Ford Ranger Raptor V6: off-road conqueror is a decent daily driver

The Ford Ranger Raptor is one of the more popular pickup truck nameplates in the country. It has become a ubiquitous sight on local roads and is one of the most recognizable “high-performance” pickup truck trims in the market. 

Initially, the first generation of the model made headway for the Blue Oval’s “Baja” rig. That came and went and was eventually replaced by the next version, which initially carried over the same 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel engine.

Ford’s local arm, however, followed it up with the gnarly 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 EcoBoost version, making local truck enthusiasts swoon at its promise of performance. 

The aforementioned, however, was at first a temporary shindig. Specifically, the V6 Raptor was brought in at the Ninth Philippine International Auto Show back in October 2024 as a limited-run, 300-unit only model - which of course bummed out a lot of those wanting to get into a true blue “high performance” truck. 

This all changed when Ford decided to keep the V6-powered Ranger Raptor as a mainstay option in January 2025. And later on, in the tail-end of 2025, the company even managed to hit the 1,000 sales milestone for this nameplate. 

So, what’s all the fuss about the Ford Ranger Raptor V6, and how does it manage its big, beefy output figures on daily driving within the city? Zigwheels Philippines borrowed one for a week to find out. 

Powertrain, driving

As hinted at by its name, the Ford Ranger Raptor V6 uses a 3.0-liter six-cylinder gasoline engine with a “V” cylinder bank arrangement. It also has two turbochargers.

Thanks to the aforementioned, the said model can generate up to 391 horsepower (hp) and 583 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque, making it one of the most powerful midsize pickup trucks in the Philippine market. 

Other notable mechanical bits of the truck include a 10-speed automatic transmission, as well as front and rear differential locks, and a part-time four-wheel drive system. These go together with a front double wishbone and rear multi-link (with coil springs and Watts link) setup equipped with Fox Live Valve Shocks. 

All of those gears make the Ford Ranger Raptor V6 highly capable off-road, but surprisingly enough, it was well-behaved on in-city roads, where we used it as a daily driver. 

For one thing, placing the model on “economy” or “normal” driving modes provides it with a relatively smooth power delivery that is highly controllable even in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The model’s electronic power-assisted steering likewise gave the vehicle just the right amount of resistance, and despite making it go through tight roads in the suburbs of Poblacion, Makati City, with a respectable amount of maneuverability. 

Like most high-riding vehicles, it offered great visibility, except for the low-side blind spots in front of the truck. Those, however, were easily dealt with via the Raptor V6’s 360-degree view camera, which can be toggled with a flip of a switch. 

Also interesting is the truck’s ability to open up its exhaust system to make it louder or quieter. The loudest, of course, is “Baja mode,” which is pleasant to listen to, but is without a doubt a neighborhood ruckus-maker when activated at the wrong time of the day (or night). 

On the highways (mainly on Skyway and on the South Luzon Expressway), the ride felt pliant, at least as far as pickup trucks go. The Fox-equipped suspension system, however, can do more than just become an off-road toy. In our experience, it was excellent in fighting against many of the annoying potholes and cracks that plague most streets of Metro Manila. 

Sure, it isn’t on the level of crossovers, sedans, and some sport utility vehicles (SUV), but it is far more stable when compared to other midsize pickup trucks that use leaf spring rear ends. 

Speaking of highways, the Ford Ranger Raptor V6 can handle overtaking with a breeze. On the other hand, downshifting while in its default automatic mode takes a while due to the sheer number of gears. 

Moreover, in-city driving doesn’t help the Raptor V6 flex its performance numbers. This is because it comes standard with all-terrain tires, which aren’t really great for grip. Sure, it can handle corners well in regular driving speeds, but would-be adopters of this ride should be aware that it is no pavement speedster. 

Concerning fuel economy, the Ford Ranger Raptor V6 returned 3.0 kilometers per liter (kpl) in heavy traffic. Highway results fare a bit better at 10.5 kpl. Sounds bad, but those are the sacrifices one has to pay for its powerful twin-turbo six-cylinder. 

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Exterior

As one would expect, the Ford Ranger Raptor V6 is burly. Up front, it gets a huge square-shaped grille, C-shaped LED headlamp clusters, and a very prominent front bash plate. 

From the sides, Ford chose to accentuate its “wideness” via a set of chunky fenders and a stylish but heavy-duty side step board. The vehicle’s rear section, meanwhile, gets a pair of LED taillights, a robust rear bumper (with step), and a twin exhaust setup. 

Other notable exterior features of the model include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Zone lighting
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Adaptive front lights with automatic on/off function
• Bedliner
• 230-volt bed outlet
• Power-folding/adjust side mirrors
• Easy-lift tailgate

Notably, the V6 version of the Ford Ranger Raptor is a dead ringer for its inline-four turbodiesel sibling. This means that it also has the same decorative bits, such as an Ebony sport bar and many other black-colored trim pieces. On that note, it also has the same “Raptor” graphic and “F-O-R-D” lettering on its grille, both of which border on ostentatious for the author. 

