Oct '25 (edited) • Reviews
Ranger Raptor Review
“You don’t buy a Raptor because you need one — you buy it because you want one.”
Let’s be honest: the Ford Ranger Raptor shouldn’t exist.
It’s a double-cab bakkie that thinks it’s a rally car — a wild idea that somehow works.
My take?
The Raptor is a really fun car to drive.
It should not be able to move as quickly as it does given its size.
And if you want a fun, fast car but still need bakkie functionality, this is exactly what you want.
⚙️ The DNA: What Makes It Believe It’s a Hot Hatch
Under the bonnet lives a 3.0 L twin-turbo V6 with 292 kW and 583 Nm — the kind of numbers that make a Hilux blush.
TopAuto calls it “one of the most entertaining vehicles you can buy in South Africa … with all the adrenaline of a hot-hatchback bundled into an exceptionally capable off-roader.”
“With a bespoke off-road racing suspension, muscular looks and a howling twin-turbo V6, the 2nd-gen Ranger Raptor makes an unequivocal statement.” — Cars.co.za
Those FOX 2.5-inch Live Valve shocks aren’t just for show. They allow ridiculous levels of composure whether you’re jumping dunes or pretending to at the robot.
You also get switchable exhaust modes (Quiet / Sport / Baja) and a bright red R-button to store your favourite settings.
This isn’t a normal workhorse. It’s a mood.
🛣️ On Tar: Does It Really Act Like a Hot Hatch?
Here’s where it gets hilarious.
Floor it, and the Raptor lunges forward like it’s been insulted.
Officially, Ford won’t quote a 0-100 km/h figure — but real tests peg it at around six seconds.
That’s Golf GTI territory… in something that can carry a washing machine.
Cars.co.za said it best:
“There’s no doubt about it – the Raptor’s performance is awe-inspiring … we named it the ‘Dune Destroyer’.”
Steering is weighty but predictable, and while it’ll never dart through corners like a Fiesta ST, it holds its line with shocking confidence.
On the highway, it feels planted and alive.
Tyre roar and wind noise remind you it’s still a truck, but one that’s been to finishing school.
Fuel economy?
Let’s just say the Raptor doesn’t sip — it gulps.
I managed to get it as low as 14.5 L/100 km in granny mode, and around 20 L/100 km when driven like you’re being chased by the cops.
🪨 Off-Road: When the Bakkie Side Takes Over
Switch to Baja Mode and the Raptor finally reveals its true party trick.
It’s not just fast — it’s fearless.
“If you’re a die-hard off-road enthusiast looking for the ultimate off-road bakkie, the Ranger Raptor is near-as-damn unstoppable.” — Cars.co.za
It laughs at gravel and powerslides through sand with grace.
The suspension is so sorted that, as TopAuto noted, “the ride over dirt and rocks was so smooth that I forgot I wasn’t on a road.”
But physics still matters.
It’s wide, heavy and not made for tight rock-crawling.
This is a fast off-roader, not a farm implement.
⚖️ Where the Metaphor Holds (and Where It Cracks)
✅ What It Gets Right
- It’s genuinely fun. You grin every time you floor it.
- It’s quick. In fact, unnervingly so for something this size.
- It still does bakkie stuff. You’ve got the tub, the 4×4 hardware, and serious clearance.
❌ Where It Trips
- Fuel consumption. Bring your wallet.
- Towing & payload. You lose some workhorse capability (2 500 kg towing vs 3 500 kg in a normal Ranger).
- Mass. It’ll never flick through corners like a hot hatch — but it gives it a damn good try.
💬 My Take
If you want a fun, fast car, buy a hot hatch.
If you want utility, buy a Ranger Wildtrak.
But if you want both — something that can haul dirt bikes on Saturday and haul ass on Sunday — this is your unicorn.
Every time I drove it, I thought, “This thing shouldn’t move like this.”
And then it did.
Again.
“It shouldn’t be possible for something this big to be this fast… but somehow, Ford has pulled it off.” — Me
🏁 Final Word
The Ranger Raptor isn’t about logic. It’s about emotion.
It’s about waking up, hitting start, and smiling like a kid.
Yes, it’s thirsty. Yes, it’s over the top. But it’s also brilliantly, unapologetically fun.
If you’re the kind of person who looks at a bakkie and thinks, “What if it could also drift?” — this one’s for you.
And to everyone else who says, “but why?” — just smile, rev it in Sport Mode, and let the exhaust do the talking.
What do you think?
Would you choose the Raptor over a Wildtrak, Amarok V6, or Hilux GR-Sport?
Drop your take below 👇 — I’ll be in the comments defending this thing’s honour (and its fuel bill).
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Ranger Raptor Review
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