Skip to main content

The Ford F-150’s power and versatility make it a great truck for both work and play. However, in order to make the F-150 more off-road-ready, the automaker created the aggressive Raptor. The Ford F-150 Raptor takes the F-150 and adds special features to become one of the toughest off-road trucks on the market.

While the Raptor certainly seems more aggressive than the standard F-150, some drivers argue that the Raptor is not worth the higher price tag. So, is this true? Here are the differences between the Ford F-150 and Ford Raptor.

The Ford Raptor vs. the standard Ford F-150: interior and exterior

the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor off-roading in sand
2023 Ford F-150 Raptor | Ford

At first glance, it’s easy to see some of the differences between the two trucks. The F-150 has a modest, practical exterior while the Raptor has a more aggressive body construction clearly made for off-roading.

The Raptor’s exterior features heavy-duty running boards as well as strong and durable skid plates that help to protect the truck’s engine and other vital components. Its large grille boldly displays the word “FORD.”

The truck features aggressive front and rear bumpers as well as flared fenders to add a little more protection to the body. With an upgraded exterior lighting system, the Raptor’s quad-beam LED headlights make the truck stand out in the dark and help drivers see off-road trails more clearly.

The interior of the Raptor does not look much different than the standard F-150. Both of these trucks have cloth seats, a large center console, and a large touchscreen infotainment display equipped with Bluetooth connectivity options as well as other special features.

The main difference between the Raptor and the standard F-150’s interior is that the Raptor comes equipped with six different Auxiliary plugs in the overhead console. This allows you to easily hook up a wide range of accessories like a wench or an air compressor.

Raptor vs. F-150: Power and performance

When you consider performance, you can really see these trucks’ differences. The Ford F-150 Raptor only has one engine available: a 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This powerful engine delivers up to 450 hp and best-in-class torque at 510 lb-ft.

The Raptor also comes standard with a four-wheel-drive system and an independent front suspension. The long-travel suspension system features 13-inch suspension travel in the front and 13.9 inches of suspension travel in the back to help drivers clear debris usually found on off-road trails.

The most potent regular Ford F-150 engine is the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine with 400 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. The F-150 Hybrid pairs this engine with an electric motor and a battery pack to generate 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque.

Is the Ford Raptor worth the higher price tag?

The 2023 Ford F-150 on a dirt road
2023 Ford F-150 | Ford

The base price for a standard F-150 is around $34,585. The Raptor, however, costs quite a bit more. The estimated price for a new Ford Raptor is around $76.775. While those prices seem worlds apart, you must consider the fact that you get a lot of extras with a Ford Raptor.

We must point out that even though you pay about $42,000 more for a Raptor, you’re actually getting a good deal. If you bought a standard F-150 and then added all of the extra power, suspension, and other off-road features of a Raptor, you’d end up spending around $75,000.

So, even though the Raptor’s price tag may seem steep, you’re actually getting a powerful and aggressive truck for a very decent price.