2019 Ford Raptor NH
The Ford-150 has consistently been a reliable and highly rated pickup truck, not to mention an American best-seller.
But lately, it’s really set itself apart from the segment, thank to its the 2019 Ford Raptor model. The Raptor model first came on the scene in 2014, and has developed into the premier off-roading truck.
With it’s off road capabilities, stylish interior features, and engine performance this truck should be the target of your next truck shopping trip.
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Off-Road Capabilities
Something that the Raptor model offers is the serious ability to off-road. It shares a class with the Tacoma TRD and the Chevy Silverado Z71, but still comes with some great specs that place it ahead of the curve, besting its so-called competition.
Ideal for off-roading, the Ford F-150 Raptor comes with 17-inch cast aluminum wheels with high gloss machined face and magnetic painted pockets standard, which give you the best traction for any type of road or condition. You can also opt for 17-inch aluminum beadlock capable wheels if you prefer, but the standard wheels will do just fine.
Most buyers never take the truck off the asphalt, which doesn’t do the truck justice. It really shines when it’s used in the snow, on rocks, or better yet, the sand. It could be why most Baja 1000 racers opt for the Raptor without any modifications. Not to mention, it can take jumps like no other truck in its class. The suspension can actually detect when the truck is in the air and compensates and readies the vehicle for landing and contact.
The 2019 Raptor F-150 has six different drive modes, most of which are dedicated to taking this beast off the asphalt and into the wilderness without any issues. The first of the modes is “Normal;” the most basic and the one most people will use when they are grabbing a cup of coffee in the morning or dropping the kids off at school.
Shifting into “Sport” mode will give your steering some weight, increase the throttle response, provide quicker shifting and holds the gears longer for more power. The “Weather” mode is great for exactly what it states - weather. It excels in rain, snow and ice by automatically engaging 4x4. The AdvanceTrac throttle response and shift schedule gets a bit dialed back, but this allows for maximum grip. The “Mud/Sand” setting engages 4-high and the Raptor’s electronic locking differential. AdvanceTrac does its best to keep you above ground, all while the power steering works hard to assist you to its maximum capacity.
One of the most exciting modes is the “Rock Crawl.” This really puts the F-150 Raptor over the top, by dropping the truck into 4-low, switching the locking differential, and all while AdvanceTrac works in the least-intrusive way to help you conquer all of the obstacles that Mother Nature might throw your way. The throttle mods and transmission response are well-adjusted and the front camera (stellar feature, by the way!) allows you to see what is ahead at speeds of up to 15 mph, exclusively in off-road mode.
But the best mode of all, the real beast mode results from shifting the Raptor into “Baja” mode. This is really what sets the truck apart from the others in its class. When this mode is engaged, the F-150 Raptor is in its most responsive state, holding the RPM as high as possible, while still keeping everyone safe. This allows the driver to squeeze every last drop of energy out of the turbo-charged engine. While all this is happening, the truck relaxes the traction and stability systems and automatically goes into 4WD. This is something that you can override and set into 2WD to get the full racing experience.
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Interior Features
This truck offers as much outside as it does inside. It has as slew of interior features that further sets it apart from the rest. Some of the standard seating options that it offers are front bucket seats with a center flow-through console. You also get an 8-way power front driver’s seat with power lumbar support.The passenger seat adjusts manually, though you have the option to add a 10-way power driver and passenger seat, should you feel that you need it. The rear seats have a 60/40 flip up bench seat, with an elongated cushion (in Super Cab options only). Additional options offered up front include the available perforated leather trim, driver’s memory front seat, as well as heated and ventilated front driver and passenger seats.
The climate control can leave you wanting more, but it offers manual air-conditioning in a single zone with the option to upgrade to dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control. This baby’s got a great set of standard entertainment options as well, including an AM/FM stereo with a single CD changer, SiriusXM Radio access, FordSync and Sync with AppLink - allowing you to connect to your phone or not - whichever you decide, the sound is crystal clear. There is a standard 4.2-inch productivity screen, an auxiliary audio input jack, and cruise control, just to name a few options.
The productivity screen shares useful information from MPG to towing capacity. In the optional 8-inch screen version, you can create a completely customized experience and access the screens that you use the most, all in one place. You also can opt for Sync Connect via FordPass. This is an app that can assist you with a number of tasks, like finding parking or locating the lowest gas prices. FordPass also helps you get to know your truck better with updates on performance and scheduled service, as well as the ability to lock, unlock, and start it up - right from your phone. Think remote start without the annoying additional key fob that may or may not work.
Engine Performance vs. Standard F-150
As far as performance goes, the F-150 Raptor has exactly what you think it would under the hood. Featuring a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque gives the Raptor a fuel economy of roughly 15 mpg city and 18 mpg highway.
Granted, fuel efficiency is definitely not the priority to those looking to purchase this powerhouse as handling and off-road performance. The F-150 standard has four engine options, though none are as powerful as the Raptor model. None of them really can compare, if you’re looking at it from a torque and performance point of view.
Yes, the F-150 standard gets slightly better gas mileage. Yes, one of the F-150 options comes close to the torque of the Raptor, but there really is no competition when it comes to the horsepower.
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All in all, the Ford F-150 Raptor really packs a punch. Since its debut in 2014, it really has just gotten better and better over the years. Though the differences between the 2018 and 2019 models are extremely slight, you really will get a bang for your buck with the 2019 model. This truck really is an off-road warrior’s dream, and there is a reason that racers in the Baja 1000 tend to choose the Raptor over any other truck in its class.