The Ford Ranger Raptor Will Dethrone the Toyota Tacoma
Didn’t you hear? The Ford Raptor made a baby, and it’s not just any baby, it’s a dinosaur baby. We get to expect the 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor, a smaller version of the full-size off-roading truck and it could dethrone the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro.
The 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor is coming
So, here’s the deal. Ford will bring the Ford Ranger Raptor to the U.S., and it could be here as early as fall after some of the new Ford Bronco craze calms down a little. It’s expected to be included with the new 2021 Ford Ranger lineup.
Interest in mid-size pickup trucks is growing, so Ford has been working to catch up to rivals, such as the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. One of the reasons why smaller trucks perform better for off-roading is because of their shorter wheelbases. Having a shorter wheelbase can make it easier to crawl over obstacles.
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Plus, smaller trucks have an easier time making it through narrow trails. But will the 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor be beefy enough to compete against the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro or Chevy Colorado ZR2?
Ford Ranger Raptor performance
The price for the upcoming Ford Ranger Raptor hasn’t been released yet, but it could start out around $44k. This would rival the Chevy Colorado ZR2, which starts around $44k and the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro that begins around $45k.
The current Ford Ranger Raptor wasn’t introduced to the U.S. because of its exclusive 2.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-four engine with 210 horsepower and 489 lb-ft of torque.
In the U.S., we can expect to see the 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine that’s currently in the Ford F-150. It provides 250 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque. We could also see the turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 gasoline engine that delivers 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque and a four-cylinder variant.
Currently, the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro only offers a 3.5-liter V6 engine option that offers 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. If the Ford Ranger Raptor has more torque, it will be more suitable for rock crawling and towing than the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro.
2021 Ford Ranger Raptor features
The Ford Ranger Raptor will be heavily outfitted with new off-roading equipment to conquer trails. It should have a higher ground clearance, larger tires, skid plates to protect the undercarriage, a transfer case, Fox performance shocks, an electronically locking differential, and more.
Plus, the Ford Raptor Ranger interior will be luxurious and functional. The version overseas currently has leather seats with rubberized materials for durability and a red band on the steering wheel to mark its performance edge.
The 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor could get the current 8-inch infotainment center, or perhaps the new 12-inch system that’s in the new Ford F-150. We hope to see a forward-facing camera to display where each tire will land and a variety of off-roading modes.
It will also need advanced comfort and tech, such as a dual-zone automatic climate feature, enhanced digital cluster display, innovative storage, a quiet cabin, and more to compete with the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. However, its new look and interior could draw attention away from the Tacoma because it hasn’t received any significant updates in a while.
