Tested: 2021 FordTrucks F-150 Raptor chases the TRX:
tires. Buyers can upgrade to 37-inch KO2s, which Ford says is the tallest rubber ever fitted to a half-ton production pickup. But what the larger-tired Raptor loses in wheel travel , it gains in ground clearance and improved approach, departure, and breakover angles. And, like the 35s, trucks with the larger 37s get a full-size spare slung under the cargo bed.
LOWS: More expensive than before, unimpressive grip and braking on pavement, still lacks the control and overall performance of Ram's TRX.Our drive time came primarily at California's Dumont Dunes off-road vehicle area, a 7620-acre playground set in the Mojave Desert just west of Las Vegas. But one of the Raptor's greatest improvements was evident before we even left our hotel's parking lot: a more prominent and characterful engine note, courtesy of a new active exhaust system.
That V-6 essentially carries over for 2021, as does the Raptor's 10-speed automatic and variable four-wheel-drive system with a locking rear differential and an optional Torsen limited-slip front diff. Output remains a respectable 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, but the engine and transmission have been retuned for a more effective power delivery.
Snaking through desert washes at close to 100 mph revealed a solid feel to the new Raptor's chassis and an improved sense of overall stability. The quick-reacting Fox dampers soaked up the impacts as we skipped across the tops of undulating whoop-de-doos at highway speeds, and the rear axle is now more resistant to hopping and shaking when accelerating on loose terrain. Touchdowns from big jumps are smoother than ever.
So, where does all this put the new Raptor compared to its archrival? The TRX is the standard of this wild segment not just because of its immense power that makes it quicker than some sports cars, but also for its tanklike solidity and awesome composure on just about any surface. The Raptor has noticeably closed the gap, with this next step in its evolution bringing more excitement, refinement, and better at-the-limit control when pounding through the desert.
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