First Drive: Ford Ranger Raptor SE

In 2019, Ford introduced the Ranger Raptor, an upgraded extreme off-road-ready version of the existing Ranger. The Raptor wasn’t a mild spinoff of the existing model, with mere decals and a slight name change. What Ford did here was a considerable overhaul to their popular Ranger bakkie…

It’s only been two years since the Ranger Raptor's entry into Mzansi and Ford has taken things a step further by introducing a Ford Ranger Raptor Special Edition (SE). Before we get into the specifics of this SE variant, allow me to share my maiden experience with this model, having taken the reins of the Raptor for the first time at the recent launch of the Special Edition variant.

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You need to get up-close and personal to get an understanding of the Raptor's domineering presence – seeing one whisking past on the highway doesn’t do it justice. It's large, intimidating and with that set of 17” 285/70 chunky wheels, it rides on quite the solid foundation. Add to that a tricked-out suspension and the flared wheel arches and you just want to steer clear should you find yourself in the vicinity.

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The inside of the Ranger Raptor SE gives off the same large and imposing feel, with large and thickset Raptor seats and a proportionally-sized gear selector. My test track for the new Special Edition Raptor was the R335 in the Western Cape heading towards the Tankwa Karoo. This is a vast stretch of uninterrupted gravel road that stretches for nearly 200 km. The Raptor SE was frothing at the mouth at the sight of dust clouds as we approached the point where the tarred road ended and the gravel began. You see, this is what this mutant Ford Ranger was built for – and don't let anyone convince you otherwise.

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Now a lot has been said about the Raptor’s suspension but you cannot fully comprehend what the engineering boffins have done until you get behind the wheel of one. Shepherding the Raptor SE towards its place of bliss was about as exciting for me as it was for the vehicle. It doesn't share a suspension with the standard Ranger, but instead makes use of specialised Fox suspension – built to eat up uneven terrain like nuts and raisins for breakfast. As soon we hit the dirt and the switch was made from two-wheel to four-wheel-drive, and with the appropriate drive mode selected, it was game on. To give you an idea of how capable the Ford Ranger Raptor SE is on gravel, you can cruise on gravel at 120 km/h and even exceed this by some margin without it even breaking a sweat. It feels as though it's cruising down the M1. And like that's not enough, the Raptor will leap over bumps and small hills on gravel and land with poise and precision each time. That suspension is engineering at its finest!

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So, what do you get in the new Ford Ranger Raptor SE over the standard Raptor?

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Well, for starters, its styling has been tweaked slightly - enough for you to notice that something is different. In SE guise the Raptor gets a set of Ford's racing stripes along the top and the sides of the vehicle. Its door handles, fenders and grille are now finished in black, and it's available in four colours (black, blue, grey, and white). Ford has included a sports bar and a manual roller shutter to keep your belongings safe and out of reach. The inside of this Special Edition Raptor has also been tinkered with to set it apart from its Raptor twin. Here you get a race-inspired instrument cluster and red stitching throughout.

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You would expect such a vehicle to be fitted with a V6 engine beneath the bonnet at the very least, but Ford has resisted the temptation and chose to stick with the tried and tested 2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel. In all fairness, this four-cylinder diesel mule does a decent job with 157 kW and 500 Nm that’s available through a 10-speed automatic gearbox.

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Having experienced the Ford Raptor SE in its most natural habitat, one can’t help but feel sad at the thought that most of these vehicles are likely to spend most of their lives meandering about on perfectly-tarred surfaces doing the most mundane of suburban duties. This is not to say that the suspension upgrade is not as good on-road, because it is. It's probably one of the most comfortable bakkies in the market right now, but it yearns for the rough stuff because, well, it’s a Raptor.

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You can expect to part with R965,300 if you ever have the urge to own one of these Special Edition Ranger Raptors.

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Words: Gugu Masuku

Images: Ford SA