The much-awaited launch of the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor here in the Philippines is slated next week. Ford Philippines has not revealed the specs yet, but the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor that was unveiled at the 2023 Bangkok International Motor Show is powered by the same 2.0-liter bi-turbo engine that drives the 4x4 variants of Ford Ranger and Ford Everest. This engine produces 208hp and 500Nm of torque and is paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor sports a strengthened underchassis with a wider suspension track and massive coil springs at the back. It also includes Fox 2.5 Live Valve internal bypass dampers on each corner and exclusive drive modes for a sportier feel. The Trail Control feature improves speed control when driving off road.

The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor looks more aggressive, with the large FORD lettering on the grille, as well as bigger wheels and tires.

How do you think the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor will stack up against its pickup rivals in the Philippines? Let's compare it with the popular models in its segment, the Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Strada, Nissan Navara, and Isuzu D-Max.

Toyota Hilux

The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor will probably be around the same price range as the Conquest and GR-S variants of Toyota Hilux.

The Toyota Hilux Conquest 2.8 and Toyota Hilux GR-S are powered by a 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 201hp and 500Nm of torque, which are almost the same amount of output as the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor. The engine of the Hilux is mated with either a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission, depending on the variant.

The Toyota Hilux Conquest and Toyota Hilux GR-S come with a double wishbone front suspension and a leaf spring rigid axle at the rear.

These Hilux variants also come standard with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) suite of advanced driver assist systems that include Pre-Collision System (PCS), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), ensuring safe and worry-free driving.

The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor may look more macho than Toyota Hilux, but the Japanese carmaker’s contender in the pickup segment is also well-equipped, featuring bi-beam LED headlamps with auto-leveling, tailgate assist, hoodlift assist, and sports bar.

Mitsubishi Strada

Mitsubishi Strada’s top-of-the-line trim, the Mitsubishi Strada Athlete, is known for its sporty and robust look with its black Dynamic Shield, black roof, black alloy wheels, black front bumper garnish, side decal embellishments, and styling bar.

The Mitsubishi Strada Athlete is powered by a 2.4-liter MIVEC turbo clean diesel engine that delivers 178hp and 430Nm of torque. With this, the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor outperforms the Mitsubishi Strada Athlete in terms of power output and torque.

The engine of the Mitsubishi Strada Athlete is mated to a Super Select 4WD-II transmission for the 4WD variant and six-speed automatic transmission for the 2WD variant.

The Mitsubishi Strada Athlete comes with a independent wishbone front suspension with coil springs and rigid elliptic leaf springs at the rear.

In terms of safety features, the Mitsubishi Strada Athlete is equipped with Mitsubishi Active Stability and Traction Control (M-ASTC), Forward Collision Mitigation System (FCM), Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS), and Trailer Stability Assist (TSA).

Nissan Navara

Another segment rival of the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor is the Nissan Navara PRO-4X grade that features an equally aggressive look, which is accentuated by a black emblem, orange-accented front bumper, black grille, roof racks and running boards with black wheels and all-terrain tires.

The Nissan Navara PRO-4X is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with Variable Turbocharger. The engine produces 187hp and 450Nm of torque and is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual mode. With these figures, the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor is expected to be more powerful than the top-of-the-line variant of Nissan Navara.

The rear suspension of the Nissan Navara PRO-4X comes with dual rate coil springs so the pickup can easily adapt to any road condition.

One of the most notable features of the Nissan Navara PRO-4X is the Nissan Intelligent Mobility, a set of intelligent features that enable a safer and more convenient driving experience.  Among these features are Intelligent Around View Monitor (IAVM), Intelligent Emergency Braking (IEB), Intelligent Driver Alertness, and Blind Spot Warning (BSW).

Isuzu D-Max

The D-Max is also one of the most popular nameplates in the pickup segment in the Philippines, known for its proven reliability.

The top-spec 4x4 LS-E variant is powered by a 3.0-liter 4JJ3-TCX engine that delivers 187hp and 450Nm of torque, which are slightly lower than the output produced by the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor. The engine of the Isuzu D-Max is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Isuzu D-Max boasts a rugged look embellished with a two-tone front grille and matte dark gray alloy wheels.

The Isuzu D-Max earned a five-star safety rating from the ASEAN NCAP, thanks to its Advanced Driver Assist System with Smart Duo Cam, Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning, Turn Assist, and ACC with Stop and Go Functionality.

Do you think the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor will stand out against these pickup contenders once it officially launches in the Philippines? Given its impressive features and off-road capabilities, we believe that it will be a hit among the adventurous Filipinos.

Photos from Ford Thailand, Toyota Motor Philippines, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Nissan Philippines, Roy Robles, and Hazel Nicole Carreon