Ford Ranger Raptor: 2 tough trims

For a long time, the very popular Ford Ranger Raptor has had one trim available for the local market. Its first-generation version’s sole variant was the 2.0-liter Bi-turbo when it was first introduced in the country back in 2018. And initially, the same was true for the second-generation Ranger Raptor when it was launched in the Philippines back in May 2023. 

The esteemed off-road pickup truck, however, expanded its trim lineup at the 2024 Philippine International Motor Show. Specifically, it received a new version that’s propelled by a beefier twin-turbo V6 EcoBoost gasoline engine. 

So, at present, the Philippine-spec Ranger Raptor now has two trims available for local buyers. The question now is: how does the newer trim differ from the good old Bi-turbo variant? Let’s find out here. 

2.0 Bi-turbo

Exterior

On the outside, the Ford Ranger Raptor comes with a beefed-up version of the regular Ford Ranger pickup truck’s appearance. It has larger wheel arches, protective underchassis plates, a set of chunkier off-road tires, and a more imposing black-colored grille. 

To put it into perspective, here are the dimensions of the Philippine-spec Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-turbo:

Model	Ford Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-turbo
Dimensions (L x W x H, in mm)	5,381 x 2,028 x 1,922
Ground clearance (mm)	272
Wheelbase length (mm)	3,270
Water wading depth capacity (mm)	850

 

Other notable exterior features of the four-banger Ranger Raptor include LED headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, LED front fog lamps, rain-sensing wipers, off-road-spec side steps, front and rear tow hooks, power-folding side mirrors, and a bed liner - among others. 

Interior

While the Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-turbo is a tough-looking vehicle on the outside, its interior was designed to provide a good mix of practicality and comfort. 

For starters, it uses a combination of leather materials and sturdy plastics. Its seats are clad in Raptor-style leather upholstery, while its dashboard was assembled using a combination of study materials and soft-touch surfaces. 

Going back to its seats, the Ford model offers a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. It also has an eight-way power-adjust seat for the front passenger and a rear bench seat for the rear cabin. The said seat for the rear passengers also boasts a folding center armrest. 

Dominating the dash of the Blue Oval’s mid-size off-road truck is a 12-inch central touchscreen and a 12.4-inch digital gauge cluster. For the central display, it provides Sync 4 smartphone connectivity, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Sound, meanwhile, is fed into the truck’s cabin by a six-piece speaker system. 

Other notable features found inside the Ranger Raptor include the following: 

• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• Electronic parking brake
• Drive mode selector
• Keyless entry
• Push-to-start button
• Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Ambient lighting
• Tilt and telescopic steering column
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• 12-volt accessory outlet
• USB charging ports

Safety

As expected of a modern pick-up truck from the Dearborn-based brand, the Ranger Raptor comes with a lot of safety gear. 

Its basic safety kit includes anti-lock braking, seven airbags, front and rear parking sensors, electronic stability control, traction control, hill launch assist, roll over mitigation, hill descent control, a 360-degree view camera, and ISOFIX - among others. 

The aforementioned are further reinforced by a lineup of advanced driver-assist systems listed here: 

• Adjustable speed limiter
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane centering
• Automatic high beams
• Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Pre-collision assist
• Dynamic brake support
• Distance alert
• Forward collision warning system
• Evasive steer assist
• Lane departure warning and lane keep system
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear-cross traffic alert
• Reverse brake assist

Powertrain

Under the hood of the entry-level Ranger Raptor is a 2.0-liter Bi-turbo diesel inline-4 engine. The said engine is paired with the American marque’s 10-speed automatic transmission, and it can produce up to 207 horsepower (hp) and 500 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. 

For its front suspension, the inline-4 version utilizes a double wishbone setup along with a pair of Fox 2.5-inch internal bypass shock absorbers. Its coil spring rear end, on the other hand, uses Fox shocks equipped with internal bypass reservoir dampers. 

Additionally, the truck comes with an electronically controlled 4x4 system, a rear locking differential, and four-wheel disc brakes. 

Price

As of this writing, the Ford Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-turbo is offered by Ford Philippines at a price of P2.345 million. 

3.0 V6 EcoBoost

The 3.0 V6 twin-turbo EcoBoost sits as the higher-spec option in the Ford Ranger Raptor’s duo of locally available trims. 

Its top-of-the-line status is reflected chiefly by its 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 gasoline engine, which produces a healthy 391 hp and 583 Nm of torque. It still uses the same transmission and braking system as the entry-level Raptor, but its suspension and drivetrain components are slightly different. 

For starters, the V6-powered Ranger Raptor’s front and rear Fox shocks come with “live valves,” which are not present on the four-cylinder version.

Having live valve shocks simply means that it is an active suspension system that leverages sensors and actively adjusts depending on the drive or terrain mode the vehicle is currently using.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the Ranger Raptor 2.0 Biturbo and 3.0 V6 twin-turbo EcoBoost’s mechanical specifications: 

Model	Ford Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-turbo	Ford Ranger Raptor 3.0 V6 twin-turbo EcoBoost
Engine	2.0-liter Biturbo inline-4	3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo
Fuel	Diesel	Gasoline
Transmission	10-speed automatic
Horsepower	207	391
Torque	500	583

Additionally, the high-spec model gets a rear locking differential on top of the one on its front end. It also has Ford’s active exhaust management system, which offers four different modes: quiet, normal, sport, and Baja. 

The interior of the V6 Ranger Raptor also comes with similar creature comforts and safety bits to the entry-level trim, with some select exceptions. For one thing, it has a more premium 10-piece Bang and Olufsen sound system. Moreover, all of its windows also get a one-touch function, which on the Biturbo version is only available for the front windows. 

Lastly, the exterior of the six-cylinder truck appears to be identical to the Biturbo trim. It has the same exterior features, and the same dimensions as well. 

Currently, the V6 version of the Ranger Raptor is sold locally for P2.739 million. 

Final thoughts

When choosing between the Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-turbo and the 3.0 V6 twin-turbo EcoBoost, it all boils down to wanting more power or not. Clearly, the V6 trim promises better performance out of the box compared to the Biturbo version. 

To a lesser degree, one would also opt for the V6 version if you want the exhaust mode selector for a “quieter” ride. Plus, it may also be better at certain off-road situations due to its live valve Fox shocks and its front locking differential. 

Folks who are torn between the two Ranger Raptor versions, however, should do well to give both trims a test drive. Doing so, after all, will make for a more informed purchase in the end. 

Also read: 

2024 Ford Ranger Raptor equipped with Fox Live Valve tech for even better off-road performance

'Modded' Ford Ranger Raptor to take part in 2024 Tatts Finke Desert Race in Australia