For the 2024 model year, the Ford F-150 pickup truck enters a mid-cycle update. Along with the updated exterior styling, the F-150 gains a new trim option just above the base XL. Does the F-150 STX feel as utilitarian as the base XL and is the Raptor the ultimate off-road full-size pickup truck? Enjoy this review of the 2024 F-150 from one end of the trim spectrum to the other.
Performance
Engine – The new STX trim of the 2024 Ford F-150 is equipped with a standard 2.7L EcoBoost V6 which produces 325 hp & 400 lb-ft of torque (242 kW & 542 Nm). When the truck is unloaded, this engine has absolutely no problem in getting the 2,241 kg (4,940 lbs) truck moving, whether it be from a stop, up a hill, or merging onto a highway. Granted, I did not get the chance to tow or carry a lot of payload in the bed, but let’s face it, 80% (or more) of the time, these trucks will be driven by a single occupant with an empty bed. However, if you do tow often with your truck, the 2024 F-150 STX is also available with the 5.0L V8 engine which produces 400 hp & 410 lb-ft of torque (298 kW & 555 Nm) or the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 which produces 400 hp & 500 lb-ft of torque (298 kW & 678 Nm). The latter engine seems to be only available to the Canadian market as the American Ford website does not have it listed when selecting the STX trim.
At the other end is the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 in the F-150 Raptor. This is a higher output version of the engine that is available in the STX with 450 hp & 510 lb-ft of torque (335 kW & 691 Nm). The Raptor is quite a bit heavier than the STX at 2,670 kg (5,886 lbs) and it has large 37-inch tires. These are optional as the standard ones at 35-inches. Because of the weight and larger tires, the F-150 Raptor is not slow per se, but it doesn’t feel as fast as it should be. Maybe I got jaded by the Raptor R with it’s 5.2 L Supercharged V8, which now develops 720 hp & 640 lb-ft of torque (537 kW & 868 Nm), or maybe it’s because the seating position is high off the ground which means that it doesn’t provide the same sensation of speed as a vehicle that is lower to the ground.
Fuel Economy – Of the two, it’s obvious that the STX with its 2.7L engine is much more fuel efficient. It is rated for 12.8 L/100km (18.4 MPG) in a city and 10 L/100km (23.5 MPG) on a highway. Whereas the F-150 Raptor V6 is rated for 16 L/100km (14.7 MPG) in a city and 14.4 L/100km (16.3 MPG) on a highway. I averaged 12.3 L/100km (19.1 MPG) with the STX and 14.9 L/100km (15.8 MPG) with the Raptor. The STX involved mostly city driving while the Raptor was driven more on highways.
Transmission – All engines of the 2024 F-150 are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Of course, the programming is different between the 10-speed in the STX compared to the 10-speed in the Raptor.
In the STX, it delivers smooth shifts and it reacts decently quick enough to a press of the throttle pedal. It does not have a center console mounted shifter and is instead column mounted. This can be a bit awkward to use should you decide to take over controls and use the manual mode.
In the Raptor, the shifts are just as smooth as in the STX. To my surprise, they are still smooth even when the truck is in Sport mode with manual control via the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. Of course, the response of the transmission is faster in the Raptor. Additionally, both transmissions still skip 2nd gear while accelerating in the Normal drive mode and under light throttle applications. But unlike in the past, the skip is not noticeable. Neither truck jerks.
Braking – Both trucks have strong brakes that have no trouble in bringing the heavy pickups quickly to a stop. The brake pedals in both feel firm when applying light or heavy pressure. The F-150 STX doesn’t have a whole lot of nose dive under heavier braking applications but the Raptor with its Baja suspension does. It doesn’t feel unsettling but it’s just something to be aware of.
Handling – Dynamics wise, the 2024 Ford F-150 STX is just like any other truck. The steering is light for easy maneuverability, the suspension walks a fine line between comfort & payload resistance, and overall it’s an easy truck to drive. The turning circle is a bit wide but that depends on how long the bed & wheelbase is. Like other trim levels, there are different drive modes to choose from including Eco, Tow/Haul, Sport, Slippery among many others and the F-150 can be equipped with a locking rear differential.
