On the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R launch I requested Ford Efficiency boss Carl Widdman why the crew left one metric on the desk: Horsepower.

Why not tune it for simply 3, and even 5, extra horsepower to prime the Ram TRX? Widdman answered my query with a query (which my Uncle Robert, Unc, did as a toddler and it was all the time irritating): “Why hassle?”

It didn’t actually matter, the manager defined, and the Raptor R’s considerably lighter than the TRX.

On the time Widdman’s reply didn’t totally resonate with me to the complete extent it ought to’ve. After spending every week, a number of street journeys throughout the Midwest, three tanks of premium gas, and many high quality time within the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor, I now perceive Widdman wasn’t simply simply exhibiting chutzpah. The additional few horsepower wouldn’t actually matter. 

On paper the Ford F-150 Raptor R and the Ram TRX look like the identical truck with practically the identical horsepower and spec sheet, however residing with each has made me understand they’re truly fairly completely different. The Ford F-150 Raptor R pulls from Ford’s bag of tips to be extra dynamic and well-rounded than the Ram TRX. 

2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R

Professional: Ford F-150 R options break up character

The Raptor R defaults to its Regular drive mode upon startup, and dare I say it makes the 700-hp 8-foot extensive truck simply one other loud pickup. Sure, it has numerous energy, however it simply goes concerning the day by day enterprise ignoring the actual fact there’s a 2.7-liter supercharger huffing as much as 12 psi bolted to the highest of the engine. Flick the drive mode knob to Sport and the Raptor R wakes up cracking off faster shifts, opening the energetic exhaust baffles extra, and cranking up throttle tip-in and response. The four-wheel drive system additionally shifts from 2WD to 4WD auto for enhanced traction. The end result? Sport mode transforms the Raptor R to be the truck that you just count on it to be, however that it doesn’t all the time must be.  

2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R

Con: Ford F-150 R drinks gasoline

It’s a shock to nobody: That 700-hp supercharged V-8 engine is thirsty and it likes premium gas. A lot of it. EPA gas economic system scores examine in at a stomach-turning 10 mpg metropolis, 15 freeway, and 12 mixed. In combined suburban driving I averaged 11.1 mpg. Not nice, however in-line with EPA scores. 

I beat the EPA freeway ranking on three of 4 freeway street journeys, when the supercharged monster averaged 16.0 mpg with the cruise management set at nicely over 70 mph. The fourth street journey added a head wind into the scenario and dropped gas economic system to an abysmal 12.4 mpg as a result of it’s an 8-foot extensive pickup truck crusing by the air on 37-inch tires. Finances gasoline cash; this truck has a 36-gallon gas tank. 

2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R

Professional: F-150 Raptor R’s mild(er) on its rubber paymentt

In practically each day-to-day circumstance the Raptor R feels noticeably lighter in the way in which it goes about its enterprise in comparison with the TRX. With about 400 kilos much less weight to hold across the Raptor R shifts instructions faster and feels extra nimble, with out feeling flinty or flimsy. 

2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R

Con: Ford F-150 Raptor R’s inside falls quick (of TRX) 

Whereas these entrance Recaro bucket seats are good, and the inside is good sufficient, it’s not Ram TRX good. From the plastics, match and end, even the seize handles on the A-pillar, Ram’s inside is simply one other degree up. The trick folding shifter nonetheless appears like a bag of marbles being rolled round when folding up or down, and there’s play in that shifter when it’s in gear or in park. For somebody as neurotic as me, that play is sufficient to drive you mad. Like different F-150s you see the perimeters the place the carpet stops, it’s tough minimize across the underneath seat vents, and it’s … a elaborate F-150. 

2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R

Professional: Ford F-150 R provides up none of F-150’s tips

Regardless of having a five-link rear suspension with coil springs, Fox distant reservoir live-valve shocks, 37-inch all-terrain tires, and all of the suspension journey, the Raptor R provides up not one of the F-150’s greatest tips. 3 times within the span of every week I discovered myself needing to get work completed within the F-150 Raptor R, and on the push of a button the shifter folded into the console, I flipped the middle armrest over, and increase, I had a desk with a cooled Recaro seat. It was nice, so long as I didn’t consider the gasoline I used to be burning whereas idling. There is a pop-up bin to include stuff underneath the rear seat bench, and there’s holes within the tailgate to mount C-clamps to carry issues whereas working. It’s only a helpful truck with artistic options that additionally occurs to be able to operating over whoops at 80-plus mph. 

2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R

Con: Ford F-150 Raptor R is pricey

The 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor prices $78,670 together with an $1,895 vacation spot cost, however choosing the Raptor R and its supercharged V-8 provides $30,575 to the value earlier than including choices. That’s not apples-to-apples, however even including in some options which are customary on the R to the bottom Raptor there’s nonetheless a worth delta of over $25,000 and it’s about $10,000 greater than a comparable Ram TRX. This Ford is a $110,000 pickup truck. Vehicles are getting into a brand new realm of pricing, and the Raptor R’s inside actually isn’t Mercedes-Benz S-Class good, and even as good as the within of the TRX.

2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R

Professional: Ford F-150 Raptor R delivers a sleeper

It’s arduous to name an 8-foot extensive automobile or one thing this probably loud a sleeper, however in your entire week I had the Raptor R just one single individual realized what it was. Everybody else simply assumed it was a Raptor, presumably powered by a turbo-6. With visible variations restricted to blacked-out trim, orange tow hooks, a 1.0-inch taller hood vent, and tiny R badges on the grille and tailgate, to not point out R-specific fender and hood graphics (that are non-compulsory) it simply appears like a Raptor. It’s a must to know what you’re listening (or trying) for to know. If you already know you already know, and that one dude who noticed me from throughout the car parking zone at Walmart knew. Amazingly. He even got here up and talked to me; I checked out his restored blue Bronco within the car parking zone, and he advised me concerning the Hennessey Velociraptor 500 Bronco Raptor he has on order. He knew.

The Ram TRX is a sledgehammer always. By no means quiet, and actually by no means relaxed, it’s simply all the time wired. For these looking for peak truck it’s excellent, however the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R feels extra dynamic with its means to “flip off” being wired due to Regular mode, the energetic exhaust, and options to get work completed when it’s not time to play.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R

Base worth: $109,245 together with $1,895 vacation spot

Worth as examined: $109,840

Powertrain: 700-hp supercharged 5.2-liter V-8, 10-speed automated transmission, full-time four-wheel drive

EPA gas economic system: 10/15/12 mpg

The professionals: Has F-150’s bag of tips, lighter than TRX, not all the time wired, borders on sleeper Raptor standing

The cons: Thirsty and it likes premium, hilariously costly, TRX inside is nicer