F-150 Raptor vs Hilux: Which Pickup Owns UAE Terrains?

Abu Dhabi: The pickup trucks are a major part of the UAE’s automotive scene, visible across major cities and towns across the Emirates. Be it construction sites, desert camps, family road trips or weekend dune outings, or driving through major cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, pickups are visible. This immense popularity also means all top brands offer their best pickups to buyers. And, unlike a typical sedan or a SUV, Pickups are different; they serve a mix of applications like personal, family, and business needs. As a characteristic, they are known for being tough and rugged to take on challenging terrains, especially in the UAE’s diverse driving conditions. 

When it comes to choosing the best one, two options stand out above the others. The Toyota Hilux and Ford F-150 Raptor, quite well-known and highly regarded for their distinctive identities. The Raptor is big, loud, and built for speed across sand, while the Hilux is practical, efficient, and has been proving itself in the region for decades. Most recognised and popular among pickup buyers. So, the one pickup is a performance machine, the other is a reliable workhorse that actually never quits.  Both have their respective loyal fans, and both have good reasons to be on your shortlist if you're buying a pickup in the UAE.

So, which one is exactly the best to handle the UAE’s Terrain? We find out the answer by putting them against each other in this detailed comparison. Read to know what you’re getting.

Price Comparison

The F-150 Raptor starts at AED 364,000. That's for the standard Raptor, but as you go up to the variants, the prices also increase considerably. If you wish to get the one with the supercharged V8, it costs around AED 449,000.

Comparatively, the Hilux is far more affordable. Prices start at AED 115,900 for the base single cab and go up to around AED 155,900 for the top-spec Adventure double cab.

It is noticeable that the price between the two is considerably high. You could buy two well-equipped Hilux trucks for the price of one Raptor R. But the Raptor is not necessarily trying to attract only affordable buyers. It has got a bigger powerful engine, a specialist tool, and specialists cost more.

Model	Starting Price (AED)	Top Price (AED)
Ford F-150 Raptor	3,65,000	449,000 (Raptor R)
Toyota Hilux	1,15,900	1,55,900

Dimensions Comparison

The Raptor, as you see in real life, is visible and comes across as big, which gives it great road presence. In terms of dimensions, it has a length of 5,910 mm, 2,200 mm of width, and 1,980 mm of height, and it certainly is going to dominate any parking lot. The wheelbase is 3,705 mm, and ground clearance at 333 mm, which is quite frankly a lot when you're in off-road mode. It gets those massive 37-inch tyres wrapped around 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels. As far as the cargo deck is concerned, it is 1.524 mm in length, which is quite useful for all types of needs. The fuel tank holds 136 litres, which you'll need because this thing drinks fuel, literally. 

The Hilux is smaller and more manageable, with 5,325 mm in length, a width of 1,855 mm, height of 1,815 mm. The wheelbase is 3,085 mm with ground clearance at 279 mm. It runs on 18-inch wheels, which is quite fine for everyday needs across our city and towns. The cargo bed is slightly longer, measuring 1,569 mm for the double cab, which underlines its particularity. The fuel tank capacity is 80 litres.

It is pretty obvious visually that the Raptor appears aggressive, with a wide stance, a massive grille with FORD lettering across it, flared fenders, and Fox racing shocks visible at all four corners. It's designed to intimidate.

The Hilux looks more like a practical pickup, which is also purposeful. Its design represents clean lines, extremely functional design, nothing extravagant. It's a truck that means business without shouting about it.

Dimension	Ford F-150 Raptor (mm)	Toyota Hilux (mm)
Length	5,910	5,325
Width	2,200	1,855
Height	1,980	1,815
Wheelbase	3,705	3,085
Ground Clearance	333 (off-road mode)	279
Bed Length	1,524	1,569
Fuel Tank	136L	80L
Wheel Size	17 inches (37-inch tires)	18 inches

Powertrain Comparison

The standard Ford F-150 Raptor is offered with a 3.5L twin-turbo V6 engine, which produces 450 hp of power and solid 691 Nm of torque. This is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a full-time 4WD system. The higher power R variants come with a supercharged 5.2L V8 engine, which has a massive 720 hp of power and whopping 868 Nm of torque, with the same transmission and 4WD system.

The Toyota Hilux comes with multiple engine options. It starts at a 2.4L diesel, producing 147 hp of power and 500 Nm. Then comes the 4L, six-cylinder, which produces 235hp of power. Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual or automatic, and 4WD is available on higher-grade trims.

Performance-wise, the Raptor promises superior acceleration, capable of reaching 100 km/h faster than many sports cars, built chiefly for high-speed desert driving. Meanwhile, the Hilux is designed for durability and load-carrying ability, excelling in rugged conditions over long distances.

Model	Engine & Powertrain Details	Power (hp)	Torque (Nm)	Transmission	Drivetrain
Ford F-150 Raptor	- 3.5L Twin-Turbocharged V6 (EcoBoost) - 5.2L Supercharged V8 (Raptor R variant)	450 (3.5L V6) 720 (5.2L V8)	691 (3.5L V6) 868 (5.2L V8)	10-speed Automatic	4WD (4x4)
Toyota Hilux	- 2.4L Turbo Diesel - 2.7L Petrol 4-cylinder - 4.0L V6 Petrol (GR Sport variant)	148 (2.4L Diesel) 164 (2.7L Petrol) 235 (4.0L Petrol)	343 (2.4L Diesel) 245 (2.7L Petrol) 376 (4.0L Petrol)	6-speed Automatic/Manual	4x2 and 4x4 options

Features Comparison 

The Raptor's cabin, as expected, feels modern and tech-heavy; you get a feel of a modern pickup. The highlight is a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch vertical touchscreen, which gets Ford's in-house software SYNC 4 system. For connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, which work wirelessly. Just like a premium SUV, you get a heavily bolstered seat with orange stitching and Raptor logos. The climate control is automatic, and on the higher variants you get heated and ventilated front seats. For your entertainment, there is a B&O premium sound system with 18 speakers, which is awesome. You will love the steering wheel, which is wrapped in leather with paddle shifters and mode selectors. Given the working usage of the pickup, the cabin storage is quite good to help you carry stuff. 

