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2022 Ford Ranger Raptor first drive

Two removable covers in the lower bumper of the second-generation Ford Ranger Raptor give an insight into the tough truck’s capability. Stamped with “remove before flight”, they’re proof the pinnacle of the new Ranger line-up is designed to make you smile – and that it may not always have its wheels on the ground.

I learn this seconds after being asked to brake to 110km/h on a dusty, bumpy dirt track as we bound towards a tabletop rise.

The Raptor heads for the sky before landing with cat-like dexterity, an amazing feat from a 2.4-tonne-plus ute engineered to go fast over just about any terrain.

Our drive is well away from public roads on a private property in the South Australian outback where development mules have been pummeled and punished over tens of thousands of kilometers.

Australia is the global design and engineering hub for the new Ranger and its vast selection of harsh roads makes it the ideal test bed for a truck that will be sold across the globe.

The all-new Raptor builds on a successful formula but its heart has been seriously boosted.

Rather than a fuel-sipping diesel, the new Raptor has a 3.0-liter twin-turbo petrol V6.

Its 292kW and 583Nm outputs are akin to a V8 – and there’s a thirst to match. It slurps a claimed 11.5 liters per 100km but expect real-world use to be higher.

Teamed with a 10-speed automatic, the engine can blast the Raptor to 100km/h in about six seconds – over just about any terrain, courtesy of a permanent four-wheel drive system.

It’s fiery and fast, the engine building enthusiasm as revs rise.

The black twin exhaust tips of these development vehicles have been sandblasted from gravel spewing out from the broad off-road tires, but production versions have a hardier, shiny stainless steel finish.

The Raptor does without the Eco or Tow drive modes in the regular Ranger, replacing them with Sport and Baja settings.

Baja mode keeps the turbo spinning between stabs of the throttle to reduce lag and improve response when darting between corners. It also adds a rortier snarl to the exhaust and preps the suspension for high-speed attacks.

The brakes – discs all around, now with an electronic booster – are primed for gravel, allowing some skidding for added bite on dirt.

The Raptor’s secret sauce is suspension that bears little resemblance to the rugged setup in garden variety Rangers. Left- and right-hand wheels are 60mm further apart, there are bulging wheel arches (the Raptor is 110mm wider than regular Rangers) and there’s a more sophisticated coil-spring system replacing leafs at the back.

The chassis has been strengthened and off-road specialist Fox developed race-inspired shock absorbers with “position-sensitive damping”.

It’s on the landing from a brief airborne excursion that you appreciate the weakness of its control, the dampers almost instantaneously firming towards the end of the suspension travel. They can also tighten to reduce squatting on fast take-offs.

The Raptor points sharply on this challenging terrain and bumps doing little to upset things.

The work going on at ground level means you can cover rough ground ludicrously fast but with control and composure no normal ute comes close to.

It’s an impressive effort for a ute that also tows 2500kg and carries 717 kilograms in a tray that accommodates a pallet.

Rugged BF Goodrich off-road tires claw the loose gravel beautifully, giving the Raptor rally car-like traction. We’ve previously been less impressed with them on wet bitumen, but that’s not the prime remit of the Raptor.

The new Raptor doesn’t come cheap, although against other muscle machines it’s arguably a bargain, starting at about $92,000 drive-away. “Code Orange” highlights – including a rally-like center marker on the steering wheel – and heavily bolstered seats with Raptor badging reinforce the image.

It gets most of the equipment on the Ranger Wildtrak, including ambient lighting, a 360-degree camera, 12-inch touchscreen, over-the-air software updates and a range of active safety systems.

To that it adds a broader 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and a Premium Pack with 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio, overhead auxiliary switches and matrix LED headlights.

But’s it’s the added V6 muscle and impressive dynamic nous that transforms this ute from a workhorse into a roadgoing off-road racer with genuine pace. The original Raptor was proof of concept, the new one has added pace to match its muscles.

VERDICT

The ute equivalent of a GT3 racer covers rough ground ludicrously quickly.

FORD RANGER RAPTOR

PRICE From about $92,000 plus on-roads

WARRANTY/SERVICE 5 yrs/unlimited km, $1316 over four years

SAFETY Nine airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, speed-sign recognition, 360-degree camera, driver monitor, blind-spot warning

ENGINE 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbocharged, 292kW/583Nm

THIRST 11.5L/100km

SPARE full size

TOWING/PAYLOAD 2500kg and 717kg

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2022 Skoda Kodiaq Sportline review

Skoda’s flagship seven-seater Kodiaq straddles the medium and large SUV segments and boasts clever use of space and strong driving dynamics.

Our family of four sampled the mid-grade Sportline, but does the brand and model still represent value and smarts?

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Jules: I’ve a serious soft spot for Skoda’s Kodiaq.

Iain: why?

Jules: It’s hard to pinpoint the rules of attraction. It’s imposing but not too big, stylish without trying hard and lives up to its “Simply Clever” ad slogan.

