There is a lot of hype behind the latest Ford Ranger and the Raptor. We pointed them towards the dunes to see how they compare and which is the better buy.
We’ve been seeing a lot, and we mean a lot, of new Ford Ranger Raptors on South African roads. With a price difference of R140 000 between the top-of-the-range Ford Ranger Wildtrak and the Raptor, are many buyers choosing to fork over the extra money and go for the Raptor?
The T6.1 version of Ford’s incredibly popular bakkie range has changed how buyers think of the Raptor. In the previous generation Ranger, the Raptor was powered by a 2.0 turbodiesel. That meant it actually had less performance than other Rangers because it was using the same engine but was heavier because of all that Raptor-specific 4×4 hardware.
With the T6.1 model range, things have changed. Raptor is now by far the most powerful Ford bakkie on sale. But it no longer uses a diesel engine, and that’s something to think about, because diesel engines are by far the preferred configuration for South African bakkie buyers.
That begs the question: how do current Ford bakkie buyers need to rethink the relationship between the Raptor and other Rangers? Because it now offers so much more engine power and acceleration. But, it’s also much heavier on fuel, because turbopetrol V6s just are. Especially when compared to the balanced performance and fuel economy Ford offers with the V6 turbodiesel Rangers.
V6 versus V6
But can a V6 turbodiesel Ranger really keep up with a V6 turbopetrol Raptor in dune terrain? The kind of terrain where petrol engines are traditionally a lot better off-road than diesels? That’s why this battle of the Ford V6 double-cabs and their different fuel types really matter.
In this video, we look at the pros and cons of both vehicles, in a bid to help you decide between the two. We cover everything from exterior comparison to the interior, suspension differences, ride quality and load and towing capabilities.
And, as you have to do if you have a Ranger Raptor on test, we jump it.
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