2019 Ford F-150 Raptor, Diesel: Serious Trucks For All

There is no pickup like the Ford F-150 Raptor. What other truck can take you from showroom to Baja on one straight road, charge highways like a power-infused muscle car, and still be a pleasant everyday family “car”? It’s the Ford F-150 Raptor – a “super truck” for those willing to cut loose and take a ride on the wild side without giving up any of the comforts.

By the numbers, Ford sells the best-selling line of pickups on earth. The range includes basic work trucks and full-on Platinum and King Ranch luxury haulers. However, two of the most interesting are the ones with “Raptor” and “Power Stroke” printed on the sides.

2019 F-150 Raptor Goes From Showroom To Baja

There is no pickup like the Ford F-150 Raptor. What other truck can take you from showroom to Baja on one straight road, charge highways like a power-infused muscle car, and still be a pleasant everyday family “car”? It’s the Ford F-150 Raptor – a “super truck” for those willing to cut loose and take a ride on the wild side without giving up any of the comforts.

Ground Clearance Matters

Compared to the previous generation Raptor, the truck has an additional 2” of ground clearance and 6” of track width, and is 500 lbs. lighter through the use of military grade aluminum body panels. Rounded wheel arches, minimized front/rear bumpers, and wider fenders enhance suspension travel and approach/departure angles when off-roading. The Raptor’s bad attitude seeps through the black mesh grille with FORD lettering, front fender extractors, aluminum step bar, and front skid plates.

The interior is mostly stock F-150, but with notable flourishes. Our truck comes with the Blue Accent Package that includes deeply bolstered RECARO sport seats – heated and ventilated if you please. A heated steering wheel and heated rear seats come too. Magnesium paddle shifters and carbon fiber trim are additional clues this is no normal F-150.

A trailer backing controller, voice-activated navigation, B& O Audio, and 110v outlet add joy. Bluetooth and 4G Wi-Fi hotspot connect all of your devices. The touchscreen is very intuitive with easy to understand icons. Safety is enhanced by blind spot warning with trailer monitoring and forward collision warning with auto brake.

Snarling Twin-Turbo V6

Beneath the evil hood vents is a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 that produces 450 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque. It connects to a brand new 10-speed automatic transmission that steps through power as easily as Cookie Monster makes crumbs. Dual exhausts amplify the menacing growl, so step hard and often. It’s intoxicating, but fuel economy ratings of 15/18-MPG city/highway will sober you when you swipe for big spends at the pump.

Just that powertrain would make any breathing human’s heart patter, but taking it to Baja requires a bit more. Upgraded FOX shocks are 44% larger for improved damping while integrated hydraulic bump stops minimize bottoming out. Sporty 17” alloy wheels are shod with BF Goodrich KO2 tires. There’s more. The Raptor’s Terrain Management System can be adjusted for Normal (daily driving), Weather (AWD, throttle response for inclement weather), Mud & Sand (4H locked, rear differential automatically locked), Baja (4H, transmission shifting altered), or Rock Crawl (4L with locking rear differential). Steering can be independently adjusted from light to firm.

There are not many trucks that can be driven off of the showroom and out into the boonies for extreme adventure. And, to do it with the luxury and comfort of the Raptor is equally rare. Expect to pay for the privilege as a base price of $52,855 rose to $74,955 as tested. Competitors include the Chevy Silverado Trail Boss, Ram 1500 Rebel, GMC Sierra AT4, Nissan Titan Pro-4X, and Jeep Gladiator Rubicon.

2019 F-150 Diesel Is A Smooth Hauler

I don’t always pay attention to what vehicle I’m reviewing next. Sure, I knew a Ford F-150 was coming, but I didn’t read all of the specs before jumping behind the wheel to run errands. A couple of miles down the road, I noticed the tachometer didn’t go quite as high as I remembered in past F-150s and there was a turbo boost gauge in the cluster. I grabbed the window sticker and there it was plain as day: Power Stroke Diesel.

Quiet and Powerful

It’s that smooth and quiet. Driving a little further, I started to appreciate the low-end torque of the engine and seamless output from the turbo. Ford rates the 3.0-liter engine 250 horsepower and 440 lb.-ft. of torque – all routed to the four-wheel-drive system through a 10-speed automatic transmission that can be adjusted for Normal, Tow-Haul, Snow-Wet, Eco, and Sport modes to optimize performance in all conditions. Beyond the 11,400 pounds of towing capacity, the glorious part is fuel economy rated 20/25-MPG city/highway. There are mid-size cars and compact crossovers that do not achieve those digits.

Beyond the engine and a couple of Power Stroke badges on the sides, you’d be hard pressed to differentiate diesel-powered F-150s from others with its step-down windowline and aluminum panels that keep it light. Dressed up in Lariat trim with the Sport package, our Crew Cab truck sports body color trim, 20” alloys, and LED lighting. Power running boards keep it clean. Around back, there’s spray-in bedliner, LED cargo lights, and a step that deploys from the tailgate. It’s especially fetching in Velocity Blue paint.

Upscale Luxury Abounds

Luxury buyers may prefer Platinum and King Ranch trim levels, bout our Lariat is pretty snazzy. Stitched dash and console coverings, woodgrain accents, and soft leather seats are pretty posh, but those seats are heated and ventilated, rear seats are heated, and even the thick leather-wrapped steering wheel warms with a touch. A dual-pane sunroof, power rear window, B&O audio system, and power adjustments for the steering wheel and pedals add comfort and convenience while an easy-to-use touchscreen controls devices connected via Bluetooth, USBs, and 4G Wi-Fi. Navigation gets you there.

There’s a load of safety gear, too, if not as much as higher trim levels. Our truck has lane keep assist, pre collision braking, trailer sway control, and reverse sensing system. A 360-degree camera helps with tight maneuvering – as does a reverse sensing system and Ford’s pro trailer backup assist system that utilizes a knob in the dash to put trailers right in their place. A dash-mounted trailer brake controller adds another measure of safety.

If there’s one downside to the diesel, it’s the $4,000 premium over gasoline options. You can buy an F-150 for as little as $28,155, but our well-optioned Lariat diesel came to a luxury-level $68,100. If that price doesn’t bother you, I suspect you’ll like the truck very much. Competitors include the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, Nissan Titan XD, and upcoming diesel versions of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra.

Storm Forward!

Send comments to Casey at AutoCasey@aol.com; follow him on YouTube @ AutoCasey.

2019 Ford F-150 Raptor

Five-passenger, 4WD Pickup

Powertrain: 3.5-liter Turbo V6, 10-spd trans.

Output: 450hp/510 lb.-ft. torque

Suspension f/r: Ind/Solid axle

Wheels f/r: 17”/17” alloy

Brakes f/r: disc/disc

Must-have features: Engine, Style

Fuel economy: 15/18-MPG city/hwy

Assembly: Dearborn, MI