Compared: 2023 Ford F-150 Tremor vs. 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor
How serious are you about off-roading? Ford offers a couple ways to take the bestselling F-150 off the highway.
Ford
Since its introduction, the Raptor has been Ford's flagship performance truck, and when it arrived it set the bar for the whole segment. The 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor is no exception, and it ups the ante by adding more standard equipment than prior models. Just down the lineup is the 2023 Ford F-150 Tremor, which is a slightly less rowdy — and less expensive — take on an off-road-oriented version of the United States' bestselling truck.
Although the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R is now available, that 700-hp six-figure truck hasn't been considered in this comparison.
Ford
Ford F-150 Tremor vs. Raptor Pricing Compared
Whether you choose the $63,000 2023 Ford F-150 Tremor or the $79,000 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor, your truck will sport four doors, a 5-foot-6 box, and four-wheel drive. The Tremor comes standard with a 400-hp 5.0-liter V8 with 410-lb-ft of torque, but buyers can swap in a 400-hp, 500-lb-ft version of Ford's EcoBoost twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 for no additional fee.
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The Raptor has extensive modifications designed to fulfill its mission as a high-speed desert sled. The unique frame features reinforced shock mounts, which help the adaptive Fox dampers provide over a foot of travel, along with an exclusive five-link rear suspension. It also gets a special exhaust, which includes a shouty, off-road-only Baja mode. Upgrading to the 37 Performance Package fits 37-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires — including a full-size spare — on the Raptor and necessitates even more reinforcements to the frame, along with a different rear crossmember to ensure the massive spare fits.
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F-150 Raptor and Tremor Features Compared
It's easy to tell the two apart. For one thing, the Raptor has a noticeably wider stance than the Tremor — a trait that's only enhanced by the former's wheel-well cladding. For another, each has a unique grille: The Tremor has an orange line running across the center, while the Raptor displays the automaker's name in big block letters (similar to its tailgate). Still in doubt? Look at the rear fender. If there's a Tremor decal there, you have your answer.
Both feature beefed-up suspensions, protective skid plates, and a drive mode specifically for rock crawling, but the Raptor's off-road kit is next level. Unless you take it out on boulders and sand dunes, you're not using it to its full potential.
Ford
Inside, the pricer F-150 Raptor gets almost every goody in Ford's bag. A 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster sits nearby a 12.0-inch infotainment screen. A 360-degree camera and the brand's Pro Trailer Assist feature make backing up the big truck a cinch, while the included suite of driver-assistance tech — built-in navigation, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking — takes some of the stress out of everyday driving.
The 2023 Ford F-150 Tremor comes with a few of the above features, but most amenities cost extra. The 12.0-inch center screen is optional, for instance, as are the Raptor's standard rain-sensing wipers, Bang & Olufsen 18-speaker sound system, wireless charging pad, navigation system, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and interior work surface. One point in the Tremor's favor is Ford's hands-free BlueCruise tech, which the Raptor doesn't offer.
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2023 Ford F-150 Tremor vs. 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor Capability and Fuel Economy
When it comes to on-road capability, the 2023 Ford F-150 Tremor, with its 1,770-pound payload cap and a 10,900-pound towing max, is the more capable of the two trucks. The Raptor can carry at most 1,400 pounds and hang up to 8,200 pounds from its hitch, a necessary trade-off for its high-speed off-road prowess.
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When you get off the highway and onto the dirt, the Raptor shines brighter. The stock 35-inch tires raise the body enough to provide a full foot of ground clearance (versus 9.4 inches for the Tremor), and its suspension is designed to absorb big wheel drops and hard landings with ease.
No matter which truck you choose, plan to make frequent stops at the pump. The 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor sees 15 or 16 mpg, according to EPA estimates, depending on the tire size. The optional 37-inch tires take a toll on efficiency. The 2023 Ford F-150 Tremor returns 17 mpg with the V8 and 18 mpg with the V6.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Beth NicholsAfter graduating from the University of Michigan, Beth Nichols stumbled into automotive journalism and found her footing, jumping between a few car magazines before going freelance. Her head, once full of useless facts about literature and art history, now holds useless facts about vehicles. She edits, checks, and occasionally creates content for Capital One, and though she understands it’s customary to write a bio in the third person, I don’t like it.
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