Pickups are practical as they are meant to carry heavy loads in the back and are lifestyle-oriented, thanks to their sleek designs and imposing looks. It strikes the happy medium of a car you can use for work and play.

One of the pickups that certainly fits those descriptions is the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor, the brand's off-road-ready truck that packs quite the punch.

So, let's imagine for a bit that you're loaded. Is this the right vehicle to get as your first car?

ALSO READ: Diesel only! All-new 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor debuts with ₱2.339 M price tag.

Let's talk about the interior

The infotainment system inside the Raptor isn't only there for its large portrait display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as it can also be used to take down notes, which is essential for a college student. It even has the distinction of being a handful of cars with a calculator as a feature that works.

There are also wall plugs inside the cabin, right behind the center console, and in the truck bed if you need to charge your laptop or any other device or simply want a tailgate party.

The Ford Ranger Raptor makes a good case in terms of daily practicality.

Beyond the hood

Understandably, the Ford Ranger Raptor is a large vehicle with a tall stance, so it can sometimes be hard to see over the hood. Don't worry; Ford has got you covered, as the Raptor is equipped with a trail camera to let you know what's directly in front of the vehicle that's out of sight. Perfect for seeing how far away you are from the parking bump stop or the ditch.

Easy to park with a 360-camera

The Ford Ranger Raptor is almost 2 meters wide, roughly the width of an average parking space, which can be a tight fit for the driver. However, while you can't do anything about the size of the pickup truck, the Blue Oval brand has made it easier to park the vehicle thanks to a 360-degree camera.

Making tight turns is also easy as the Raptor has parking sensors at the front and back, so you can maximize the little space during a turn without worrying about scraping the wall.

And if all else, like your patience for parking, fails, the Ford Ranger Raptor does have Active Park Assist, which essentially drives itself into an open parking space.

Ready for the Philippine roads

We all know that finding a smooth patch of asphalt in the Philippines is the equivalent of finding a rare item in a video game, but the Ford Ranger Raptor is equipped with Fox Racing shocks that help keep the bumps and potholes at bay.

Now, if you are traveling around Metro Manila and end up on a tarmac rally stage, that is, the C5 truck lane, or in the off-road track of Moonwalk Paranaque, the Ford Ranger Raptor has got you covered with its automatic 4WD mode and Baja driving mode to give you a more stable drive.

The good old Bi-turbo

The next-generation Ford Ranger Raptor may not have come with the V6 gasoline mill we all hoped for, but it still gets the good old 2.0-liter Bi-turbo diesel engine found in its little brother, the Ford Ranger Wildtrack. 

It's still plenty of power with 210 horsepower and 500 Nm under the hood and is coupled to a 10-speed automatic. Despite the new Raptor getting a bit heavier than the older model, the Bi-turbo model offers plenty of grunt to overtake people as you ride a wave of torque.

Still not convinced? Why not head to your nearest Ford dealer to try out one? Just ensure you don't leave it in 4-Low all the time so you don't break the transmission.