---
title: '2026 Ford Ranger Raptor | Converting Tacoma Boys?'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=ci9_nKxL0pg'
video_id: 'ci9_nKxL0pg'
date: 2026-07-17
duration_sec: 645
channel: 'savagegeese'
---

# 2026 Ford Ranger Raptor | Converting Tacoma Boys?

> Source: [2026 Ford Ranger Raptor | Converting Tacoma Boys?](https://youtube.com/watch?v=ci9_nKxL0pg)

## Summary

The video reviews the 2026 Ford Ranger Raptor, highlighting its value proposition against competitors like the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. The host praises its pricing, interior layout, and high-speed off-road capability, concluding it's one of the best mid-size pickup trucks available.

### Key Points

- **Pricing and Value** [00:13] — The Ranger Raptor as-tested is about $62,000 with options, but can be had under $60,000. It's thousands less than the Tacoma TRD Pro.
- **Interior and Comfort** [01:08] — Physical controls for HVAC and entertainment, comfortable seats that don't eat into rear space, unlike the TRD Pro's suspension seats.
- **Towing and Payload** [02:03] — Tows up to 5,500 lbs and has a payload of about 1,400 lbs, competitive for the class.
- **Platform and Suspension** [02:17] — Based on the T6 platform shared with Bronco Raptor, but uses a Watts link rear suspension for high-speed stability instead of Panhard bar.
- **Suspension and Dampers** [03:12] — Uses Fox Racing live valve technology with 2.5-inch dampers (smaller than Bronco Raptor's 3.1-inch) to avoid over-damping.
- **Engine and Drivetrain** [03:39] — 3.0L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 making 405 hp, same as Bronco Raptor but slightly less due to longer exhaust. Optional Ford Performance tune maintains warranty.
- **Driving Impressions** [05:58] — The V6 engine feels characterful compared to downsized four-cylinders in competitors. The 10-speed automatic is well-calibrated.
- **Value Proposition** [07:20] — At $60,000, it delivers much of the F-150 Raptor experience for less, without sacrificing daily usability.
- **Final Verdict** [09:42] — The Ranger Raptor is one of the best mid-size pickups, offering a good ride, sporty handling, off-road capability, and a lower price than the Tacoma TRD Pro.

### Conclusion

The 2026 Ford Ranger Raptor stands out as a well-rounded, fun-to-drive mid-size pickup that offers excellent value compared to rivals, especially the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro.

