Our love affair with the Ford F-150 Raptor began when it launched in 2010, but fully blossomed with the 2017 refresh.
That was when the now iconic chunky front end emerged, looking aggressive, ready to mow down anything in its path. It had power. It had performance. It had presence. It effortlessly crushed useless (now-defunct) WiFi juicers. Now, with the 2019 model emerging, we’re pleased to say the Raptor’s greatness hasn’t diminished. It’s only grown. Here are seven reasons why.
No V-8 Needed
Sure, legions of truck fans will vehemently argue that a proper truck, forged of American steel, must have a V-8 to be even considered great.
Ford
Nah, said Ford Performance engineers as they dropped in the Hi-Output 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6. And they were be absolutely right. It’s good for 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of twist. Because those are best in class numbers, Ford decided to leave the Raptor’s beating heart unmodified, so when everyone whips out key fobs, the Ram and Bowtie guys are still going to be sheepish.
Dune Bashing Gets Better With Live Valve Shocks
Snorting through off-road terrain at shit-eating-grin speed was something the Raptor already mastered. Ford still believed there was room for improvement, so it partnered with FOX shocks to develop wholly-new electronically controlled valves that are constantly adjusting in live-time.
Ford
Sensors in the suspension and body help feed data to the shocks, which then recalibrate on the fly to give you full advantage of the 13-inches of suspension travel up front and 13.9-inches in the rear. What’s all that translate to? Less body roll when you’re pushing the Raptor on the tarmac and smoother and faster off-road handling. When we tested a unit out in Grantsville, Utah, the undulating desert landscape quickly blurred beneath the Raptor, but it felt as composed as a trophy truck in the Baja.
Cruise Control For Rock Climbing? Yes, Please.
New this year is Trail Control, which can best be likened to cruise control for the trickiest of terrain. It’ll work in all 4×4 modes, at speeds as low as 1 mile per hour up to 20 mph, and the aim is to help the driver focus on steering and picking the best line through (or over) the crud, while letting the ECU handle the throttle and brake management. It’s similar to torque vectoring in that power is transferred from slipping to gripping wheels.
Ford
Pointed up some decently sheer rock fields —more than 20-percent grade at points—in Utah, Trail Control helped the Raptor bounce along with ease. And it doubles as hill descent, helping you skitter down anything without worry. It’s an effective system, but then again so is careful throttle and brake modulation with your feet.
The New Recaros Are Plushy As Hell
Fret not, the old standard leather buckets are available (now with heating and ventilation), but the new Recaros are super plush, and the perfect thing for when you’re flinging the Raptor around off-road. Eating the Utah desert at 60 mph felt pretty damn comfortable, thanks to those Recaros.
Ford
Oddly, they’re not labeled as Recaros, but there’s a nice blue Alcantara inlay that gives brings a premium race feel to an otherwise very Ford interior, marked with plasticky bits and beefy knobs.
Aesthetic Tweaks Further Raptor-fy the Beast
Ford’s beefed up the rear applique, imbuing the Raptor’s hindquarters with a delightfully chunky presence, and slapped the Raptor nameplate around the car a few more times (on the bedside, on the steering wheel, and in a few more spots), and the F-150 wears it well.
Ford
Also new are beadlock-capable wheels with some new paint finishes, though you can also now get your Raptor dipped in a lovely hue called Ford Performance Blue, or Velocity Blue and Agate Black. These are subtle touches, sure, but they do coalesce to give the Raptor a shoutier look that becomes it.
Still Doubles Perfectly As an Airplane
The Raptor has always done well flying through the air and the 2019 variant is equally happy to take flight. Those FOX live variable shocks help make landings more cushioned, since the sensors can determine that the truck is airborne and adjust the dampers to full stiffness to help settle the truck as it plops down.
Ford
There’s a solid off-road course at Miller Motorsports Campus in Utah with a series of undulating dirt piles that allowed for decent sends and the Raptor is pleased to oblige, over and over and over. We landed on what felt like a pile of mattresses instead of the hard packed dirt. Not bad for a 5,500 pound behemoth.
The Price Barely Increased
Last year’s model started at $ 50,600 and there’s a nominal uptick in sticker price for all the additions to a starting price of $ 52,800, before destination and delivery fees. Quite reasonable for a road-going Baja competitor.