Admittedly, I’ve become a Ford fan in recent years, and getting in the latest iteration of the F-150 Raptor SuperCrew Cab added some excitement to my week. While this week isn’t my first run with the new Raptor, the new 2019 model year adds a few tweaks to sweeten the deal and make the price point for the new Raptor easier to digest.
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The 2019 Ford Raptor is already a capable truck in the sense of one of the most hard-core pick-ups you can find fresh off of the factory floor. However, to add even more capability for those times that the Baja mode alone will not do, Ford stepped up the game to add adaptive shocks that are a derivative of the Fox line of dampers. Such dampers, dubbed as the Fox Live Valve electronically controlled shocks, are the first of their kind for a production vehicle. Fortunately, the new Raptor gets them as part of adding the ability for the Raptor to make better jumps when you get down and dirty with Ford’s extreme pick-up. Fundamentally, the shocks setup combined with the proper drive mode adjusts its valving in a matter of milliseconds to pass oil and boost pressure up to 400 pounds in its reservoirs to either soften or stiffen the shocks for better landings and control under the most demanding conditions.
To add even more “extreme” to the complete Raptor experience, Ford adds Trail Control, which is for all intents and purposes, cruise control for off-roading. The Trail Control system, by a press of a button a-top the high resolution 8-inch sync infotainment touch screen, controls throttle and braking to give the driver more focus on their steering inputs on rough terrain, for what Ford calls “taking Raptor through the rough stuff more fun than ever.”
See Also: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor SuperCab Review & Test Drive
Still powered by the highly praised 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 EcoBoost engine from its introduction for the second generation of the Raptor, the hard-core F-150 is stout with a widened stance and ready to conquer with its 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. Just as explained in my previous reviews of the current-generation Raptor, the balance of on-road driving and off-roading are parts of the versatility of such a truck. While the Raptor SuperCrew Cab feels quite weighted driving on the road, it has plenty of low-end grunt to stay on pace and then dig-in when the going gets tough on questionable terrain.
Towing for the Raptor is certainly not its forte as the capacity is somewhat diminished due to the trick off-roading suspension when compared to some other F-150 truck siblings. Still, the subtle changes to the new Raptor are well received and welcomed for enthusiasts who have the desire to drive one of the most bad-ass off-road-prepped pick-up trucks around directly from a major automotive manufacturer. I don’t think there is any else that can touch a Raptor, right now.
To play in Ford’s most adventurous pick-up you must pay, both at the pump getting only 15 mpg city/18 mpg highway and out of the pock to the tune of $74,955 for my loaded-up Raptor SuperCrew Cab test vehicle. At such a price I think it’s well worth it, considering you get a plethora of features and amenities, such as the ventilated and heated Recaro seats up front with blue accented inserts, heated rear outboard seats, navigation, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, forward collision warning with emergency braking, a 4.10 electronic locking rear axle, full LED lighting, 360-degree camera system, a Bang & Olufsen audio system, 17-inch forged wheels, and Raptor exterior graphics.
>> Get the best price on the Ford F-150 from a network of local dealers now. <<