The F-150 Raptor on the other hand feels much wider than the STX. On paper, it’s about 6 and a half inches wider than the regular F-150 but it feels about as wide as a regular North American lane. It’s not difficult to drive it, you just have to be more careful. Especially so in parking lots due to the tighter spaces and height restrictions. Out on back roads, the Raptor has some body roll through the corners though it’s not too bad when the suspension is switched to Sport mode. Steering effort is also adjustable through a button on the steering wheel. Additionally, you can be a complete hooligan in this truck because it has a 2WD mode unlike the Ram TRX which is 4WD Auto all the time. So that means that you can drift or powerslide the F-150 Raptor until those beadlock capable tires give up. The rear brakes also help to turn the big truck when you’re off the beaten path. The Raptor has Trail Turn Assist which will lock the inside rear wheel to better rotate the truck on tight off-road turns.
Speaking of driving the truck off the beaten path, it’s in the wilderness and wide open sandy plains where this truck really shines. There are a few different drive modes to help the truck get over the rough stuff. There are Fox Live Valve Dampers with Normal, Sport, and Baja settings. There is 4WD Auto, 4WD High and 4WD Low drivetrain settings with a locking rear differential. There are steel plates under the body to protect the vital components and there are the massive 37” all-terrain tires with beadlock capable 17” wheels.
Driving this truck through sand and mud ruts is unbelievably easy and fun. The big tires and long travel dampers absorb the roughest bumps that you may find yourself driving over. Unfortunately I could not explore the full potential of this super truck because I was given instructions from Ford Canada to not go deep in the woods or fast on uneven road surfaces. So the best I was able to do was take it to a small, rocky beach and drive through some sandy ruts. But even so, this truck still put a smile on my face because it all felt so easy in this truck.
Capability – With the 2.7L EcoBoost engine, the 2024 Ford F-150 STX is capable of towing up to 8,200 lbs in the 4X2 configuration. Take away 200 lbs off that number for those equipped with 4X4. The V6 Raptor is capable of towing the same amount at 8,200 lbs. Payload for the STX is 1,665 lbs with 4X2 and 1,605 lbs with 4X4. The Raptor can carry up to 1,410 lbs.
The bed of the F-150 STX is pretty simple. It has a tie down point at each corner, optional spray-in bedliner, and a tailgate that is not damped. But a viscous damped tailgate is optional. The bed of the Raptor is a bit better loaded up with 2kW Pro Power on-board plug, a power operated tailgate, a built in tailgate step, and a ruler in the tailgate with bottle openers to the side.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – The ride of the F-150 STX is acceptable for everyday use, particularly when it is unloaded. Over certain big bumps, the ride can feel a bit jarry but overall, it’s not too bad. The F-150 Raptor on the other hand is almost like driving on a cloud. With the Fox suspension set to Baja mode, you can basically drive over any pothole or speed bump without lifting your foot off the throttle pedal. Rough roads that can cause a normal car to disintegrate feels almost buttery smooth in this truck.
Further helping the occupants have a comfortable ride are the brilliant Recaro seats. At least for the front passengers in the Raptor. They provide good support through corners and the suede center further helps to keep you firmly planted. The seats are also plenty comfortable to sit in for longer periods in the STX. However, while the seats are manually adjustable, there is no height adjustment. So in the F-150 STX, I felt as though I was sitting much higher up than I needed to be.
