• The Ford F-150 Raptor feels and looks like an $82,000 truck
• Ford’s new Sync system works well with the new Raptor’s interior to keep you comfy and entertained
• With its 37″ tires, you’re never stuck in the 2021 Raptor

Recently, I was lucky enough to spend a week with the 2021 Ford Raptor. It’s Ford’s latest uber-fast pickup truck. In short, it’s an $82,080 truck built for people that normally drive sports cars. I wouldn’t be caught dead in a truck before this, but I enjoyed it so much, I thought I’d make a “Sound of Music” list of my favorite things about the newest Raptor.

1. Driving the 2021 Ford Raptor is easier than it should be

So, let’s start with the obvious. The Ford Raptor needs those three orange marker lights because, by law, it must. It’s large enough to be classified as a commercial vehicle. Obviously, that kind of size can be rather intimidating. Thankfully, a slew of cameras (front, sides, and rear) help keep the supertruck feeling small when the time comes to parallel park.

2. The new Ford Raptor is fast and loud

Up above, I said the Ford F-150 Raptor is a truck built for people who drive sports cars. So, it stands to reason the pickup truck must be fast and loud like one, and it is. The Raptor’s 450 hp, 510 lb-ft twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 has to be the loudest V6 this side of the Ford GT. It shakes your body when it passes at full tilt and hits 60 in only 5.6 seconds. Thankfully, there’s also a quiet mode if you like the neighbors. If not, well, the “Baja” exhaust mode is for “off-road use only.”

3. Is the Ford Raptor pickup truck good in snow?

Because of the Raptor’s optional (to the tune of $7,500) 37″ tires, the truck is simply unstoppable in nearly all conditions. I say nearly because someone has yet to drive one up a volcano. The upgraded Fox shocks included on my fully-loaded Ford Raptor with the 37 Performance Pack also help. Plus, there’s a myriad of selectable drive modes built to help you tackle all terrain types, and Ford’s on-the-fly 4×4 selector is at its best here.

4. The new F-150 Raptor interior makes dune jumping cushy

But we mustn’t forget that the 2021 Ford Raptor is also just a truck. It’s built to be driven and keep you comfy in the act, and the interior reflects that. All of the surfaces you touch frequently are leather or Alcantara, or at a bare minimum, plastic with some sort of interesting texture. Android Auto and Carplay still run the infotainment game, but Ford’s Sync system works phenomenally. Plus, remote start and heated seats help keep the cold out on snowy days. Oh, and the stereo bangs.

5. The newest F-150 supertruck is what other trucks aspire to be

Without having driven a new Ram TRX, I fail to see why any other trucks need apply. The Raptor is comfortable, capable, and practical. Its only drawback is its comical size, but even that is assuaged by the camera system and lane-keep assist. Frankly, it’s hard to imagine anyone needing more truck than this.