As a product reviewer in the automotive industry, ask any car fanatic and they’ll think we have the best job on the planet. I don’t know about you, but I think the million dollar making TikTok videos have it beat. None-the-less, when Ford dropped off the next generation F-150 Raptor at our office door stop, we weren’t exactly as excited as one should be.

Now, now, calm your tits. Don’t get us wrong, there is a lot to be excited about over the new Raptor. However, with the launch of the RAM’s 1500 T-Rex, errrr, TRX, the Raptor starts to lose its spot on the hierarchy totem pole. Rumor has it a Raptor R-awr is in the works to compete against such beastly power, but for now, the updated next-generation Raptor is stuck with the return of the twin-turbocharged high-output 3.5-liter V-6 and all of its 450-horsepower and 510lbs-ft of torque glory.

The reality is, the Raptor doesn’t really need more power, in which it becomes more of an ego thing than anything. The fact that it can get from 0-60 in an energetic 5.5-seconds without breaking a sweat is impressive business from a vehicle that is about as big as a building. And because the last generation F-150 Raptor brought about many gleeful, schoolboy giggles, this new one will do just the same, if not more.

Rolling into the next generation, a lot of the complaints that were filed from the previous-gen have been sorted out in this new one. The sheer tire size alone can be a comfort killer, but with improvements made to the chassis and suspension system, you’d think we were driving the posh Limited model. Thanks to the new Fox Live Valve internal bypass shocks, ride control has been heavily improved with new 24-inch coil springs in the rear offering 14-inches of travel in the front and 15-inches of suspension travel in the rear.

Despite the much improvement to the ride quality, we cannot hide from the pure heaviness that the 37-inch tires bring. Maneuvering the steering takes us back to a time when power steering was an idea on a napkin and required two hands to turn the wheel. Different drive modes can help modify the tension between Normal, Comfort and Sport – Comfort being the easiest way to get around a parking lot and into a parking space, should you fit between the lines anyways.

With the Raptor being practically the size of King Kong, we’d expect it to make just as much uproar from the sound department. Sounding like a virgin mating call, the V-6 roar just doesn’t have quite the same impact as its masculine body panels. Exploiting the exhaust to Baja mode does open the taps for a bit of snap and crackle like the sass9y thing it can be. Though less dramatic, the exhaust sound does amplify the crisp, smoothness of the re-tuned 10-speed automatic that snaps through its gears like a high-performance sports car.

Inside, all of the latest generation F-150 design features are here like the large digital display and infotainment system. Even the folding gear handle and fast food tray table come standard. The unique Rhapsody Blue interior with Recaro seats is refreshing from the standard black and tan interiors and their decently comfortable to boot too.  

One may ask how does it perform off-road, and believe us; you don’t really need us to provide that intel – the 37-inch tires can clear just about anything if you really put your mind to it. And while we didn’t test our Raptor off-road, there are plenty of YouTube videos to prove its capabilities.  

Living with the Raptor is another story however. The sheer size alone is enough to be annoying – it takes 2x’s the effort to park, every day is leg day getting in and out of it, it averages 14-miles to the gallon and handles like a tractor. And then there’s the price, $82,000. But when it comes to boys and their toys or girls with their whirls, the Ford F-150 Raptor certainly lives up to its name filled with constant thrills, no matter the driving conditions.

Photos provided by Ford Motor Co.

VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS

Vehicle: 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor
Base Price: $68,675
As-Tested Price: $82,080

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 3.5-liter High-Output Twin-Turbocharged V-6
Horsepower | Torque: 450-Horsepower | 510 lb-ft of Torque
Transmission: 10-Speed Automatic
Drivetrain: Four-Wheel Drive w/ Terrain Management
MPG: 15 | 16| 15 (City | Highway | Combined)
As-Tested MPG: 15.3-MPG Combined
Fuel Range: 425 miles
0-60 MPH: ±6.0-seconds