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The Ford F-150 Raptor R has beastly intentions. But is it any better than the more powerful Ram 1500 TRX? We answer this in the simplest way possible.
You're not going to believe how time flies - but it mostly happens when you're having fun. It's been over a decade now that trucks in America have conquered what most crossovers wouldn't: desert dunes and all manner of harsh weather conditions, including in hurricanes. After Ford revealed the new F-150 Raptor R, there's been lots of excitement, because this is not just any F-150; it's the Raptor R - a lot like a shark, but a more lethal one, like the Meg.
The Raptor R is, by far, the fastest, most powerful high-performance off-road Ford truck on the market. The three generations of the F-150 Raptor drew inspiration from the desert-racing trophy trucks that competed in the Baja 1000. The 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R is the closest you'll ever get to that type of performance.
We can imagine customers experiencing their Raptor Rs off the road, with a growling exhaust note sending a chill down their spines. It's going to be hard to nitpick with the Raptor R. But the question is, is it truly better than the Ram 1500 TRX? We're going to rack our brains a bit to see whether more power is all that matters, or not.
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The F-150 Raptor is so cool to look at, it could get a kid to pull his parents to the nearest toy store, and get a toy replica of it - and that means it's desirable. Trucks need to do the same thing supercars do: pull at the heartstrings, and leave us starry-eyed.
The hood features a bigger, angrier-looking power dome that is almost 1 inch taller than the one on the base Raptor; it helps extract hot air from beneath. The signature grille gets the 'FORD' lettering, the butch bumpers and flared fenders that are painted black; it's like mascara that looks good on some women.
There are details aplenty that are bound to get your attention, like the aggressive hood air extractor and the Code Orange 'R' badges. Everything screams performance - and this is a major selling point for someone investing in a truck like the F-150 Raptor R.
The details, exclusive to Ford Performance vehicles, include the Code Orange elements, like the power dome, the 'R' badge on the grille and the tailgate. A special graphics package includes some decals on the rear fenders; it looks somewhat like the cracked surface of a dry desert, which was kept in mind when designing the Raptor R.
The all-black cabin is perfect; we can't imagine beige bits around. The standard Recaro seats are a mix of black leather and Alcantara suede. There's genuine carbon fiber on the doors, the upper half of the instrument panel features a nice tri-axial weave that reflects the Raptor R's performance intent.
Like all other Raptors, the Raptor R is brimming with the best in smart technology. Train Turn Assist lets the driver reduce the turning radius on tight turns. Ford Trail Control (or cruise control used off the road), allows the driver to select a certain speed and steer through obstacles while the truck takes care of braking and acceleration.
Trail 1-Pedal Driver lets the driver control acceleration and braking, with one pedal only - this makes off-roading an easier task, because the truck starts to crawl over the rocks. In terms of connectivity, there's a 12-inch touchscreen with SYNC 4 technology, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It features Ford Power-Up OTA updates too, and lots more.
Going fast is normal if you're buying one of these, but the F-150 Raptor R can do more, especially in off-road scenarios. It's no surprise the Raptor R can do so much, considering the durability and capability that's been put to the test over the years of precision engineering.
Ford Performance has upgraded the transmission to ensure it can deal with the mighty V8. It features a 10-speed SelectShift transmission, a new front axle that's stronger, higher-strength carrier casting and an aluminum-ribbed structural cover to manage the additional torque from the powertrain.
There are modes such as Normal, Sport, Quiet and Baja; these control the exhaust system with a genuine pass-through muffler. The 5.2-liter supercharged V8, that pushes out 700hp and 640 lb-ft of torque is undoubtedly the talk of the town, but let's not forget the hugely capable suspension setup. It has been optimized for excellent stability while tackling desert terrain at high speeds.
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Let's start with the designs first. Both trucks look wild, with each sporting its own identity. The Ram is as rugged-looking as the Ford, and both trucks have a stance that'll scare the wits out of oncoming traffic. If the Raptor R is Ironman, the 1500 TRX is War Machine.
So it's a draw as far as the looks go. The cabins are well put together, but it's the Ford that's heavy on technology. Despite the Raptor R having a smaller-capacity V8 than the 1500 TRX, it's the former that performs incredibly well. The Ford doesn't like corners as much as the Ram, but if you consider the Raptor R is $6,000 cheaper than the 1500 TRX, the Ford simply nails it for value.
Rehan got published for the first time at the age of 17, having written a feature on a Triumph Herald in print. He uses his writing as a tool to express his fondness for all things automotive even today, aged 28. Collecting scale models is a hobby close to his heart, and he wishes to sprinkle pixie dust on them only to see them grow into full-sized cars. He now represents HotCars.com.