The release of the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX off-road pickup will bring some fresh competitive meat to the off-road arena. It’s a Baja-inspired beast that is coming for the Ford Raptor. But will it actually overcome the reigning champ? Some may be blinded by the 702 horsepower Hellcat under the hood of the Ram TRX. But there are actually some reasons the Ford F-150 Raptor off-road pickup truck still rules the roost. In fact, here are 5 reasons to buy the Ford F-150 Raptor instead of the new Ram 1500 TRX.

Pricing

The run down of these two off-road machines is pretty lined up. They really don’t differ that much, as seen in comparison articles like this one from Car and Driver. However, there is one big difference to get out of the way right from the get go.

In terms of pricing, the Ford F-150 Raptor has the Ram 1500 TRX beat by a large margin. According to Motor1, the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX starts high at $69,995. The Launch Edition is pushing six figures at $90,315. The 2020 Ford F-150 Raptor SuperCab starts at $53, 455, or $56,440 if it’s configured with a crew cab and a short bed. While this may not matter to everyone, it could be a deal-breaker for some.

Recaro seats

This is a minor detail. But we’re car people. We like details. If you haven’t tested these seats out, you don’t know what you’re missing. Though it’ seems a small detail, the Recaro seats stand out.

If this Recaro package––which has been available since 2019––is a glimpse into the sweet possibilities of what future Raptors may hold, we’re here for it. The slick blue accents of the Recaro seats are highlighted by Ford Performance blue stitching and carbon fiber interior details, according to MotorTrend.

A narrower body

If you actually plan to hit the trails in your off-road truck––and let’s be honest, some people don’t––the Raptor may appeal more due to its narrower approach. On paper, the rear and front approach are essentially the same. But, the Ford F-150 Raptor off-road pickup truck has a couple of inches advantage in terms of width.

The Ram 1500 TRX, according to MotorTrend, is 2 inches wider than the Raptor at 88 inches. This could actually make a huge difference for an off-road pickup truck. When push comes to shove and you are squeezing through a tight spot in the bush, 2 inches is huge.

A decade of experience

The first Ford Raptor off-road pickup truck came out for the 2010 model year. Back then you could get a famed SVT Raptor with a V8. In its current second generation, the Baja-inspired off-road truck is evolved.

Now, it implements Ford’s modern and highly efficient turbocharged V6. We also see a lighter truck, which is undoubtedly an off-road perk of Ford’s aluminum frame technology. This truck is a proven beast. And, While the Ram 1500 TRX draws much from its Dodge and Ram trucks predecessors, the TRX is still a brand new product.

2021 Ford F-150 Raptor still under wraps

It might, in fact, turn out to be well worth the wait on a 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor. Now with the stakes higher than ever following the release of the all-new Ram 1500 TRX off-road pickup truck competitor, the 2021 Raptor needs to come in with a pack of updates in order to conquer the beefy TRX.

So, we can pretty much assume that the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor is going to be meaty as all get out. Info on the new Raptor is still buttoned up tight. However, we can reasonably guess that it’ll be worth it not to spring too quickly for a 2021 TRX before we get to see what Ford’s going to bring to the table with the 2021 Raptor.