2023 Ford Bronco Raptor: Take a look at Drive | The Day by day Drive

2023 4-Door Superior 4X4 Raptor

Class: Compact Crossover/SUV

Shade: Code Orange

Seating capability: 5

CG Report Card

Room and Consolation	B
Energy and Efficiency	B+
Match and End	B
Gasoline Economic system	C+
Worth	B-

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different autos in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim degree evaluated, and will not replicate Shopper Information’s impressions of your complete mannequin lineup.

Huge & Tall Consolation

Huge Man	A-
Tall Man	B

Huge & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Huge” score primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	418-horsepower 3.0-liter
Engine Sort	Turbocharged V6
Transmission	10-speed automated
Drive Wheels	4WD

Miles pushed: 187

Noticed gas financial system: 15.3 mpg

Driving combine: 70% metropolis, 30% freeway

EPA-estimated gas financial system: 15/16/25 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)

Gasoline sort: Common fuel

Snow Efficiency: Wonderful

Base value: $83,580 (not together with $1795 vacation spot cost)

Choices on check car: Lux Package deal ($3050), Raptor Graphic ($1075), keyless-entry keypad ($110), 17-inch black Beadlock wheels ($1995), Code Orange seat belts ($395), Inside Carbon Fiber Pack ($1725), leather-based and suede seats ($2995)

Worth as examined: $96,720

Fast Hits

The nice: Greenback worth, enjoyable to drive

The great: Roomy cabin, normal AWD

The not so good: Finances-grade cabin supplies

Tom Appel:

What value excessive? How a lot are you keen to surrender—when it comes to cash and private consolation—with a purpose to take issues additional than most people are keen to go? We’re not speaking about consuming jalapeños or enjoying Royal Match till daybreak right here, we’re speaking about your journey. What are the challenges of driving one thing fully excessive?

We requested ourselves that query shortly after taking supply of a 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor geared up with greater than $11,000 in choices. Ford’s final off-roader (until you depend the F-150 Raptor) seems excessive standing nonetheless, and likewise seems like an possession handful. Actually, a car this clearly caffeinated asks a lot of its caretakers.

For these not within the know, the Raptor caps a complete line of rugged Bronco midsize SUVs, all of that are designed to steer off-road fans (and rugged-minded “gentle roaders”) away from Jeep’s widespread Wrangler SUV. And, about that mission: In 2023, Ford bought 117,000 Broncos, and Jeep 157,000 Wranglers. Whereas Jeep has the gross sales edge, it’s price noting that Bronco gross sales had been up virtually ten p.c on the 12 months, whereas Wrangler gross sales slipped about 13 p.c. We promise you; this gross sales battle has solely simply begun.

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The Bronco lineup ascends although the bottom Huge Bend (about $41,000), Black Diamond ($44,000), Outer Banks ($49,000), retro-themed Heritage ($50,000), off-road-ready Dangerous Lands ($51,000), Everglades ($57,000), off-road/desert-runner Wildtrak ($63,000), luxury-oriented/retro-themed Heritage Restricted Version, and excessive off-road Raptor ($91,000).

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All fashions can be found in 4-door configuration, whereas all however the Outer Banks, Everglades, and Raptor are additionally provided with 2-doors. Energy for many fashions comes from a 300-horsepower 2.3-liter turbocharged “EcoBoost” 4-cylinder. Normal, and solely accessible on the Wildtrak and Heritage Restricted Version is a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 good for 315 horsepower. Unique to the Raptor is one other EcoBoost mill, a 3.0-liter V6 rated at a considerable 418 horses.

All engines mate to a 10-speed automated, whereas just a few 4-cylinder fashions may be had with a 7-speed handbook. No shock, all Broncos come normal with 4WD.

As for what makes a Raptor a Raptor, the record of upgrades is prolonged. Most notable is a chassis designed to supply greater than 13 inches of suspension journey, virtually two inches greater than the Wildtrak. As famous above, the Raptor boasts 103 extra horsepower than the Wildtrak, and a extra complete suite of drive modes. And whereas each the Wildtrak and Raptor are shod with 17-inch wheels, the latter’s 37-inch tires are 2-inches bigger, and look impressively large. The Raptor can also be fitted with a novel grille, hood, entrance fenders, and taillight assemblies.

Inside, the Raptor boasts various upgrades together with distinctive trim parts, a selected steering wheel, and pink/orange seat trim.

Regardless of the steroid therapy, Shopper Information discovered the Raptor to be surprisingly docile in common use, although the day by day commuting expertise was not with out its compromises. Right here’s a rundown of the prices of going excessive:

Consolation:

Whereas the Raptor cabin sits a little bit increased than that of different Bronco fashions, it’s not a horrible stretch to stand up and into the automobile. Smaller people may counsel in any other case. As soon as inside, there is no such thing as a penalty for going with the Raptor, as cabin area and basic seating consolation are just about the identical.

Journey high quality is one other matter. Whereas the Raptor journey isn’t harsh, it’s comprised of great up-and-down motion, which may develop wearisome on damaged and wavy roads. Additionally, a good quantity of noise makes its manner into the cabin, which may make dialog at freeway pace a little bit of a trouble.

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Efficiency:

The most effective half first: The Raptor may be very quick. There’s loads of punch for around-town stop-light drag begins, and ample muscle for passing and merging as properly. And as we managed to benefit from the companies of the Raptor throughout a snow occasion, we’re blissful to report the baddest of Broncos makes brief work of unplowed streets and drifted-over driveways.

And whereas the Raptor handles properly, typically talking, the big tires can work towards you in cornering, because the uber Bronco plows considerably in aggressive cornering, which may scrub off pace, and the car’s width limits how a lot rush-hour site visitors slicing and dicing may be carried out.

One the plus facet, our gas financial system was surprisingly not terrible; we averaged 15.3 mpg, not unhealthy for a 400-plus-horsepower off-road machine with full-time 4WD, that spent a while snow slogging. For the document, we noticed 18.3 mpg in a check Bronco Wildtrak in considerably lighter-duty driving.

Worth:

At greater than $90,000 to start out, the Raptor may be very costly. And, for most people, the very succesful Wildtrak will show to be a extra car than they’ll ever want. That stated, when you have the cash, and must personal the most-extreme Bronco, there’s little purpose to not indulge your baser instincts. Whereas the Raptors may be one thing of a chore to drive round city, it’s not that a lot of a trouble, and also you gained’t be burning very far more fuel. Additionally, the Raptor is enjoyable to drive, and that counts for lots whenever you’re shelling out this sort of cash.

Be aware: This analysis didn’t embody any critical off-road exercise, and that exercise is core to the Raptor mission. Certainly, if something justifies the Raptor’s hefty backside line, it’s the truck’s professional rock-crawling credentials. The editors of Shopper Information have loved the companies of a Bronco Raptor for the aim of great off-road enjoyable, and might vouch for the truck’s bona fides.

Be aware: This analysis is of the 2023 Bronco Raptor. The Bronco lineup is little modified for 2024.

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