For reference, the Ford Ranger Raptor V6 has the same exact dimensions as its turbodiesel counterpart. It is 5,381 millimeters (mm) long, 2,028 mm wide, and 1,922 mm in height. It also has a wheelbase length of 3,270 mm and a ground clearance of 272 mm. 

Interior

While looking every bit as sporty as its exterior, the Ford Ranger Raptor V6’s cabin doesn’t compromise on creature comforts. 

For one thing, the vehicle’s front seats get power-adjustability, which is a huge advantage for big-bellied guys (like the author) who aren’t too flexible. The seats themselves are also comfortable for the author’s 5-foot, 11-inch frame, which has plenty of room to spare for heads and shoulders. 

To some degree, the same can be said for its rear cabin. However, one should remember that this is a pickup truck, so the adjustability of its rear seats is limited. Then again, the rear section still has access to a center armrest and is foldable. 

Laid on the center of the vehicle’s dashboard is the familiar 12-inch portrait touchscreen headunit. Using the said display is easy, and it didn’t show any signs of lag. Linking up one’s phone to the infotainment system is a breeze thanks to its wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

If those weren’t enough, the model also has Bluetooth and USB ports. And, paired with its wireless smartphone connectivity software, is a wireless charging pad so one can do away with messy, tangly wires entirely. Sound quality inside the V6-powered truck is likewise decent due to its 10-piece Bang and Olufsen sound system. 

For the driver, the Ranger Raptor V6 provides a tilt and telescopic steering column, a push-to-start button, paddle shifters, an electronic parking brake, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a 12.4-inch digital gauge cluster. 

Interestingly, the said digital gauge comes off as a bit laggy, especially when it plays animations. It does have a neat-looking arrangement, but this is arguably an area for improvement.

All of the aforementioned are within easy reach of the driver and are easy to find. Moreover, the model gets extra points for the physical knobs for its dual-zone automatic air conditioning system. These, of course, are far safer alternatives compared to fiddling around with the touchscreen while driving. 

Ready to purchase a brand-new Ford Ranger Raptor? Check out these exclusive offers from Zigwheels Philippines.

 

Safety

For safety, the Ford Ranger Raptor V6’s basic kit comes with seven airbags, front and rear parking sensors, anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, traction control, hill-launch assist, hill-descent control, ISOFIX child seat anchors, 360-degree view camera, and roll-over mitigation - among others. 

The said features are supported by advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), which include Adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, automatic high beams, pre-collision alert, evasive steer assist, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keep system, driver alert warning, reverse brake assist, and many other systems. 

During our time with the Ford Ranger Raptor V6, we thankfully didn’t get to use most of its safety gear. Then again, its blind-spot monitoring and 360-degree view camera were quite helpful for navigating tight streets. 

Specsheet: Ford Ranger Raptor V6

Model	Ford Ranger Raptor 3.0 V6 Twin-turbo 4x4
Exterior
Dimensions (L x W x H, in mm)	5,381x2,028x1,922
Wheelbase (mm)	3,270
Ground clearance (mm)	272
Wheel size	17-inch
Lighting system	LED
Interior
Material	Leather
Amenities	12.4-inch digital gauge cluster Drive mode selector Electronic parking brake Push-to-start button Leather steering wheel Tilt and telescopic steering column Power-fold/adjust side mirrors Rain-sensing wipers 230-volt bed outlet Bedliner Wireless smartphone charging pad USB ports 10-piece Bang and Olufsen sound system Power-adjust/ventilated front seats Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning Automatic dimming rearview mirror
Infotainment system	12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Seating capacity	Five
Powertrain
Engine	3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 gasoline
Drivetrain	4x4
Transmission	10-speed automatic
Horsepower	391
Torque	583
Technology
Safety	Seven airbags Front and rear parking sensors Anti-lock braking Electronic stability control Traction control Hill-launch assist Hill-descent control ISOFIX child seat anchors 360-degree view camera Roll-over mitigation Perimeter alarm system
ADAS	Adaptive cruise control Autonomous emergency braking Automatic high beams Pre-collision alert Evasive steer assist Forward collision warning Lane departure warning Lane-keep system Driver alert warning Reverse brake assist
Price	P2.799 million

Final thoughts

To conclude, the hype around the Ford Ranger Raptor centers on its excellent off-road performance. The aforementioned, of course, is vastly improved in the V6 version due to its greater torque. 

On the other hand, the Ford Ranger Raptor V6 we tested has also proved to be a decent daily driver. Sure, it can be a bit thirsty, but it is the type of car that you can drive to and from an “outdoor” activity without fear of getting stuck in a muddy or rocky back road. 

For those interested, the Ford Ranger Raptor V6 retails at P2.799 million for the regular version, and P2.813 million for the Special Edition trim. 

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