- The entire Ford F-150 lineup is refreshed for 2024
- The Tremor and Raptor fashions are probably the most off-road-ready
- The Ford F-150 earns our Finest Purchase Award in its class for 2024
The Ford F-150 is perennially the best-selling vehicle in America. A part of the recognition of this full-size pickup comes from all kinds in its mannequin vary, which spans from easy work vehicles to luxurious freeway cruisers to rugged off-roaders.
We received to pattern a couple of fashions from the up to date Ford F-150 mannequin vary and put them via their paces off-road. The Tremor was first launched as an possibility bundle bettering the F-150’s off-road chops, however now it’s a standalone trim. The F-150 Raptor has been round since 2010 in three generations, and the Raptor R makes it much more excessive with a supercharged V8 beneath the hood.
We drove the Tremor and the Raptor R, largely of their pure off-road habitat, and listed below are our takeaways of those rugged pickup vehicles.
Ford F-150 Tremor
The Ford F-150 Tremor is a extra sensible and budget-friendly various to the Raptor fashions. Should you like the thought of the Raptor however don’t need to spend all that cash for all that functionality, the Tremor is slotted between the extra mainstream XLT and Lariat trims by way of value and have content material. It contains off-road upgrades like customary 4-wheel drive (4WD) with a 2-speed switch case derived from the Raptor, an off-road-tuned suspension system, Path Management (off-road cruise management), and 33-inch all-terrain tires. Pricing begins at $66,345, together with vacation spot cost.
The one we examined employed the tried-and-true 5.0-liter V8, producing 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. This V8 is customary within the Tremor, however a turbo 3.5-liter V6 is non-obligatory. Something this huge can really feel a bit cumbersome when making an attempt to carry out tight maneuvers on rocky trails, however we did some fairly technical off-road driving within the Tremor and got here away very impressed with this truck’s capabilities. It could do greater than we anticipated.
As for the transient driving we did on public roads, we discovered that Ford has additional refined an already snug and accommodating truck with the 2024 refresh. The seats are supportive, the journey is clean, you get a commanding view of the street, and the tech options are ample with out feeling overwhelming. Generally, off-road tires can create a number of noise within the cabin at freeway pace, however that wasn’t our expertise with the Tremor. This nice drive was a pleasant reminder of why this truck is so in style.
Ford F-150 Raptor R
Regardless of simply being a special model of the identical truck, the Ford F-150 Raptor R is sort of a special beast from the Tremor. You’ll be able to inform by simply taking a look at it. The Raptor R has a extra excessive look bundle with the now-iconic “FORD” lettering on the grille and tailgate, 37-inch tires, pink restoration hooks, “RAPTOR” decals on the mattress, and a bulging hood housing a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 rated at 720 horsepower. The non-R model of the Raptor makes use of a 450-horsepower turbo V6. Pricing begins at $80,435 for the Raptor, together with vacation spot expenses. The Raptor R is a $31,925 bundle for the Raptor, bringing the worth to $112,360.
Our testing of the F-150 Raptor R included technical off-roading, high-speed enjoyable on desert trails, and even an off-road autocross course. We additionally drove it on paved, public roads, if just for a second.
The Ford F-150 Raptor R can do issues that the Tremor merely can’t. We flew down a sandy desert path at speeds as much as 80 mph, tackled extreme bumps and terrain shifts that will’ve stranded lesser vehicles, and even carried out a leap and gracefully caught the touchdown with out bottoming out. Additionally, being the Raptor R, it was significantly quicker than the Tremor.
Nonetheless, the lower-speed mountain climbing and desert traversing we carried out within the Raptor R wasn’t all that totally different than the off-roading we did within the Tremor. The Raptor is the extra able to the 2, however we had been pleasantly stunned at how shut the Tremor is to its dearer sibling the place it counts for off-road lovers.
Conclusion
Whereas not as quick, succesful, or cool-looking because the Raptor, our testing revealed that the Ford F-150 Tremor has greater than sufficient off-road functionality for the overwhelming majority of pickup truck drivers. From snowy roads to rocky trails, the Tremor can deal with something the common driver will encounter.
The Raptor and Raptor R are extra like efficiency vehicles in a pickup truck wrapper. They’ll deal with nearly any terrain even higher than the extra modest Tremor. Moreover, the Raptor fashions have in-your-face aesthetics with the efficiency to match. The Raptor and Raptor R are nice for exhibiting off, however should you’re on the lookout for a extra sensible and refined off-roader, the Ford F-150 Tremor is the extra frugal alternative. Plus, the Tremor nonetheless appears to be like fairly cool.
See this week’s Honest Buy Value or see the F-150 fashions close to you.
