2024 Ford Bronco Raptor Road Test

Ford has bestowed upon the Bronco Raptor a set of 37-inch BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires, 13.1-inches of ground clearance, and more than 13 inches of wheel travel. Also included front and rear locker, a front hydraulic sway bar disconnect, full skid plates, a 3.06 :1 transfer case, 4.70:1 gearing, Trail Turn Assist, G.O.A.T. (Go Over Any Terrain) modes to assist the driver in conquering just about any terrain, all of this ensuring the Bronco Raptor comes to the party fully equipped. Overall, the chassis is said to be 50-percent stiffer than a standard Bronco.

Ultimate Road Test

Having a purpose-built machine in its element, doesn’t always translate into a great daily driver or on-highway vehicle. So, we took a brand new ’24 Bronco Raptor on a 2,000-mile journey across the country to some of the best wheeling spots in the entire country to get a sense of whether this rig could really be a do-everything machine.

With a brand new, and fully loaded, 2024 Ford Bronco Raptor in hand we set out from Southern California to the beautiful San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Known for the high density of Toyotas and Jeep enthusiasts, we felt like we were sliding behind enemy lines with the kind of vehicle that draws looks, ire, questions, and single-finger salutes that can include a thumb, or sometimes another digit. But as much as some brand-loyalists want to dislike the Bronco, almost no one hates the Braptor. The consensus amongst Toyota and Jeep people was that this was the Bronco to have and they vast majority thought it was cool, and we saw more thumbs up gestures than anything else.

On-Road

The twin-turbo 3.0L EcoBoost V-6 screams at wide open throttle, but remains docile down low. Throttle tip in is a bit wooden at low speeds, but this means the engine power is easy to modulate during slower speed maneuvers, such as trail riding. With 418 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque, it is a significant upgrade over the standard Bronco’s optional 2.7L V-6 with 330 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. Although there is a surplus of passing power, the Braptor just doesn’t feel as fast as you think it should. That is because at a published 5,733 pounds, it is at least 550 pounds heavier than a Bronco Badlands Sasquatch, so the performance advantage is muted.

Off-Road

The suspension when on the comfort setting gives the Braptor enough compliance to soak up the trail imperfections without jostling the passengers too much and when you get to the fast roads, a few button presses or a configuration change on the G.O.A.T. knob and the Bronco Raptor transforms into something more akin to a prerunner. Just make sure all your gear is tied down and secured before you go deep with the skinny pedal.

If there is one liability on the trail, it would be the same wide track that makes the suspension perform so well going fast. It takes an attentive driver to keep track of the width, especially in tighter spaces, since the tire positions can’t be easily seen from the driver’s seat. Fortunately, the Bronco Raptor is equipped with a slew of high-definition cameras that give you the visibility on the center stack screen to navigate tight spaces.

Price of Entry

Our tester was loaded up, including with the leather and suede seating surface option ($2,995) and the Code Orange package ($2,495.00), coming in at $97,420 with the $1,895 destination and delivery charge.

The blue and charcoal interior was accented with code orange, including cool code orange seat belts, but the rest of the interior doesn’t feel any more upscale than the standard Bronco, belying the fact that extra dollars went into to the chassis and underpinnings and not into making the cabin feel particularly special at the price point.

Over the course of our weeklong trip, we traveled 1,998 miles and averaged 15.7 mpg, right in the middle of the rating of 15 miles per gallon city and 16 miles per gallon highway.

Conclusion