Ford F-150 Raptor 2022 Review – International

The hulking Ford F-Series pick-up has been one of the mainstays of the US auto industry since 1948, and the high-performance Ford F-150 Raptor has attracted a cult following since its 2009 launch.

Australian buyers have thus far been deprived of the big American pick-up through official factory channels, but that’s set to change as Ford Australia has announced that the latest-generation Ford F-150 range will be offered in our market by mid-2023, with plans in place for a local remanufacturing program to carry out the right-hand drive conversion.

The Ford F-150 Raptor is still to be officially confirmed under the new local program, but it’s inclusion – not too long after the first models launch – looks to be a formality, particularly given the sell-out success of the just-launched RAM 1500 TRX.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor costs around $US72,000 in the US ($105K in our money), but expect the local price to bloat out to about $180,000 by the time shipping, taxes and the RHD conversion are factored in.

This compares to $199,950 plus ORCs for the 2022 RAM 1500 TRX, which we’ve just driven on local soil with its stonking 523kW/882Nm 6.2-litre V8 supercharged petrol engine.

The outlay for the Ford F-150 Raptor will not get you a V8 – for that, you’ll need to hope the Raptor R comes here too – but nevertheless delivers a truck with loads of performance and generous spec levels.

We’ll dive into performance soon, but standard features on the Raptor include an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather upholstery, rear-view camera, rear parking sensors, cruise control and single-zone climate control.

Dominating the Raptor’s dashboard is a huge 12.0-inch touch-screen that supports the truck’s standard SYNC 4 infotainment system. Along with the ability to interact with Amazon Alexa and receive over-the-air updates, it features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The United Arab Emirates-spec vehicle we tested comes equipped with an 18-speaker B&O sound system, a slide-out work table, heated steering wheel, upgraded headlights, wireless charging and more.

As alluded to earlier, 35-inch BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres are standard-fit (37s are optional), and the Raptor has an electronic locking rear differential, 4.10 axle ratio, electronic two-speed transfer case and seven selectable driving modes, including Baja.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor isn’t lacking on the safety front as standard kit includes blind spot assist, lane departure warning, an accident avoidance system, pre-collision safety system and post-collision braking.

The latter applies the brakes after a collision to prevent the car from rolling and causing further damage.

Naturally, you also get dual front and side airbags, front and rear head airbags, stability control, traction control, emergency braking assist, tyre pressure monitoring and dusk-sensing LED headlights.

In addition, you get hill descent control and hill hold control.

Also on offer is ‘Power Onboard’, which enables owners to use their truck as a mobile generator. The Raptor can be ordered with 2.0kW of exportable output to run power tools, camp lights and other equipment, providing more exportable power than any light-duty full-size pick-up competitor, according to Ford.

Whereas the first-gen Ford SVT Raptor was offered as standard with V8 power – either a 5.4-litre or 6.2-litre unit – the vehicle transitioned to Ford’s 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 from the second generation (2017) onwards.

The same unit carries through to the 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor, although waiting in the wings is the stove-hot Raptor R that will come stuffed with a detuned version of the monstrous supercharged V8 that propels the 567kW Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.

While hard-core V8 enthusiasts with especially deep pockets will want to hold out for the Raptor R, rest assured the standard V6-powered vehicle serves up adequate grunt to satisfy most tastes.

Eking out 336kW at 5000rpm and 691Nm at 3500rpm, the blown six-pot spears the 2.6-tonne hulk from 0-100km/h in less than 6.0sec, and it’ll dust off the quarter mile in under 14sec, based on testing data from US magazines.

The EcoBoost is certainly an effective engine with a decently flat torque curve, but it’s by no means the most sonorous powerplant offered in a full-size pick-up. For our more senior readers, hark back to the soundtrack of a Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T with the 265 HEMI and you’ll get a pretty good approximation of how the Raptor sounds.

Hooked up to the V6 is Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission. Although generally smooth and seamless in its operation, the auto can get caught out by sudden throttle applications. The result is a moment or two of indecision, followed by a mule-kick to the spine as it slams back to a lower gear.

However, this scenario only happens occasionally, and you soon learn what not to do to avoid triggering it. You can leave the transmission to its own devices – in which case it goes about its business unobtrusively – or take charge via the tactile alloy flappy paddles (they’re nice and long, so you can tweak a higher or lower gear even with some steering lock wound on).

Ford quotes a payload of 641kg for the Raptor and towing capacity of 3727kg. Both these numbers are more or less on par with the RAM 1500 TRX.

The first thing that strikes you about the 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor after a few kilometres behind the wheel is of how nimble and agile it feels for such a gargantuan contraption.

