Raptor on the loose
2021 Ford F-150 Raptor gets update and major competition.
When you drive as many vehicles as I drive a year, it’s rare when things stand out. It’s even rarer when time spent in a vehicle lingers over the years. But that’s exactly the case when I drove and reviewed the 2017 Ford Raptor. This was everything I wanted a truck to ever be — fast on the road, but incredibly capable off the road. It was, as I recall fondly, the total package.
So, obviously, this week’s tester has big shoes to fill, as I’m in the new iteration of the Ford F-150 Raptor. The 2021 Raptor is the third generation of the Ford Performance pickup truck and, like the other F-150s in this model year, gets a major overhaul.
Although the looks are new and improved (more on that in a bit), the first thing to discuss is the performance. No, the Raptor doesn’t have a V8, and that’s one knock on it by some. Although my take is it doesn’t really need it, as it has ample power and is faster than a regular F-150 by a lot.
Ford’s high output V6 engine does amazing work of propelling the Raptor down the highway, off the line and over rugged terrain. The 3.5-liter twinturbo V6 EcoBoost engine yields 450 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque. Those numbers may look small compared to its main competitor, the Ram TRX, which has more than 700 horsepower.
But the Raptor drives bigger and badder than the numbers might indicate, and there’s even a nice, tuned growl emitting from the tail pipe. From a performance standpoint, the Raptor is unlike any other Ford truck on the road. For 2022, Ford will produce a V8-power Raptor called the Raptor R.
For 2021, the Raptor boasts new looks that fall in line with the rest of the 14th-gen F-150. But the Raptor has graphics and aesthetics that are exclusive to it, including on the hood graphics and over the fenders. Also, the Raptor has its own mean, aggressive-looking grille. The Raptor logo is emblazoned on the hood scoop, as well as the tail gate. Slick decals cover the hood, and there’s a Ford Performance emblem along with an American flag near the rear wheel. All in all, it’s a well-assembled and completed look that shows this isn’t just an F-150, but a truck that oozes machismo.
Inside, the special Raptor touches continue with the logo prominently displayed on the interior. The best thing about this 2021 Raptor that is so much
better than the 2017 is that it gets all the great upgrades that the regular F-150 gets too, including a fold-flat work surface. The gear shift retracts with the push of a button, and a compartment from the center console folds up and over to create a flat workspace, perfect for laptops and paperwork.
A 12-inch touchscreen runs Ford’s brand-new Sync 4 system, which makes it one of the best infotainment systems in the industry now. There is underseat storage in the massive second row, too.
Another small feature that might go unnoticed are the adjustable pedals. This helps the driver get into the perfect driving position so they can go flying down the road, or traverse down a rocky hillside. The Raptor is all things it hopes to be in that regard.
The Raptor has a starting price of $65,840, which makes it significantly more expensive than most F-150 trims. The Raptor, with its four-wheel drive, high-performance engine and 10-speed automatic transmissions, tries hard to improve upon fuel economy, and it does, versus the 2017 version ( just barely). As such, the EPA rating for the 2021 F-150 Raptor is 14 mpg/city and 18 mpg/highway. Even with high fuel prices, you just don’t care about how much gas you’re consuming because this truck is just so much fun.
Even if you’re not a truck person, the Raptor is a pickup that will always be memorable and enjoyable. I thought the 2017 was the best pickup truck I’ve ever driven, and now the 2021 version is making me reconsider that.