The 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R is coming. the F-150 Raptor R is the firecest Raptor yet. The Blue Oval has gone as far to say it’s “scary fast.” This would be a bold claim for many vehicles, but the Raptor R belongs to a special niche category of performance pickup trucks that is constantly pushing boundaries. The Ram 1500 TRX has gotten the better of several F-150 Raptor models because of its mighty Hellcat engine. Is the F-150 Raptor R the new TRX?

Is the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R the new Ram 1500 TRX?

Ahh, the Hellcat engine. The Hellcat engine is one of the most respected and admired engines produced in recent years. Dodge has used the Hellcat engine in several powerful and popular muscle cars like the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, and Dodge Durnago SRT Hellcat. Several other Stellantis models got the Hellcat treatment including the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and Ram 1500 TRX.

The inclusion of the Hellcat engine in a Ram 1500 was a dream-come-true for many truck lovers. The TRX was a new kind of performance pickup truck. Ram gave the truck a major suspension and tire upgrade along with a powerful Hellcat V8 engine to create an unrivaled off-roading beast.

Ford’s F-150 Raptor has a longer production history than the Ram 1500 TRX, but Ford hasn’t always been able to keep up with the TRX’s power. The 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R is the first true Ram 1500 TRX rival in a long time. The two off-road performance pickup trucks are always pitted against eachother but Ram’s Hellcat engine was just too powerful for the Blue Oval to compete with.

The new Raptor R uses a 5.2-liter V8 engine to make 700 horsepower. The Ram 1500 TRX uses a 6.2-liter V8 Hellcat engine to make 702 horsepower. According to Road and Track, the 2023 F-150 Raptor R starts at a whopping $109,145. The 2022 Ram TRX starts at $78,790. Who would have thought that Ford’s new performance pickup would make a TRX seem affordable?

The F-150 Raptor R is a TRX rival, not a replacement

Ford’s performance pickup truck may finally be able to stand against the fabled TRX, but it certainly doesn’t blow it out of the water. In fact the TRX still makes more horses and is close to $30,000 cheaper than the Blue Oval’s quick off-road truck.

So, is the F-150 Raptor R the new Ram 1500 TRX? Nope. Ford has produced a capable competitor, but the rivalry will live on. Ram still has the upperhand if you consider the affordability of the two trucks.

Should you buy a 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R?

The 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R is many things, but it isn’t a daily driver. The off-road V8-powered pickup trucks is designed for drivers who want to test the vehicle against harsh terrain.

If you don’t regularly enjoy off-roading as a hobby, and aren’t willing to spend nearly $110K on a performance pickup truck, the Raptor R probably isn’t for you. If you are in the market for a capable new off-road pickup, the Raptor R and Ram TRX are two of the gnarliest options in the best way possible.

Read about how the new Raptor R stacks up against the powerful Rivian R1T Launch Edition in the next article below.