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Pros:
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It is surprisingly comfortable to drive
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A very powerful pickup, but with an in-your-face attitude.
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Every second motorist disappears from your path
Cons:
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It’s just massive!
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A lower load capacity means it is not exempt from VAT
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No parking space is ever big enough
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introduction
Take the Ford Ranger, a very powerful and popular pickup truck in its own right, and give it some real attitude. The result is the Ranger Raptor, with improved wheels, many of the signature Raptor design elements, but most importantly, increased performance, especially off-road.
And if that’s not enough, Ford has introduced a Raptor Special Edition model, and this is what we tested. It has racing stripes, lots of red trim both inside and out, and some menacing black decals.
It has looks that demand attention wherever it goes, but tips the scales at over £50k. That’s significantly more than the standard double-cab Ranger, which costs from £27,841 (excl. VAT). So, we have to ask, would there really be a market for such an amazing model equipped with all the bells and whistles? We hope so.
And just in case that’s still not enough, the new Raptor will soon hit the streets with a bigger engine. The current 2.0-liter unit will be replaced by a 3.0-liter gasoline engine, and a 2.0-liter BiTurbo diesel version will appear.
If you’re the type of person who likes to live life without attracting too much attention, the Ford Ranger Raptor Special Edition (SE) is definitely not for you.
It’s an ultra-tall double-cab pickup truck that looks great on the road with its black 17-inch wheels with massive 33-inch tires, LED headlights with black trim, flared front and rear wheel arches, the Raptor. badges, black Raptor grille, covered glass, reinforced alloy side steps, aluminum front fascia, black sports bar, roller shutter cover and large black and red decals.
Climb aboard, using the side steps and grab handles if necessary, and the interior is practical, but also impressively upscale for a pickup truck. There are neatly upholstered seats decorated with red stitching, they are electric and heated. The leather sports steering wheel features the Raptor logo, and there’s Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen and navigation.
Other amenities include a fixed rearview camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a separate panel for all climate control functions, and the Ford Pass Connect onboard modem, which is a Wi-Fi hotspot for connecting devices.
There are plenty of wipeable surfaces that will come in handy for mopping up any spills, and the cockpit is well laid out with all controls, dials and readouts easy to navigate on the go.
On the road
Management and performance
Despite looking like a real beast, the Ranger Raptor SE is surprisingly still powered by a 2.0-liter EcoBlue turbodiesel engine that delivers 213 hp. and 500 Nm of torque. It seems like there should be something with more grunt under the hood to make this pickup move, but honestly, the engine delivers.
The car can accelerate to 62 mph from a standstill in 9.0 seconds and has a top speed of 112 mph. There is a 10-speed automatic transmission with large paddle shifters on the steering wheel for added driver enjoyment.
I put almost 400 miles on it during the week driving it and it handled very well. Although we stayed on tarmac this time, the Ranger Raptor SE eats up the highway miles with ease, and is also capable of B-roads. The raised seat provides excellent visibility through hedgerows, but it also feels too wide on tight lanes.
The steering is quite light, which is ideal when driving around busy city streets, but it still provides enough feedback when pressed. Despite the big tires and Fox suspension, the ride quality is impressive and there’s no sign of any body sway if tight turns are attacked with an element of purpose.
Space and practicality
While today’s pickup trucks offer a very practical alternative to SUVs, many owners want a workhorse that can go all day while still providing the practicality of a family car. In many ways the Ranger Raptor SE succeeds, but in other areas it falls short.
Kids will see their street rating increase if used during the school run, but then when you get to the construction site, the trade-offs become more apparent. That’s because the standard Ranger has a payload limit of over a tonne, while the Raptor SE version can carry just 620kg. And this will also have financial consequences (as we will explain later).
The load limit may not matter to owners of such a bright pick-up, and it can still tow a 2.5-tonne trailer or caravan with all drive modes for more challenging off-road work called 2H, 4H and 4LOCK.
The Raptor SE is 15cm wider than the standard Ranger and boasts an extra 5cm in height, providing extra ground clearance for anyone looking to ride off-road.
There are many storage options in the cabin: a glove box, front and rear cup holders, deep door drawers, a two-level central drawer, trays and pockets on the backs of the seats.
Another neat touch is the aerodynamic hoop above the cargo bed with lighting for any night-time work.
Property right
Current costs
Compared to the less obtrusive versions, for those who want to buy the Ranger Raptor SE, the price increases significantly. For example, you can buy a standard Ranger for £27,841 (exc. VAT) or a Ranger Raptor for £47,000. However, step up to the Raptor SE and it will set you back £54,940 (inc. VAT).
And more bad news on the financial front. As the payload limit is below the HMRC limit of one tonne, it does not qualify as a commercial vehicle. This means that owners looking to purchase the Raptor SE as a business vehicle will not be able to claim back the 20 per cent tax credit.
Day-to-day running costs won’t be cheap either, as it can deliver a combined 31.7mpg (if you’re lucky) with carbon emissions of 201-204g/km.
Although the vehicle does not qualify for Benefit in Kind tax relief, the vehicle is taxed as a light commercial vehicle as it is still a Ranger, which is good news as road tax is £290 rather than based on carbon emissions. numbers
Ford Ranger Raptor SE is included in insurance group 40
Verdict
If you sit back and try to really understand the Ford Ranger Raptor SE, you might think for a while. After all, it’s expensive and doesn’t comply with commercial vehicle tax rules.
Yes, it’s been beefed up to do all those grueling off-road jobs faster and more efficiently than ever before, but how many owners will ever put the car to the test? Very few, I would suggest.
However, putting the smart hat aside, the Ranger Raptor SE will make sense for some people. It looks stunning, has eye-catching road presence and is very, very capable. This is the perfect look-at-me car.
More about this car
Need more information?
Request for additional information
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