Interior Space – This being a crew cab pickup truck, there is a lot of space even if you’re as tall as Shaquille O’Neal. There’s loads of space in the front seats and loads of space in the back seats. The rear seats can flip up 60/40 to allow for tall item storage and there’s a collapsible storage space underneath them. The STX does not have this collapsible storage bin but the seats can still lift up 60/40 for storing tall items.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The trucks have relatively quiet engines when driving at normal speeds. Of course both roar into life at higher rpms. In the Ford F-150 STX, the engine sounds pretty good, especially from the outside. In the Raptor, it has a valved exhaust with 4 different modes. Quiet mode really is quiet with barely any engine noises intruding into the cabin. Normal mode adds a bit of raspiness to the tone while Sport & Baja turn up the volume to max. In Baja mode, the truck almost sounds like a Nissan GTR. However, more of the noise is audible from the outside than the inside. The cabins are well insulated from outside noises intruding. Tire noise is noticeable on highways but it’s not too intrusive. There is also a bit of wind noise coming from the exterior mirrors, but that too is not too intrusive.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2024 Ford F-150 STX is available as a Super Cab or as a SuperCrew. The Supercab 4X2 starts at $58,260 CAD ($44,815 USD) with the SuperCrew costing $61,440 CAD ($47,150 USD). This demo truck had an as-tested price of $68,815 CAD ($55,875 USD).
The 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor V6 starts at $106,975 CAD ($78,805 USD) with the as-tested price being $124,465 CAD ($92,365 USD).
Gadgets – With the STX being a lower end trim level, it doesn’t have all of the convenience features nor can it be equipped with many convenience features. Standard for 2024 is the addition of the large infotainment touchscreen as well as the fully digital driver display. This STX also has A/C, power locks, power windows, steering wheel mounted controls and that’s about it. This demo truck also had the mobile office package fitted to it which allows the center armrest to flip over to create a flat work surface. But the truck is not available with automatic climate control, push button start, keyless entry & exit, and the aforementioned height adjustments for the driver’s seat.
By contrast, the F-150 Raptor has pretty much every option fitted to it. From surround view cameras to heated & ventilated front seats and heated rear seats to power adjustable front seats, steering column, and pedals. There’s also a large head-up display, a panoramic sunroof which extends well into the back seat area, dual-zone automatic climate control, auxiliary switches on the roof, a wireless phone charging pad, and the same work top armrest.
Interior Design – The interior of the F-150 doesn’t look any different than the previous model year. Apart from the addition of the standard infotainment & driver displays, the F-150’s interior remains simple to use and functional. The Raptor has a carbon fiber trim while the STX has a bronze & dark silver trim.
Exterior Design – It’s on the outside that you’ll notice some of the updates to the 2024 Ford F-150. It has a new headlight design with new LED daytime running lights. On the STX, these are standard. The taillights have also been updated with the Raptor having LED while the STX being regular halogen. Otherwise, the Ford F-150 looks similar to the previous model years and instantly recognizable as a Ford truck.
Safety – The Ford F-150 STX is equipped with standard Ford Co-Pilot 360 2.0 which includes safety & driver aids such as forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning with lane keep, auto high beams and blind spot sensors with cross traffic alert.
The 2024 F-150 Raptor has the same safety & driver aid features along with active parking assist which can help to park the big truck in parking lots on the side of streets.
Warranty – Both trucks are covered by the same warranty. 3 years / 60,000 km new vehicle warranty and a 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranty. In America, these warranties are 3 years / 36,000 miles and 5 years / 60,000 miles respectively. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – The new STX trim of the 2024 Ford F-150 doesn’t feel as utilitarian as the base XL trim but Ford could add just a couple more convenience features, such as driver seat height adjustments and keyless entry, to it to really make it stand out on its own.
As for the V6 Raptor, I think it needs more power. There is a huge power gap between this and the supercharged V8 Raptor. Making it a bit more awkward is that the hybrid Powerboost engine makes broadly the same power as this V6. Granted, there is no trim of the F150 in which you can get the hybrid engine with the off-road goodies that this Raptor has. Or even the Tremor. But it can be a bit embarrassing when a Powerboost XLT can keep up to your $100,000 Raptor. This V6 needs at least 550 hp from the factory.
But apart from that little niggle, the Raptor is a blast if it is used as intended to, off-roads and the F150 remains as one of the best pickup trucks you can buy.
Thank you to Ford Canada for providing the trucks. www.Ford.ca
2024 Ford F-150 Raptor Gallery
2024 Ford F-150 STX Gallery
