedona Orange. In typical Raptor style, the interior is smattered with orange accents in a fashion more akin to a European hypercar than a utility vehicle. That theme continues with the use of microsuede on the seats, doors and dash – it really does have a Lamborghini feel to it. Sitting in the cabin of the Raptor really sets the tone for what lies beneath the aggressively styled exterior.
“It really does have a Lamborghini feel to it”
What do you get for your money?
The Raptor gets all the tech of the top-spec Ranger, and then some. There are seven selectable drive modes, including the soon to be legendary ‘Baja’ mode, which sets all systems to all out maximum performance. It’s equipped with an electronically controlled exhaust system with four options; Quiet, Normal, Sport and Baja, which is again the highest performance option.
Being essentially a purebred offroader, Ford have also equipped the Raptor with front and rear electronic diff locks and added a feature they call ‘Trail Control’. This replaces downhill assent control, and basically behaves like a low-speed cruise control. You set your speed, and just focus on steering.
Now you know about a few of the notable features, strap yourself into the F-22 Raptor-inspired seat, and start her up. The seats are more than just easy on the eye; they are built to contain you both laterally and vertically (like the seat of the F-22), because Raptors are built to get airborne.
How does it drive?
Select ‘Normal’ drive mode, and you’ve got yourself a regular dual cab ute that’ll do 11.5l/100km and carry a load of tools in the back. The quality of the on-road drive belies the bulk of the vehicle, and feels just like a sports car. The FOX 2.5 internal bypass live-valve shocks adapt in real time, resulting in next to no body roll or pitching. Once you’re done with daily driver duty, ditch the tools and head for your nearest dirt road. The bumpier the better.
Select ‘Baja’ mode on the Ranger Raptor’s centre console, and take a deep breath. You’re about to experience something seriously unique. You’ll instantly notice the exhaust get louder and deeper. In the background the traction control is easing off, and the shocks are preparing for anything you might be able to throw at it. Launch off the line, and you’ll notice three things immediately; 1) it barely squats down under acceleration (we told you the shocks were prepared for anything), 2) you get serious traction considering you’re at wide open throttle in a 400hp car on the dirt, and 3) this thing is RAPID.
Can I daily drive it?
Let’s not forget that the Ranger Raptor is still a genuine 4X4. It’s more than capable of tackling tricky low range obstacles. In fact, it is better than most at that too. With Trail Control, diff locks front and rear, and drive modes to suit all conditions, it’s a true triple threat.
It accelerates through the gears like nothing else on the market and soaks up bumps like they simply don’t exist. The brakes are equally as effective at slowing you down as the 583nm are at getting you going. Once you’ve got your fix, switch back to normal mode and drive home as if you’re not steering an actual offroad race car. The road manners are just as impressive as the offroad ability.
The adrenaline rush you get from this car is truly unique. We’ve all got a bucket list of cars that we’d love to own, or even to just drive once. The Ranger Raptor is so unbelievably good that it should be on that list. It’s in a class of its own, and there’s no evidence that any other manufacturer can get anywhere near it. We sure wish they’d try, though.
