I currently drive a F150 Raptor and am looking to downsize now that I live in a city. Originally I was looking at only the Ranger Raptor, but now that I see the Lariat has the 2.7, I’ve started to spec out some options for that.
I don’t off road much (some, but not much), however the engine (especially low end torque, merging on to highways is a breeze) and adaptive shocks (hit those train tracks at whatever speed you want) are my favorite part of my current truck.
Will the 2.7 Lariat be a disappointment and I should just go for the Raptor, or will it hit my main check boxes?
There are no 2.7’s within 100 miles for me to test drive, btw.
The 2.7L option isn’t available yet; I’ve heard it will be released in the summer. I’m eager to see how it performs in the Ranger, but we’ll have to wait a bit longer until the test units are released.
I test drove a 2.3, owned a 2.7 Bronco, and now I have a Ranger Raptor.
I think the 2.7 is the best option under 50k. It has plenty of power, and you’ll be able to get some different shocks soon. The 3.0 and Baja mode sound incredible, though.
I generally prefer the V6. More cylinders mean the engine has to do less work to make power.
The 3.0 tows well, and even if it has a lower payload and tow rating, I have access to an F350, so my choice was pretty straightforward. All the Raptor features were about 7k more than ordering a 2023 Lariat Tremor, and now I have the latest generation. I think the Raptor is well worth the price at MSRP.
If I were in your shoes, I’d go with the 2.3 Lariat. You can add the aesthetic mods you want for a fraction of the cost and then do some bolt-ons. You can reliably boost it by another 85 hp and 100 lb-ft of torque, or gain 50 hp with the Ford-approved tune to maintain your warranty.
The Lariat starts at $50,000, and I’m not interested in paying that just for leather seats, fancy headlights, and a nice stereo. I’m sure the V6 option will only drive the price up even more.
You’re looking at a 90 hp difference compared to the 2.7. A 315 hp truck is more than enough for city driving. If you plan to go off-roading every weekend, then the Raptor would be worth it. I’d hate to see another Raptor just being used as a pavement princess.