## Transcript

mid-size pickup truck and I think this is one of the strongest all-around offerings from Ford currently in their product portfolio. Why is that? Well, pricing to start with. This thing has a as-tested price with all the press car
options for about $62,000. And that's with the beadlock wheels and the graphics package. You can get this thing under $60,000 with destination as a stripper model. The nice thing about the Ranger Raptor is it's essentially mono
spec, which is a great thing. And if you look at its nearest peer rival, the TRD Pro Tacoma, it's thousands of dollars less. Unlike the Colorado ZR2, which is more designed for rock crawling, both the TRD Pro and this are meant for
higher-speed off-road driving, which is again more my speed, no pun intended. things, I think this is probably the sell and I think it's very well laid out. You still physical controls for
HVAC and your entertainment. There are plenty of physical controls on the your drive modes and the seats are very comfortable. They are not cooled, the breathe reasonably well. They strike a good balance between keeping you in
off-roading in general while still being comfortable. And unlike the suspension seats found in the TRD Tacoma, this doesn't eat into rear seat occupant space. There is a reasonable amount of room back there for a smaller full-size
adult. Children should fit back there easily, the rear seats fold up. And in traditional mid-size pickup truck guys, there's a plenty of storage throughout. vehicles in this class benchmark one another and there's good interior space
throughout. When it comes to payload, this thing can tow up to 5,500 lb, so thousands of pounds less than the regular Ranger and thousands less than the F-150 Raptor. That said, I think it's right in line with where it needs
to be and payload is 1,400 lb or just under that. Not bad for the class of two deep dives on the Ranger Raptor already. So, the Ranger Raptor has now this point. It was sold in Europe and Australia before then it before it was
generation of this. It is on the same platform as the Bronco Raptor, T6. It takes essentially cues from that vehicle. Same frame, however, the suspension is different. While it's multi-link front, live axle rear like
you're expecting in this sort of truck-based product, it's using a Watts link in the back where the Bronco Raptor is using a Panhard bar. There There is articulation in the Bronco Raptor than there is in this thing. This was
designed for high-speed stability. That's where the Watts link comes in. It articulation. The longer wheelbase versus the Bronco also helps that. When it comes to the mission of this, they wanted this to feel like the most nimble
Raptor product. Obviously, F-150 Raptor R and regular one is a much wider, longer, bigger truck. This is smaller. It's easier to get around parking lots, high-speed courses, a rallycross course if you want it as
gates a little bit easier. Now, when it comes to the rest of the changes, the suspension is also different. While it is using the live valve technology from Fox Racing, this is a narrower damper or a smaller shock package than what you
get in the Bronco, which is the 3.1 or 3-in. This is like the 2.5. The reason behind that is packaging, cost, and of course, they also claim that the bigger damper off of the Bronco Raptor would over dampen this vehicle. Drivetrain is
identical off of the Bronco Raptor, which means it's the 3-L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6. This vehicle's case, it makes around 405 horsepower. A little less than the Bronco Raptor, but again, long wheelbase vehicle, longer exhaust,
which does mean more back pressure, so less power. Wasn't to artificially limit packages that can up the power in this thing if you want to, while also maintaining your warranty. You have a optional beadlock wheels as well if you
choose to air down and really rock crawl with this thing. So, with all that out this for a quick drive around a local farm.
Baja mode, sir. >> Really? This This doesn't look like we're in >> No, we're on a farm with other people working on it, so I'm going to do my
working on it, so I'm going to do my best not to kill us, them, or damage their terrain too badly, Mark. But, you drove this with me last year on our farm roads. Maybe, I don't even remember at this point. But, I do
this thing. And my general takeaway is that I still absolutely love this truck for the reasons that most people do. Is that in its class, it's that in its class, it's reasonably, I hate to say $60,000
is affordable, but this is basically with similar options $8,000 less than a >> That's a lot of money. >> Yes, and I think I would go. But, yes. even a year or two ago is price and the economy, at least I think
everywhere, but in the United States has changed quite a bit. But, the the idea of just buying something to throw it away or or having multiple options in is is disappearing because the price points are higher and higher now.
>> So, people that are buying these need it to do more. >> They need it to be a real car, not just a toy, but also have the ability to drive it without fear on the weekend stuff that it needs to do. Plus, you
know, like towing and whatever you want trucks to do. So, how is how do you feel about this now that we've driven all the other competitors and we spent more time off-roading and on-roading? What I love about this truck, other than
the fact that I think it's a more usable interior space than the TRD Tacoma, like the TRD Pro with the crazy suspension seats, I think they've done a better job just with the interior layout in this vehicle, is that, you know, other than
the Frontier, everything in this space is like some downsized four-cylinder is like some downsized four-cylinder turbocharged thing that it it feels like other things that you have to deal with in the modern world. This still feels
because they've been using EcoBoost 6 for so long, or 6 is, this still feels character and the gearbox, Cal, yeah, it's a slush box automatic, blah blah blah. All the gears are so tightly spaced that you're always shifting.
truck. There's great There's great ride comfort on the regular roads. Now, out because it's not a $150,000 truck, I feel like people who actually buy these things are actually going to off-road them. It's a lot easier to swallow that
you pinch strike a $60,000 or $59,000 price. >> Well, I think that's the fear factor of some of these things and I, you know, I'm the first one that says like why
bother? Just get a Raptor R. Or, you know, the same thing with the Porsche stuff. I don't want a base 911. I want a GT3 RS or GT3, right? Like, I I'd be that's not a real scenario. You know, it's fantasy world. It's fantasy world.
So, like, this delivers a lot of the real-world things that people want point. >> a $100,000 F-150 Raptor, right? This is a $60,000 Ranger and unless you need the extra
2,000 lbs of towing capacity and the slightly bigger interior space, you aren't penalized for buying the cheaper truck, in my mind. From a dynamic side, park. There isn't that
reason that there used to be to to buy a Tacoma. That's at least how I feel. always an odd one to me because, you know, Toyota is the one who's kept the same tried and true drivetrains that people love for so long, and then
that they didn't have anything to replace it, and the replacement has become so polar opposite of what the originals were that it's, you know, it and I feel like this Ford does a really good job at iterating
space. There's always something kind of new spinning up, and this is really winning that fight uh because the things that they've iterated are now feel original and more consistent. Like this is, you know, there's nothing that
point. >> And Ford Racing knows exactly what they need to build. Like this is the second generation of Ranger Raptor. Sure, we team all works together. They have a concise mission of what works and what
doesn't, and I think again, for the buyer of a vehicle like this, if you have the ability to go rallycross or drive on a dirt road or something, about this vehicle. >> and to be fair, this Ranger is like, I
couple videos with it. It's It's just so far superior in all the ways that the >> which was a box. >> mean, it felt it This feels like a completely different truck. Like they spent a lot of time on it compared to
the previous one, too, which is also It makes a big difference. It You know, when we're arguing lower cost like in the $40,000, you can make give them a $60,000 >> It's got to be a good vehicle.
to be, and that that pressure is higher than ever. So, uh so that's all I'm into the final thoughts. And again, if you want to learn more about this videos. >> [music]
Raptor. As I mentioned in the beginning of this video, I stand by my point by saying this is one of the best or most entertaining mid-size pickup trucks currently sold. It has a good ride. It drives more like a sports car than a
traditional ponderous truck. You can take it off-road. And most importantly, expensive, while it is still a lot of money at basically $60,000, Ford should be applauded for. It costs less than the equivalent truck from
Toyota, which is one of the reasons why I enjoy it. I do, for once, enjoy the EcoBoost V6. I think the 10-speed is well calibrated to it. And it's being usable, which is not something you can say about all vehicles that you're
spending $60,000 on that's fun. I guess with that, thanks for watching. I guess with that, thanks for watching. Hope to see you [music] again soon.