Why I went with the Ranger Raptor… my simple take

Here’s my new ride: https://postimg.cc/qgCC25KW. I thought I’d share my thoughts about why I picked the Ranger Raptor over a couple of other options.

I was looking for a mid-sized truck because I needed something with a bed for hauling plants, kayaks, and other gear. My wife was out of town, so I figured it was time to make a decision. After test-driving the Ranger Raptor and a ZR2, I knew the Raptor was the one for me. I didn’t test-drive a TRD Pro, but I checked one out, and the $73k price tag made me cancel my deposit.

Here’s my breakdown:

Curb Appeal

  • Ranger: At first, I wasn’t a fan of the design, but after seeing it in person and spending hours at the dealership, it grew on me. Now I love it. The headlights are my favorite, and the lift makes me feel like I’m driving a full-sized truck. My only regret is getting the graphic package.
  • ZR2: It’s a good-looking truck but a bit too busy in the front. The headlights and hood scoop weren’t my style.
  • Tacoma: Used to be my favorite, but now I think it’s over-designed. The rear slanting lines just don’t do it for me anymore.

Performance

  • Ranger: Twin Turbo V6, 405 HP, and 430 lb-ft of torque. It’s quick, and I love the sport exhaust mode.
  • ZR2: It felt sluggish with its 310 HP and 430 lb-ft of torque. It handled braking well, though.
  • Tacoma: Hybrid with 326 HP and 465 lb-ft of torque. It’s good on paper but overpriced for what you get.

Interior

  • Ranger: My favorite. The red accents and bolstered seats are great. The vertical screen makes navigation easy, but the seatbelt reminder is annoying.
  • ZR2: Nice and clean design, but not as bold as the Raptor.
  • Tacoma: The camo seat design looks cool, but the spring seats seem like a gimmick.

MPG

  • Not a big deal for me. It’s a truck.

Off-road

  • Haven’t tested it yet, but I’m excited to take it to the dunes in Michigan.

That’s my quick take. Happy to answer questions!

MPG

Not a big deal for me. It’s a truck.

Some people love chasing 0-60 times or drooling over horsepower numbers. Personally, I like beating the EPA’s MPG estimates. I haven’t driven anything I couldn’t beat by at least 5 MPG.

@Kennedy
The problem is that I rarely drive on roads where I can go 55 MPH for long stretches. Doing 70 instead of 55 kills fuel economy in trucks and SUVs.

Dani said:
@Kennedy
The problem is that I rarely drive on roads where I can go 55 MPH for long stretches. Doing 70 instead of 55 kills fuel economy in trucks and SUVs.

Yup. I get 14/20 in my Tacoma because of constant stop-and-go driving. Beating EPA estimates isn’t really possible for me.

@Drew
I’m getting 16/20 in my lifted Ranger here in LA. Even without the lift, I never hit the EPA’s 21/25 estimates.

@Kennedy
I try to stick to the right lane and avoid going over 70. My car’s MPG takes a nosedive at higher speeds.

The new Ranger looks great! Totally agree that the Tacoma is over-styled, and the ZR2 being a 4-cylinder is a tough sell. If I hit the lottery, I’d probably get a Ranger Raptor myself.

Aris said:
The new Ranger looks great! Totally agree that the Tacoma is over-styled, and the ZR2 being a 4-cylinder is a tough sell. If I hit the lottery, I’d probably get a Ranger Raptor myself.

Toyota combined all the things people worry about—turbos, GDI engines, and hybrid components—into one engine. And they want a premium for it.

Did you get it at MSRP?

Jody said:
Did you get it at MSRP?

No, I paid $3k over MSRP. Chevy was the only brand selling at MSRP in my area.

You should be able to disable the seatbelt reminder in the settings menu. Check the gauge cluster options.

Cypress said:
You should be able to disable the seatbelt reminder in the settings menu. Check the gauge cluster options.

Thanks for the tip. I’ll look into it tonight!

Thanks for adding pics. I’m not reading all that, but it looks sick. Hope you enjoy it!

I’m debating between the TRD Pro and the Raptor too. The TRD Pro’s price is hard to justify, and the lack of ventilated seats in the Raptor is a bummer, especially in Florida.

Mai said:
I’m debating between the TRD Pro and the Raptor too. The TRD Pro’s price is hard to justify, and the lack of ventilated seats in the Raptor is a bummer, especially in Florida.

We’re lucky to have so many great mid-sized trucks now. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them.

Great write-up! Loved your take on the backseat space.

I rode with a Ford driver at a demo event, and they said if they could pick any Ford, it would be the Ranger Raptor. Glad you’re enjoying it!

This is the one truck I’ve been dreaming about.

As a fellow Michigander and Ranger fan, I loved your post. Your primary school self would be proud of this write-up.