Measuring 5908mm from bumper to bumper and 2200mm across the bows, you’d fully expect the XXL Ford to feel bulky and cumbersome, but it’s somehow able to hide its girth remarkably well.

That said, it feels every bit its size when you’re looking to deposit it in a shopping mall car park with parking slots conceived with sedans, hatchbacks and run-of-the-mill SUVs in mind. Even slotting the big Ford into parallel parking spots can be a bit tedious.

Other than these minor gripes, the F-150 Raptor is a remarkably cossetting and pleasant device to pedal. Its ride quality shines especially in off-road settings, but more on this shortly.

The cabin layout is neat and functional, with the big infotainment screen making it relatively easy to navigate through the various menus. There are physical buttons and knobs for the radio and HVAC controls, which is most welcome, particularly in a vehicle of this ilk.

The centre console also houses 12V and 120V AC sockets, as well as a wireless phone charging receptacle. A neat and useful element is a fold-out work surface that can be deployed over the driver’s seat (it’s perfect for plonking your laptop on).

Clearly, Ford’s designers have put a lot of thought into the cabin layout, but one area where it falls slightly short is in the plethora of hard plastic surfaces throughout.

By comparison, the RAM 1500 TRX has much more in the way of soft-touch materials, endowing it with a significantly classier ambience.

The Raptor’s load bed is equipped with an additional power socket and there’s a fold-out step that makes it easier for less sprightly folks to clamber on top. The tailgate also raises and deploys hydraulically.

Enough of the mundane stuff. Off-roading prowess is what most buyers are likely to be most interested in, and the 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor doesn’t disappoint.

The big breakthrough in the Raptor’s latest avatar is its all-new five-link rear suspension, designed to deliver more control and greater confidence over rough terrain at high speeds.

Replacing the old leaf-spring set-up, the five-link rear suspension features extra-long trailing arms to better maintain axle position on rough terrain, a Panhard rod and 24-inch coil springs – the longest in the class, according to Ford.

Soaking up giant ‘whoops’ and landings is taken care of by the latest-gen (3.1-inch diameter) Fox Live Valve internal bypass shocks with electronic control technology. Ford claims these shocks are better able to resist heat build-up and react faster to terrain changes for greater confidence over extended desert running.

Readings from suspension height sensors and other sensors around the truck change damping rates independently at each corner 500 times per second, with the shocks responding at the same speed the human brain processes visual information.

The truck responds by the time the driver even registers a terrain change, claims Ford.

That’s all good in theory, but we’re here to tell you that all this stuff actually works out in the real world – ‘real world’ in this case being the sand dunes beyond the urban jungle of Dubai.

The F-150 Raptor soaks up rough terrain with impressive serenity, and the big truck glides across most obstacles and surface irregularities without breaking its stride.

Our test vehicle was equipped with the standard 35-inch tyres (rather than the optional 37-inchers), but even these were able to generate enough bite and traction to comfortably tame medium-sized dunes.

Ground clearance is a respectable 305mm with the 35-inch tyres, but the Raptor’s approach angle and departure angles (31 degrees and 23.9 degrees respectively) are nothing to write home about.

To put these numbers in perspective, a four-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has approach and departure angles of 43.9 degrees and 37.0 degrees respectively.

Can you get it beached? Sure you can. Carry insufficient momentum through a patch of ultra-soft sand and your progress will come to a grinding halt. I discovered this first-hand.

Even engaging the rear diff lock wasn’t enough for the vehicle to extricate itself, so a snatch recovery was needed.

However, anyone with a modicum of off-roading chops will find the Raptor a willing and capable all-terrainer that’s able to cover cross-country distances with remarkable assurance and rapidity.

It may not serve up the sheer wow factor of the steroidal new RAM 1500 TRX, but the 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor is in many ways a more polished and easy-to-live-with truck.

Even though the two are dimensionally similar, the Raptor conveys an impression of far greater agility and crispness in its responses. That said, the TRX goes harder and sounds a lot better.

The Raptor is surprisingly refined, both on and off road, but it’s shown up by the TRX when it comes to the quality of its interior fit-out.

Ultimately, it comes down to the old horses-for-courses cliche. Both pick-ups are emphatic proof of how far American full-size pick-up trucks have come.

Each is capable of putting a smile on your face, just in different ways…

How much does the 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor cost?
Price: $180,000 est (plus on-road costs)
Available: Late 2023 est
Engine: 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol
Total Output: 336kW/691Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Fuel: 14.6L/100km (US EPA)
CO2: 344g/km (US EPA)
Safety rating: Not tested