- 4. The Ram 1500 TRX
- 3. The ‘base model’ Ford F-150 Raptor
- 2. The Toyota Tundra TRD Pro
- 1. The Rivian R1T
Ford just one-upped the Ram 1500 TRX with its supercharged F-150 Raptor R supertruck. Though the new Ford flagship’s 700 horsepower and 37-inch tires are swoon-worthy it also comes in at over $100k. And the company is just beginning to take orders, so who knows when the first models will actually arrive. In the meantime, here are four great Ford Raptor R alternatives to suggest.
4. The Ram 1500 TRX
2022 Ram 1500 TRX | Stellantis
The Raptor R’s clearest competitor is the Ram 1500 TRX. Ford invented the factory supertruck class with its 2010 F-150 Raptor. But Ram dialed it up to 11 with its Hellcat-powered 2021 TRX. The 700+ horsepower, supercharged desert racer from Ram made the old Raptor look downright bland. The Raptor R–with a supercharged V8 developed from the engine in the Mustang GT500–is a clear answer to the TRX.
While the new F-150 Raptor R was able to meet the TRX’s horsepower numbers, it did not exceed them. At the same time, the Raptor R will cost nearly $30k more than the top-trim Ram.
3. The ‘base model’ Ford F-150 Raptor
2021 Ford F-150 Raptor | Ford
It’s odd to type the words “base model Raptor.” But thanks to the Raptor R, there is now a base model Raptor powered by its turbocharged V6. But here’s the thing: Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) could have chosen any powerplant it wanted for the latest Raptor generation. The engineers decided to ditch the old 5.2-liter V8 in favor of a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 for a reason. This powerplant was lighter, leaving the Raptor nimbler off-road. It also produced plenty of power for the high-speed desert running the Raptor excels at.
While the new Raptor R is getting lots of press, the engineering-forward “base model” of the F-150 Raptor is still a lot of truck. The F-150 Raptor is definitely a Raptor R alternative worth considering.
2. The Toyota Tundra TRD Pro
2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro | Toyota
Is a supercharged F-150 too…common for you? Toyota offers its own entry into the high-speed flagship off-roader with the TRD Pro trim level. You can get a Tacoma, 4Runner, Sequoia, and even a Tundra in this trim. The Tundra and Sequoia come with a performance-oriented hybrid engine. That’s right, Toyota coaxed V6 Raptor levels of torque out of its new i-FORCE MAX. This powerplant combines a 3.44-liter twin-turbocharged V6 and electric motor combo.
The Toyota Tundra TRD Pro is powerful, efficient, and just plain cool. If all your friends are driving F-150 Raptor Rs, a Tundra TRD Pro will certainly make you stand out, while winning you plenty of street cred too.
1. The Rivian R1T
2021 Rivian R1T | Rivian
There’s a new supertruck in town. Rivian’s R1T is the first electric pickup truck to the market. This startup beat out the Tesla Cybertruck and the Ford F-150 Lightning. But Rivian certainly didn’t hurry the process. It has been perfecting its electric powertrain for eight years and the resulting R1T is advanced enough to sell Jeff Bezos on investing in the company.
Firstly, the Rivian R1T has a separate electric motor for each wheel. This configuration gives it 100 more horsepower than the Raptor R. It also enables advanced “torque-vectoring” with the wheel with the most traction instantly getting all available power. This technology provides A 3.0-second 0-60 time, sports-sedan-like cornering on-road, and record-setting capabilities off-road.
As if this quad-motor drive weren’t enough, Rivian also pioneered adjustable air suspension with adjustable hydraulic dampers. The resulting truck can drop low on the highway and rise up to offer 14.4 inches of ground clearance on the trail. This is more ground clearance than any other pickup on the market.
Next, read about the Rivian’s quad-motor drive system or see the Ford F-150 Raptor R for yourself in the video below:
Keyword: 4 Great Ford F-150 Raptor R Alternatives