We can still remember the reception the first Ford Ranger Raptor received all those years ago. For not much more than a standard Ranger Wildtrak, you get a beefed up suspension arrangement, more off-road capability, and a truck bed’s worth of road presence.
The market responded positively, to say the least. If anything, the Raptor has become a common sight on the road. When the second-generation rolled out not long after, they were just about everyone. Nevermind the fact that most never go off-road.
We’ve had the pleasure of driving it on several occasions already. But our first experience with the all-new model was unforgettable. It’s not because we took it through its paces. Rather, Ford granted us the privilege of trying out the raspy twin-turbo V6.
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That was way back in 2023 and we were left smitten. So much so we kept asking Ford Philippines if there was any hope of it coming here. At first, they said “it will depend on demand,” a safe response. We all got the definitive answer in October 2024 when it was finally launched locally.
Fast forward to today and we’re finally able to drive in local roads. Or should we say off the road? Either way, we had a blast with it.
Styling
The Ranger Raptor is anything but subtle. With bulging fenders, beefy all-terrain tires, and loud graphics, this pickup isn’t for the shy types. That being said, this gas-fed twin-turbo model doesn’t shout about the monster that resides under the hood.
To be frank about it, it looks exactly the same as the diesel-powered Raptor. You can strain your eyes trying to look for them, but it’ll be a futile effort. As far as we can tell, there’s only one thing that differentiates the V6 from the diesel. You’ll have to look at the tailpipes to find out. If it’s exposed, it’s the gas engine, if it’s hidden, it’s diesel. Simple as that.
Interior
It’s the same thing when you step inside. If you’ve been in a Ranger before, you’ve seen them all. Granted, the Raptor has meatier, body-hugging seats and smatterings of red highlights, but it’s identical to every Ranger variant out there.
Some might say that it’s a little too ‘Tonka toy’ inside. The dashboard design makes no effort to make it appear car-like, which is either a good thing or not, depending on one’s preference. It’s not boring, though, and shows Ford making an effort to make it stand out.
But since it’s standard Ranger in there, the Raptor also has ergonomic quirks. For those used to Japanese pickups, they might have to rewire their heads a little bit. There’s the near-vertical touchscreen that houses a fair bit of basic controls, along with some buttons and dials in odd places. It’s not terrible, but there might be some adjustment needed.
As for space, it’s decent. We wouldn’t call it cavernous, but at far as pickups go, it’s relatively spacious. If you need more room, we recommend going for the Everest instead. You won’t get the Raptor treatment with it, though.
While not part of the interior, we might as well talk about the bed. It’s still largest in class, making it idea who use this pickup for, er, pickup things. But do note that payload capacity is much less compared to the Wildtrak at 750 kilograms.
Engine performance
Now, for the highlight of this pickup. Stats? 3.0-liters, six cylinders, and pair of turbos help this Ranger Raptor pack a punch. The result is 392hp and 583Nm of torque coursed through a part-time four-wheel drive system. It then shifts with a ten-speed automatic transmission but calibrated differently.
Here’s the bit that will surprise you: It won’t pin you to your seat. Not that it’s slow, but it delivers power differently from what one expects from a twin-turbocharged engine with nearly 400 horsepower. Instead, it surges forward until you realize you’re reaching extra-legal speeds. Perhaps it’s the ten-speed transmission and the fat tires that dull the sensation of speed. Still, we’re not complaining about the sub-6 second 0 to 100kph time.
Speaking of the transmission, Ford has gone through great lengths in improving it. From being on the clunky side in its first iteration, it’s much smoother and snappier now. It still takes its time to downshift, though, but that’s the result of having to shuffle through ten gears.
If you’re dead set on getting one of these, then you have no right to complain about its fuel consumption. The numbers that this engine puts out isn’t a recipe for economy in any way, shape, or form. But if you are curious, we saw figures plummet to 2.9km/L in extreme traffic. In more acceptable conditions, it ranges from 3.9km/L to about 5km/L. On the highway, a gentle foot will reward you with figure of 10.8km/L.
Ride and handling
We’ll make one thing very clear: On-road handling isn’t its forte. It’s not sloppy or unstable as it actually corners decently. What limits its grip on pavement are those all-terrain tires that are oriented towards the rough stuff. But while it’s no canyon carver, at least it never gives you the sensation of tipping over. And when you compare it against other midsize pickups, the Ranger is still head and shoulders above the rest.
Another thing we need to talk about are the brakes. Perhaps it’s this particular tester, but pedal feel was on the spongy side. Stopping power wasn’t that great either, a totally different experience from what we had back in 2023.
Now that we’ve mentioned what we didn’t like, it’s time to say the things we did and there’s quite a lot. This thing comes alive on the rough and totally at home on sand dunes or, in this case, lahar beds.
The Fox suspension system isn’t just for show here, it’s built to perform. Ruts and bumps are dealt with effortlessly, and high-speed cornering on loose surfaces was something else. The suspension upgrades almost make the Ranger Raptor feel smaller than what the dimensions suggest, feeling nimble and buttoned down.
And if you want to have fun, the Ranger Raptor is more than willing to let you have it. While we weren’t able to explore all of the driving modes, we did stick it in Baja Mode that effectively turns this pickup into a rally car. The driving aids never truly turn off, but it’s a lot less intrusive compared to the Wildtrak. That meant we were able to slide around and kick up a lot of dirt along the way. In the right venue, the Ranger Raptor is guaranteed to stir up rally driving fantasies from anyone. It sure did for this writer.
But what amazes the most about this pickup is its duality. You can have fun all day bombing through lahar beds, do a bit of rock crawling, and drive home in comfort. No, we do mean comfort as this pickup rides better than some premium crossovers and sedans.
Extra features
We’ll touch on the driving modes for a bit here. We’ve mentioned Baja mode, but there’s others to choose from, too. For more serious off-roading, there’s sand and rock crawl, along with sport and mud/ruts. Eco mode? Forget it.
Another feature we wished to explore was the front differential lock. Normally, we have center and rear these days, but having a front locker standard is a rarity. Engage that and the Raptor becomes a serious rock crawler, we reckon.
For tech, it has everything that the diesel-fed Raptor already has. There’s wireless charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with power seats and a comprehensive infotainment system. Oh, and advanced driver assists are present. After all, it’s Ford that brought it in the segment in the first place.
Verdict
If it’s sheer off-pavement thrills you’re looking for we’ll be upfront and say that the Ranger Raptor V6 is for you…for as long as you don’t mind the thirst. The best part is, the engine amplifies the off-road driving experience. It has everything that makes the Ranger Raptor such a capable machine, but with nearly 400hp, it cranks up the fun to 11.
Sure, it’s not the best thing to drive on twisty roads, but it’s incredibly comfortable and great for the daily drive. In some ways, it reminds us of another fantastic all-rounded performance car, the Honda Civic Type R. You can use it for playtime, and you can use it everyday, and it’ll never leave you with any aches and pain. In the case of the Ranger Raptor, the thrills are off the beaten path.
Specs: 2025 Ford Ranger Raptor Ecoboost V6
Price: P2,739,000
Engine: 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6
Power: 392hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: Ten-speed automatic
Layout: Four-wheel-drive
Seating: 5
Score: 9/10
