The Ford Bronco Raptor is a top-of-the-line Ford Bronco performance model made for those who prefer their SUVs to be able to traverse virtually every piece of terrain imaginable. Granted, you can’t go over buildings and bridges with the Bronco Raptor, but you can go over rocks, sand dunes, steep inclines, snow, water, and everything else.
So, is Ford Bronco Raptor a good car? Well, it depends. If you like the way the Bronco looks and you want a compact, yet capable off-roader, it’s hard to argue with the Ford Bronco Raptor. The engine is powerful enough, it looks great, it offers a top-down experience, is decently reliable, well equipped, and surprisingly practical for a compact SUV.
You get a 3.0L EcoBoost engine with 418hp and 415lb-ft of torque which is a hefty number even for a full-size size. The Bronco nameplate is iconic because of the legendary 1st gen Bronco. The new one inherits similar design touches, but the entire car looks more modern with a hefty dose of off-road amenities.
The Bronco Raptor seems to be holding up well when it comes to reliability, and the pricing is almost on point with the F150 Raptor. Practicality is decent for a small SUV because the Bronco offers enough seating space and a relatively sizeable trunk space.
Ford Bronco Raptor – The powertrain
The Bronco Raptor packs a twin-turbo V6 engine with 418hp and 415lb-ft of torque which should be enough for most people. Many people indeed wanted the Bronco Raptor to come with a 5.0L V8, but Ford said that the Coyote V8 will become available with the Bronco DR. Before you take out your wallet, the DR is going to be a limited non-street legal model.
This engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox similar to the one found in the Ford Explorer ST. The Explorer ST and the Bronco share the same powertrain with a small engine tune to add the additional 18hp to the Bronco. This powertrain is capable of traversing all sorts of terrain and Ford said that they think this powertrain suits the Bronco Raptor the best.
When it comes to efficiency, the Bronco Raptor is able to return about 15MPG max which is not something to brag about. However, it is better than the Bronco’s closest competitor, the 470hp, 14MPG Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.
Ford Bronco Raptor – Design and chassis
The Bronco Raptor looks meaner and beefier than the regular Bronco because it utilizes a much more aggressive exterior design. With huge grippy tires, the Bronco is able to climb over rocks without worrying about getting a flat. The Front has gotten a new bumper, a new rocker panel, and a slightly meaner hood. The interior of the Bronco isn’t all that much different from the regular Bronco.
The driving experience is where the Bronco feels the most different from the regular Bronco because you do feel the added power, but you also feed the beefier tires. The Bronco is not the most comfortable car on the road, but Ford never intended it to be.
Ford Bronco Raptor – Reliability and common issues
When it comes to reliability, the Bronco is difficult to place. The reason why is simple, the Bronco hasn’t been out for long enough for us to be able to decide if it is going to last or not. However, we have already seen that the Ford Explorer ST’s powertrain seems to be holding up nicely, so there are no reasons to think that the Bronco Raptor will be any different.
On the other hand, there are some issues surrounding both the soft top and the hard top, the electronics, the suspension, and the overall build quality. Either way, we will have to wait and see if the Bronco Raptor will be any good for a few years.
Ford Bronco Raptor – Value and practicality
$70,000 for a small Ford SUV is quite a lot of money and Ford hopes that they are going to sell a ton of these. On one hand, the Bronco Raptor is going to retain value really well which means that buying one and selling it down the line will not be extremely painful. On the other hand, the Ford F150 costs pretty much on point, and I do prefer it over the Bronco.
Practicality-wise, the Bronco is okay. It offers decent seating space for its size, but there are more practical cars in this segment. All in all, the visibility is excellent, and it’s also very easy to climb into the Bronco.
FAQ Section
Should I buy the Ford Bronco Raptor?
If you are in the market for a compact, yet capable off-road SUV, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon used to be your best bet. Nowadays you can also go for the Ford Bronco Raptor which realistically looks better, is more iconic, and is a better daily driver. As such, the Ford Bronco Raptor is worth it if you are after such a car.
On the other hand, if you are not an off-road type of guy, but you just love the looks of the Bronco Raptor, you need to keep in mind that the Bronco is not the most comfortable, nor relaxing $70,000 SUV.
Is the Ford Bronco Raptor better than the Ford F150 Raptor?
When you look at the pricing of these two, you quickly realize that the new Bronco Raptor is about $2,000 more expensive than the F150 Raptor. The F150 gets a larger displacement 450hp engine and is the better daily driver because it comes with less aggressive tires and is overall a more enjoyable car on the road.
The Bronco is better off-road because you will have to spend at least $8,000 on the F150 in upgrades in order to make it as capable as the Bronco Raptor is from the factory. Take the Bronco if you like the styling and you like going off-road, but take the F150 for everything else.
How much does a fully loaded Ford Bronco Raptor cost?
If you want a Frond Bronco with everything you can get for it, be prepared to pay $83,000 before any dealer markups. All in all, an $83,000 price tag for a Ford Bronco seems a bit crazy, but Ford hopes that these will sell like crazy so I guess we will have to wait and see.
