2025 Lariat: Sport 4x4 or FX4 for Highway

[gmpetrie]

I am getting a 2025 Lariat 4x4, and will be putting in long miles on highway, and graveled but maintained dirt roads with moderate payloads (approx 300-500lb) in all weather conditions. I have been told that the FX4 package will generally ride the highways a bit rougher than the sport. I am concerned that the FX4 may reduce the comfort for long highway drives, and I would like to hear comments on any experience you may have on this.

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[Truckin]

Everyone has a preference. my experience in a 150 is the shocks and springs in FX4 and even in the tremor are not better than a lariat (I've owned all of them) and usually just a label.
Raptors have a better offload setup by far.
FX4 will get you a locker rear if that's important to you. Me as a city dweller I never needed mine at all

 

[Alaska Steve]

My 2021 4x4 (not FX4) Lariat Ranger suspension was way too bouncy over any kind of bumps and really unstable. The FX4 suspension in my 2024 Lariat Ranger is far better and more stable as I would expect.

 

[hand-filer]

The FX4 package will not compromise the ride quality. It has a very composed ride at highway speeds irrespective of the quality of the road surface.
I know first hand, the roads are shit up here.

 

[6G powwaa]

Having any type of load in the bed or trailer attached will give you a better ride as well, suspension will be compressed a bit which will keep the truck from bouncing more. I have a 2.7 sport and there is a noticeable ride-quality difference from a full tank to 1/4 tank of fuel. It does ride smoother.

 

[Jackman]

I have a 2024 Lariat 2.7l with FX4. I ordered it with the Sport package, but when it took too long I found the exact truck except the FX4. I must say it rides beautifully. Feels like a bigger truck, heavy and smooth. Having said that, I would rather have had the Sport. I'll never go off road and removing the shields to change the oil sucks. I just bought an oil extractor. Hope this helps.

 

[Stu x 4]

The FX4 package will not compromise the ride quality. It has a very composed ride at highway speeds irrespective of the quality of the road surface.
I know first hand, the roads are shit up here.

Agree with hand-filler....have Fx4 Lariat with a topper installed and carry window samples....extra weight helps stabilize the back end and the bounce on rough surfaces. Makes no difference on the highway; you will enjoy both... as it glides down the road and the 2.7l is zippy. I do/will off road in the summer and the rear locker will come in handy.

 

[Wayfaring Ranger]

I've done thousands of highway miles in our fx4 lariat and it feels great. It handles better than older trucks and sometimes you forget you're driving one.

If you can afford the fx4 i think it's a no brainer. The day you get stuck or have a hard time getting traction you'll be kicking yourself for not having the offroad advantages.

 

[jeffers]

Everyone has a preference. my experience in a 150 is the shocks and springs in FX4 and even in the tremor are not better than a lariat (I've owned all of them) and usually just a label.
Raptors have a better offload setup by far.
FX4 will get you a locker rear if that's important to you. Me as a city dweller I never needed mine at all

When I took my FX4 offroad the locking differential was critical, but just depends on conditions.

 

[Danager]

I’m underwhelmed by the suspension in my 2024 Lariat FX4 with 2.7L. I find it harsh. I’m planning to change out the rears this spring.
I traded in a 2021 Lariat Tremor. The Ranger Tremors had Fox Shocks. They were very nice. A little soft if you had some weight in the bed.

The FX4 pkg was worth it for the rear locker. The skid plates offer good protection against gravel and brush.

 

[Kevindust]

It would be interesting to read some professional reviews on this subject or if Ford would provide some real detail about the suspension specifications for each package. It is curious that in the Ranger world, some people are saying that the FX4 package will generally ride rougher on the highways than the Sport. Others have said that the FX4 is softer than the Sport. Traditionally, an off road oriented suspension package will be noticeably softer than a standard highway oriented suspension. The off road suspension should be softer to keep the tire in contact with the ground longer, resulting in more grip. It should be softer to allow for a smoother ride on bumpy terrain. It should be softer to allow the vehicle to use the full suspension travel. Go drive a Tacoma TRD Off Road and a TRD Sport back to back and it is very clear that the Off Road is softer.

The Ranger Raptor's adjustable suspension is even set up in this traditional way. On pavement, the Sport mode setting rides stiffer than the Baja mode setting. I would be surprised if the FX4 is actually stiffer than the standard sport suspension but the only way to know for sure is to get the specs from Ford and/or to test drive them.

 

[jedadiah]

On the 5G, pretty much everyone said the FX4 was too soft and swapping out the shocks for Bilstien 5100s was the prescribed fix.

I've seen a few complaints here about specific trims, but not the same consensus as with the last truck. It would be nice if Ford described the differences. The only way to know for sure is to go drive both trucks.

I believe the FX4 comes with more aggressive AT tires than the Wranglers that come on the rest of the Rangers (2wd and 4wd), which could be useful on the dirt roads you mentioned but maybe not as good on the highway.

 

[jeffers]

My understanding is the shocks have to match the spring rate, just swapping out one or the other isn't necessarily a good idea, unless the shocks are adjustable.

 

[jeffers]

It would be interesting to read some professional reviews on this subject or if Ford would provide some real detail about the suspension specifications for each package. It is curious that in the Ranger world, some people are saying that the FX4 package will generally ride rougher on the highways than the Sport. Others have said that the FX4 is softer than the Sport. Traditionally, an off road oriented suspension package will be noticeably softer than a standard highway oriented suspension. The off road suspension should be softer to keep the tire in contact with the ground longer, resulting in more grip. It should be softer to allow for a smoother ride on bumpy terrain. It should be softer to allow the vehicle to use the full suspension travel. Go drive a Tacoma TRD Off Road and a TRD Sport back to back and it is very clear that the Off Road is softer.

The Ranger Raptor's adjustable suspension is even set up in this traditional way. On pavement, the Sport mode setting rides stiffer than the Baja mode setting. I would be surprised if the FX4 is actually stiffer than the standard sport suspension but the only way to know for sure is to get the specs from Ford and/or to test drive them.

The Raptor is supposed to be the softest of the three, but you lose payload and towing.

 

[Wayfaring Ranger]

I believe the FX4 comes with more aggressive AT tires than the Wranglers that come on the rest of the Rangers (2wd and 4wd)

6g FX4 comes with Goodyear Wrangler A/Ts

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