This rip-roaring Ranger Raptor rules the roadways

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- Want a pickup that can blow off most everything on the highway these days?

Ford has you covered with the introduction of the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor.  I recently had a week in the SuperCrew 4X4 version of the midsize truck.  Can't remember a time when I had more fun driving a pickup.

Naturally, the rumble from the 3-liter, twin-turbo V-6 was a big part of that.  With 405 horses under the hood and 430 foot-pounds of torque to work with, the Ranger is the Big Boss in its class.

The acceleration power in the Ranger Raptor is actually somewhat intimidating.  While being pressed deep into the driver's seat, I was wondering: How did they pack this much punch into this package.  After a short time, I stopped pondering such things and simply savored the experience of putting the hot rod pickup anywhere I wanted at any given time.

The Ranger Raptor's suspension is tuned in such a way that it feels nothing like a typical pickup.  In fact, eventually, I stopped thinking of it as a pickup.  It's just a performance machine, with universal appeal.

I was enjoying the Raptor as a paved road warrior, but Ford relentlessly touts its off-road appeal.  Ford writers were staying up late, coming up with lines saying that the pickup was ready to "dominate the dirt" and ready "to take off-road capability to the next level among midsize trucks."

Yeah, pretty much mission accomplished on those fronts.

Yet inside, the beast has comforting charms. My ride was dressed up with a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting, a digital instrument cluster, a 12-inch center touchscreen (easy to master) and dual-zone climate control.

Styling is not hot rod, but very much truck-like ... classically rugged fits perfectly.

All the perks brought the bottom line on the tested truck to a somewhat hefty $59,045. But I'm guessing that performance/truck fans will happily pay up, and enjoy every minute of their purchase.