CIVILIZED BRUTE

Ford’s 2017 F-150 Raptor is purpose-built for high-speed, off-road hijinx, but it’s also shockingly well-behaved on pavement, too

We get it. Ford’s gargantuan F-150 Raptor is big and mean and can scare off anything that gets in its way. With its muscular haunches and massive grille, it’ll spook anyone who sees it in their rear-view mirror.

And, with its steel-reinforced frame, jacked-up suspension and beefy all-terrain tires, it can crawl over boulders, dive over desert dunes — at highway speeds — and plow through sloshy mud, deep ruts and gravel.

The Raptor is a tough cookie. But, if there’s no sand dune on your commute, the 2017 Raptor is shockingly well-behaved on pavement, too, and a kick to drive. The 5,500-pound beast is fast, surging to 60 mph in a mere 5.3 seconds. And it has a features list worthy of a luxury vehicle.

A new high-output, twinturbo 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine is actually more powerful than the last generation’s 6.2-liter V-8, churning up 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque.

Going full-throttle is a blast as the 10-speed transmission ticks through the gears while Raptor leaves a rumbling note through dual exhausts.

Ride quality is surprisingly comfortable on the asphalt, absorbing bumps and dips around town and offering a quiet highway drive. Don’t be scared off by the beefy allterrain BF Goodrich KO2 tires, designed exclusively for the Raptor’s off-road escapades. They’re fine on the road, too.

Inside, seats are firm and well-bolstered, can be trimmed in leather, and are heated and cooled. The dash is broad but its controls are within easy reach, many contained on Raptor’s exclusive center console.

As accommodating as the Raptor is, it has its weaknesses. With a 7-foot-wide body, it’s challenging on narrow city streets and parking lots. Another predictable weakness concerns the mileage: Expect 15 mpg around town, just 18 on the highway.

Raptor is built for, and most appreciated, off the road. A new all-terrain system offers six modes to optimize driving dynamics for harsh conditions. Ford installed Fox Racing shocks, and a Torsen front differential transfers torque to the stable wheel before slippage occurs. Huge skid plates protect the undercarriage.

No question, the Raptor is tough and capable and without a single foe, really. Try and find another truck with this kind of brawn, speed and comfort.