A 405 hp twin-turbo V6 mid-size ute with Fox dampers, 33-inch tyres and front and rear locking differentials. It is on Car and Driver's 2026 10Best list.
Background
The Ranger Raptor is Ford's performance off-road version of its mid-size Ranger, sitting below the full-size F-150 Raptor.
Engine
A 3.0-litre twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 makes 405 hp and 430 lb-ft in US trim, through a 10-speed automatic and full-time 4x4. Ford Mexico lists 392 hp for its market.
Chassis
Raptor-specific suspension geometry with Fox dampers, 33-inch BFGoodrich KO3 tyres and front and rear locking differentials set it apart from other Rangers. There are seven drive modes, including Baja. Edmunds lists 10.7 inches of ground clearance and a 33-degree approach angle.
On the road
Car and Driver says it is "remarkably civil" on the road and easier to place on tight trails than the F-150 Raptor, and named it to its 2026 10Best list. EPA economy is 17 mpg combined.
Market
The Ranger Raptor starts at US$57,070, tows up to 5,510 lb and carries up to 1,373 lb.
The Raptor recipe
Ford first used the Raptor name on the F-150 in 2010 and later applied it to the mid-size Ranger. The idea is the same in both: a factory-built, desert-capable off-road truck with long-travel suspension and serious tyres.
Shared hardware
Car and Driver notes that the Ranger Raptor's twin-turbo V6 and 10-speed automatic are essentially the same set-up as the Bronco Raptor's, with standard four-wheel drive and locking front and rear differentials.
Off-road numbers
Edmunds lists 10.7 inches of ground clearance, a 33-degree approach angle and a 42.5-foot turning circle. The 20-gallon tank gives an estimated 320–360 miles of range.
Daily usability
EPA economy is 16 mpg city, 18 highway and 17 combined. It tows up to 5,510 lb, less than full-size trucks, but the mid-size footprint is easier to park and to fit on narrow trails.
The verdict
Ford combines off-road ability close to the larger Raptor with a size people can live with every day. That, plus a 2026 10Best award, makes it our 2026 Best Ute Petrol.
The rivals
In the US, the Ranger Raptor's closest rivals are mid-size off-road pickups such as the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Jeep Gladiator Rubicon.
Who it suits
It suits buyers who want desert-running and trail capability in a truck small enough for daily use, and who accept lower towing figures and fuel economy than a standard Ranger.
Our judging notes
The panel weighed independent recognition (Car and Driver 10Best 2026), on- and off-road ability, and how usable the truck is every day. The Ranger Raptor scored highest on that combination among petrol utes for 2026.
A global truck
The current Ranger was developed by Ford's Australian engineering team and is sold in many markets worldwide. The Raptor version arrived in the US in 2024, after years in which the Ranger Raptor was sold only outside North America. Different markets list slightly different outputs: Ford Mexico quotes 392 hp, while the US figure is 405 hp.
Reading the numbers
The 3.0-litre V6 makes peak torque of 430 lb-ft at 3,500 rpm, which suits climbing and soft sand where low-speed pulling power matters. Thirty-three-inch tyres, 10.7 inches of ground clearance and a 33-degree approach angle are serious off-road figures for a mid-size truck. The trade-offs are 17 mpg combined, a 5,510 lb tow rating and a payload of up to 1,373 lb, all lower than a full-size pickup.
Equipment
The Raptor includes seven selectable drive modes, among them Baja for high-speed desert running, an electronic 10-speed automatic, auto start-stop, Ford Co-Pilot360 driver-assistance technology and a standard Trailer Tow Package. Ford also offers an Advanced Towing Package.
Chassis hardware
Under the body are FOX 2.5-inch Live Valve internal-bypass dampers that adjust in real time to the terrain. The truck also has an aluminium front bash plate, a Watt's-link rear suspension and locking front and rear differentials. Those parts are what separate the Raptor from a normal Ranger with a body kit.
Who it suits
The Raptor suits buyers who want desert-capable suspension in a truck that still fits in a normal garage and is easier to park than a full-size pickup. Buyers who mainly tow heavy loads would be better served by a full-size truck.
Specification breakdown
- Engine: 3.0 L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6.
- Power: 405 hp @ 5,500 rpm (US).
- Torque: 430 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm.
- Transmission: 10-speed automatic, 4x4.
- Suspension: Raptor-specific geometry with Fox dampers.
- Tyres: 33-inch BFGoodrich KO3.
- Drive modes: Seven, including Baja.
- Towing: Up to 5,510 lb.
- Payload: Up to 1,373 lb.
- Price: From US$57,070 (Edmunds).
Why it won
The Ranger Raptor gives off-road performance close to the full-size F-150 Raptor in a mid-size ute that is easier to use. Car and Driver put it on its 2026 10Best list, praising how civilised it is on the road and how capable it is off it.
Watch
Video: Still Perfect: 2026 Ford Ranger Raptor Review (TheStraightPipes)