2023 Ford Bronco Raptor Review
2023 Ford Bronco Raptor
Price as tested: $80,190
3.0 Liter Twin Turbo V6
418 HP / 440 TQ
0-60: 5.6 (feels a lot faster)
MPG: LOL
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Guy who did stuff: Yousef Alvi
Some media provided by Manufacturer
Do you want a simple, succinct, one simple non BS sentence on the 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor?
“If you can find it for MSRP...buy it. Right now. There is no substitute.”
Why am I so smitten with this behemoth of a thing? It does EVERYTHING absolutely brilliantly. There wasn’t a single ‘…wwweelll’ moment in my entire week with it. There was just ‘OMG this thing is great’. You just find yourself just smiling from ear to ear when driving the Bronco Raptor. The joy is contagious because your passengers cannot help but smile ear to ear. Heck, bystanders who see you rolling along cannot help but smile and point.
“It brings happiness wherever it goes. There wasn’t a single moment where the Bronco Raptor wasn’t gushed over by random people. ”
Let’s break down what is great about this Bronco Raptor. Bear in mind…the only thing truly Ugly about the Bronco Raptor, has nothing to do with the truck itself or Ford…it’s the dealerships.
The markups on Broncos in general are high but the dealer markups on Bronco Raptors are borderline criminal. A quick search on auto trader will yield mark ups ranging from $10,000…all the way to $50,000 OVER sticker.
But ignoring the fact the entire dealership industry is evil, let’s discuss the greatness that is the Bronco Raptor:
Looks
It’s massive. It’s intimidating. It looks like it will eat you and your family if you don’t GTFO out of the way. It’s absolutely spectacular!
Easy peasy lemon squeeze
One look at the Bronco Raptor and it will send shudders down your spine. The intimidation factor is about 2300%. But there is no need! The Bronco Raptor is one of the easiest trucks I have ever driven! You can drive this with two fingers on the steering wheel without a care in the world. Shockingly, the Bronco Raptor is so easy to park that our family Audi Q7 seems more of a pain! Just swing it in and let the beautifully geared steering and short wheelbase do all the work for you.
In other words, this is one of the most approachable, intuitive and just damn easy trucks to drive on the road today.
Power
Sure, a V8 soundtrack would be more of a fitting engine note than the leaf blower like note of the 3.0 liter EcoBoost V6 but there is no arguing the torque of the EcoBoost.
Making 440 ft/lbs of luscious torque and making it instantly, the Bronco Raptor flys down the road MUCH faster than test numbers suggest. Coming in at 5.6 seconds to 60, feels more like 4.9 seconds instead. Around town it’s just a stunning display of Ford engineering know-how, because it can shut and fade into the background as well.
Transmission
Hands Down. This is the best application of the Ford/GM 10 Speed transmission. All other variants I have tested have been clunktastic, confused and abrupt. The programming in the Bronco Raptor is just plain brilliant.
Buttery smooth when cruising along but flick a paddle and/or shift into Sport Mode, the 10 Speed ratchet off shifts that can only be compared to the likes of Porsche’s PDK!
I’m the biggest ZF 8HP fanboy…but hand to heard…this 10 Speed maybe better
Room for all the activities
The interior footprint of the Bronco Raptor is just plain fantastic. Easily swallowing a family of four with no issues along with a HUGE cargo area to boot. It’s packaged so well, that the Bronco Raptor maybe the best Trunk or Treat vehicle you can buy today!
Life Saving
Lastly, another reason I love the Bronco Raptor, it pretty much saved our lives.
Picking up the kiddos from school, a huge piece of a tree fell 4 feet in front of the Bronco Raptor, there was no time to brake or swing around it. Just enough time to brace and the Bronco Raptor just went over, through and on top of it without a care in the world. It was such an effortless thing that the kiddos had no idea what happened. But trust me…I did and i’m thankful we were in that truck everyday.
Oh and it makes a great Trunk or Treat vehicle as well :)
