The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor is destined to become a new Utah favorite

First came the Ford F-150 Raptor. Then came the Bronco Raptor. Now, for the first time in the U.S., Ford fans can buy a Ranger Raptor. That’s right. You can now get that famous Raptor performance in midsize pickup form. 

KSL Cars was lucky enough to be among the first of several automotive journalists to test out the new 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor and Ranger Raptor Assault School recently, and one thought kept coming up: Utahns are going to love this thing. In fact, you might want to keep your eyes open for Ranger Raptor listings on KSL Cars because it’s destined to become an instant classic.

Here are just a few reasons why Utahns will love it.

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Class-leading performance

One of the new Ranger Raptor’s biggest bragging rights is that it outdoes the competition in terms of power output. The 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 engine generates a best-in-class 405 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. And boy, did it feel powerful whipping around dirt corners at the Ranger Raptor Assault School in Tooele Valley. 

The Ford team wasted no time in showing off this truck’s off-road capabilities in both high- and low-speed situations. For those with limited off-road experience, the trails ahead looked daunting. Nobody wanted to puncture the tire’s sidewall or leave a heinous scrape on the truck’s underbody. But sitting in the driver’s seat with the wheel in hand puts drivers at ease. 

The Ranger Raptor was so easy to control. Rock Crawl mode combined with multiple camera angles made it even easier. The only hangup was that the camera showed a trajectory where the tires were headed — but the graphics obscured what was beneath those tire marks. Luckily, tire-damaging rocks were avoided.

Photo courtesy of Ford

In the time it took to learn how to control the front- and rear-locking differentials for maximum trail traction and how to master the hill descent control, the mountain course was over. 

Then it was on to the high-speed handling courses. Throwing the Ranger Raptor into Baja mode meant that the stability and traction control settings weren’t quite as, er, responsive as you’d otherwise have them in normal driving situations. This off-road-only mode allowed pushing the pickup (nearly) to its limits to see how well it handled in the deep dirt and hairpin turns.

Not wanting to do something regretful, it was easy for beginners to drive conservatively at first. While starting off conservatively to avoid any regretful maneuvers, each successive lap became more encouraging as the Ranger Raptor showed its ability to push just a little harder. (Ford very wisely limited drivers to three laps before anyone had a chance to do anything too crazy.)

For the last test, Ford let people jump the Ranger Raptors. Starting at the top of a short hill, drivers were told to floor it until the truck crested, then immediately take feet off the pedals. After following those instructions to the letter, the Ranger Raptor briefly caught air for one glorious second and then landed as if it had never even left the ground. 

It seemed something more dramatic would have happened — but it was impressive how easy the truck made this look. Of course people wanted to do the jump again and really punch that throttle, but Ford only allowed one jump per journalist. (Probably a smart move.)

In the end, the Ranger Raptor Assault School was impressive but also left drivers wanting to explore more of what this truck could do.

Perhaps that was the point all along. 

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Photo courtesy of Ford

Midsize pickup trucks make life easier

A memorable moment was when one of the other journalists hopped out of the Ranger Raptor and exclaimed, “Finally! A performance truck of a reasonable size!”

Sometimes you just don’t need the big truck. Not only does a midsize pickup usually suffice for most hauling and towing needs, but their smaller size means they’re easier to drive on those tight mountain trails. You’ll also sweat a little less when you’re changing lanes on the freeway or trying to fit into a smaller parking spot.

It could work as a family truck

While it’s not likely that Ford’s target demographic for this truck is young families, it’s easy to imagine toting a little family around the Utah mountains in the Ranger Raptor. 

For young families with an average sized garage or inability to reason with the steep $80,000 price point, any dreams of getting this truck went by the wayside.

Photo courtesy of Ford

It’s almost as if the Ranger Raptor heard these very complaints and said, “Ta-da! Here’s the answer to all your problems!” It’s smaller than the F-150 Raptor, which makes it easier to park and maneuver in tight spaces, yet it’s still surprisingly roomy enough in the second row for kids’ little legs (and even adult legs) to stretch out a bit. It’s still got the Raptor moniker, the performance goodies and an impressive, tech-filled cabin, just on a smaller scale. 

The space made it feel less like driving a midsize pickup truck. Somehow, Ford manages to make the Ranger Raptor feel bigger inside than expected. That’s not something that can be said for all midsize trucks out there.

Photo courtesy of Ford

Here’s another feature that makes this truck more family-friendly than its bigger brother: the price. The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor has a starting MSRP of $55,470. While no one would call that “cheap,” it’s a far cry from the F-150 Raptor’s starting MSRP of $78,330. 

Maybe this car will end up in your garage one day, after all.

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Eye-catching style

The Ranger Raptor doesn’t just satisfy a need for a performance-oriented midsize pickup; It also caters to vanity. With the Raptor signature FORD lettering on the grille, flared wheel arches, C-Clamp headlamps and taillights, performance seats and 33-inch tires, it leaves an impression wherever it goes.

If you’re only buying this truck to look cool, there’s no shame in that. It’ll work.

Photo courtesy of Ford

Another perk to new ownership: The Ranger Raptor Assault School

There’s one more reason to consider owning a new Ranger Raptor — especially if living in Utah. A purchase of a new Ranger Raptor includes a complimentary day of instruction at Ford’s Ranger Raptor Assault School, which launches in June. 

Located at the Ford Performance Racing School in Tooele, the Assault School teaches you how to get the most out of your performance-oriented truck by taking you through the same courses that KSL Cars got to try. You’ll take it climbing up and down the mountainside, you’ll throw it around Baja and Handling courses and you’ll even get to take it off a jump. 

Photo courtesy of Ford

“Our goal is for owners, whether novices or off-road veterans, to experience the full capability of Ranger Raptor and get a true understanding of the passion and attention to detail that Ford engineers put into developing it,” Will Ford, Ford Performance general manager, said in a recent press release. 

Ford provides knowledgeable and friendly instructors who will provide both classroom instruction and off-road lessons. Lunch and safety gear are also provided. 

You can join from out of state — but this is where being a Utah resident comes in handy. It’s a free perk that’s exclusively available to new Ranger Raptor owners, plus you get to do all the testing and driving in Ford-supplied Ranger Raptors. Why not take advantage of it?

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Find a 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor on KSL Cars

Don’t be surprised if you start seeing several Ranger Raptors pop up around the Beehive State. It’s easy to see this thing towing a boat to Lake Powell, tackling the dunes in Sand Hollow State Park or taking families to the Uinta Mountains for some weekend camping. Even if you don’t plan on using it as an adventure vehicle, it should make for a pretty comfortable (and stylish) daily driver as well. 

Shop for 2024 Ranger Raptors on KSL Cars →

If you’re curious whether or not this amped-up midsize pickup could be the perfect fit for your garage, check the local listings on KSL Cars to find a 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor near you.

Photo courtesy of Ford

The makes and models mentioned in this article are not placed in any particular order, nor intended to be viewed as a ranked list. KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.