Iain: Well, quite clever. It just about seats seven and offers reasonable performance. Skoda’s still a fringe brand, so you feel less sheep-like than you would in a Toyota or Kia.

Jules: Our Kodiaq’s the bad boy. Being the Sportline it’s black on black on black.

Iain: Like a middle management Mafioso not yet able to get a black Mercedes AMG for school drop off.

Jules: If you like.

Iain: Goodies include Matrix LED headlights, animated rear indicators, 20-inch alloys and black grille, roof rails, mirrors and badging.

Jules: What’s this all costing me?

Iain: A reasonable $57,990 drive-away, but Skoda value ain’t what it used to be. Option packs quickly add to the bill, too.

THE LIVING SPACE

Jules: It’s seriously luxurious inside.

Iain: Because of the aforementioned options. It’s $1900 to upgrade from Alcantara sports seats to leather with ventilation; the panoramic sunroof’s $1900 and a $3700 Luxury Pack brings heated front and rear seats, an electric passenger seat and advanced driver aids. Without the latter, safety kit is really wanting.

Jules: So what’s the final bill?

Iain: Wait. There’s more. Paint is $700 and a $2900 Tech Pack adds adaptive chassis control, Canton audio, hands-free tailgate and parking assist. Try $69,160 to drive away.

Jules: Is that Kodiaq RS money?

Iain: It’s $74,990 with those options included, plus you get an extra 48kW from its 180kW 2.0-liter engine.

Jules: That’s me sold. The Sportline’s still lovely though. Great to have a digital dashboard, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging and a 9.2-inch touchscreen.

Iain: It feels sporty. The steering wheel’s chunky, there’s faux carbon dash trim and racy red lighting in the driver display, doors and footwells.

Jules: There’s an umbrella in the door, as well as handy luggage nets and massive storage compartments.

Iain: Not so clever are central cup holders too small for my coffee cup or sports bottle. On the plus side, there’s good storage in the doors, which also house a small waste bin.

THE COMMUTE

Jules: I’m waiting for the Sport in Sportline.

Iain: Keep waiting. There’s only 132kW from the four-cylinder turbo petrol, and it’s got 1750kg to shift.

Jules: It’s an impressive cruiser. Quiet, comfy and the radar cruise control works with the banging sound system to keep me happy.

Iain: I found the seats overly firm, but driver aids are subtly non-invasive. Its dual-clutch gearbox is super slick when up to speed but jerky around town. It’s also sluggish off the line, which caught me out at junctions more than once.

Jules: No chance of a quick three-point-turn, something we mums need at school drop off. There’s a big delay getting between Drive and Reverse.

THE SHOPPING

Iain: They’re cost options, but the hands-free tailgate and birds-eye view camera are brilliant for the supermarket.

Jules: The normal reversing camera is surprisingly poor quality. The massive boot compensates and you can even fit a few shopping bags with all seven seats up.

SUNDAY RUN

Iain: It has impressive cornering skills. The optional adaptive drive mode adjusts things such as damping and steering in Sport mode.

Jules: I love those drive modes. Ambient lighting turns green in Eco, blue in Comfort and red in Sport. There’s even a snow mode and it all turns cool blue. That tickles me.

Iain: It’s good fun to throw into corners and the gearbox is at its best at speed. Steering wheel paddles are a welcome bonus. Grip from the Pirelli tires is good, but they’re quite skinny so you feel harsher bumps through them.

Jules: It is fun on back roads but ours is so closely priced to a Kodiaq RS I’d pay the extra for more power and theatre.

THE FAMILY

Iain: I worry our kids are being brought up in a heated leathery seat bubble.

Jules: They’re spoiled in the middle seats, which recline, slide back and forth and have mini foot rests. The sunblinds are handy, while the huge sunroof bathes the cabin with light.

Iain: Their own climate control is good, but do you know what’s simply not clever? Do not rear USB ports. For a family SUV? That just doesn’t make sense.

Jules: It’s also a bit of a mission accessing the two rear seats.

Yoain: They’re best for kids. I’m six foot and my head’s on the ceiling and knees are jammed in.

Jules: We averaged 8L/100km on the highway and 9.1L/100km overall. Not great as it needs 95 fuel, but at least a $1800 five-year service pack is decent value.

Iain: As for adventuring there’s scope for mild off-roading. It tows 2000kg but the downball weight’s a paltry 80kg.

THE VERDICT

Jules: The Kodiaq is striking to look at and beautiful inside, but those options make it feel expensive compared to Kia, Hyundai and Mazda rivals.

Iain: It’s superb to drive and behold but is missing some standard safety gear, there are no rear USB ports and it’s quite thirsty. It’s not the smart, value pick it once was.

SKODA KODIAQ SPORTLINE VITALS

PRICE From $57,990 drive away

WARRANTY AND SERVICE 5 years/unl’td km warranty, $1800 for 5 years

ENGINE 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo-petrol, 132kW and 320Nm

SAFETY Nine airbags, auto emergency braking, radar cruise control

THIRST 8.2L/100km

SPARE space saver

BOOT 270-765 liters

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