In comparison, the Hilux interior is simpler. There is an 8-inch touchscreen with Toyota's infotainment system, CarPlay, and Android Auto (wired connection, something old-school). The seats are cloth or leather, based on the choice of the variant; this can be considered as practical rather than sporty. The AC is manual on lower trims, automatic on higher ones. The sound system on the high-end variants comprises a 9-speaker JBL sound system. You notice that the controls are straightforward, easy to use, even with gloves on. Here too as part of the focus on practicality, you get generous storage with lots of useful cubbies and bins.

The Raptor feels like a performance vehicle inside. You get the feel of Ford’s focus on the driving experience. The Hilux feels like a tool that's designed to be used, cleaned, and used again.

Feature	Ford F-150 Raptor	Toyota Hilux
Instrument Cluster	12-inch digital	4.2-inch multi-info display
Infotainment	12-inch vertical touchscreen, SYNC 4	8-inch touchscreen
Connectivity	Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto	Wired CarPlay/Android Auto
Seating	Sport seats with orange stitching	Cloth/Leather (practical)
Climate Control	Automatic, heated/ventilated seats	Manual/Automatic (trim-dependent)
Audio	B&O 18-speaker	JBL 9-speaker (Legend)
Interior Style	Performance-focused	Functional and durable

Safety Comparison 

Since these are tough vehicles often taking challenging terrains, safety is critical. And, both of them are well-equipped in this regard. The Raptor has 7 airbags. You get Ford Co-Pilot360, comprising adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking. There's a 360-degree camera system that has a split-view display. Other features like hill descent control, hill start assist are standard and should come in handy.  For easier reversing, trailer backup assist is provided.

The Hilux too gets 7 airbags, and Toyota Safety Sense that includes pre-collision system, lane departure alert, and automatic high beam. Higher trims add blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. There's hill start assist and downhill assist control standard as well. The 360-degree camera is not standard, available only at the high-end. camera, others just get a reversing camera.

To be absolutely clear, as far as safety is concerned, both pickups are well covered, and it isn’t a big deal at all. You should feel safer most of the time and usual driving and operating conditions. Both, however, the Raptor scores better with advanced driver assistance features as standard.

Feature	Ford F-150 Raptor	Toyota Hilux
Airbags	7	7
Driver Assist	Ford Co-Pilot360 (ACC, LKA, BSM)	Toyota Safety Sense (PCS, LDA)
Cameras	360-degree with split-view	360-degree (higher trims)
Off-Road Aids	Hill descent, trail control	Hill start assist, downhill assist

Incredible Off-Road Abilities

This is where these pickups really make a huge difference. They are not your regular SUVs, but rather built for extremely demanding and gruelling duties. The Raptor is an off-road machine with some special aggregates and features. Like for example, the Fox Live Valve internal bypass shocks that adjust damping in real time. To take on select terrain, you get to choose from six drive modes: Normal, Sport, Off-Road, Slippery, Tow/Haul, and Baja. Baja mode is suitable for high-speed desert running, with loosened stability control, firms up the shocks, and lets you zip across sand at speeds that would generally scare most drivers. Also, the electronic locking rear differential, terrain management system, and skid plates protect the underside, which is superb. 

The Hilux isn’t that high-end for sure, but then it actually is ideal for different roles. A more traditional but still capable pickup that would make your everyday jobs highly productive sessions. It uses coil-spring rear suspension on the higher variant to ensure superior ride quality. There's a low-range transfer case, rear differential lock, and active traction control to help you take on all types of challenges. The downhill assist control assists during steep descents. It's not as high-tech as the Raptor, but it'll get you almost anywhere, and is quite proven in the UAE’s driving conditions, which is what makes it a leader in its segments. A most preferred choice of pickup buyers. 

Here is a clear differentiation between the two as a buyer. The Raptor is for buyers who are looking to storm the desert, but the most powerful and capable pickup, while the Hilux is for those who need to cross it reliably. Both are rightfully great and highly regarded in their respective roles. The UAE has a unique relationship with pickup trucks. They're not just recreational vehicles or work tools. They're everything, creating their individual space among buyers, and so it is a personal choice. 

Conclusion

So, which pickup owns the UAE terrain? 

Well, there’s no single right answer. These trucks serve different purposes. Buy the Raptor if you want the ultimate performance pickup. If you’re someone who loves driving fast in the desert, and something that stands out. And remember it isn’t cheap to buy and run, but if you can afford it, then it will be your ultimate fun vehicle.

We’ll recommend the Hilux if you need a reliable working pickup. Let's just say you're going to use it for actual work. If you want low running costs, own it for over a decade without major issues. In such a usage case scenario, it is a perfect and rather sensible choice.

So, a short answer perhaps is, both are excellent at what they do. In the UAE, where both extreme performance and extreme reliability are valued, they are definitely critical in their special domains.. Once you know what your priorities are, then proceed accordingly, but check out both of them, feel and experience them in real life.