When the renewed Ford Bronco broke cover last year, it shook up the off-roader SUV segment, which Jeep has dominated for over two decades. With top-rated hardware and beefy looks, the new Bronco was a beast of a machine through and through. It was an all-new rig designed to take on the Wrangler head-on. Available in several flavors including a more consumer-friendly Bronco Sport, Ford offered a more off-road-oriented Sasquatch package for those folks wanting to venture far off the beaten track.

But just when you thought it couldn't get any better, Ford chose to apply the full-blown Raptor treatment to the Bronco. Unofficially dubbed the 'BRAPTOR', the Bronco Raptor which made its debut earlier this year in January, does carry a price premium. The question is if the Bronco Raptor is worth that price premium and how exactly does it square up against the standard Bronco? Well, you're about to find out.

2023 Ford Bronco Raptor Performance and Capability

The Raptor variant is so much more than just a beefed-up Bronco and the changes really do run skin deep. It is essentially an Ultra4 racing-inspired Bronco, designed to tackle high-speed off-roading along with extreme rock crawling, and everything in-between. With the Bronco Raptor, Ford Performance really has taken the BuiltWild platform to the next level.

Let’s start with what’s under the hood. Instead of the two four-cylinder options featured on the standard Bronco, the Ford Bronco Raptor features a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6 that produces 418 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque on premium gas.

This mill also does duty on a couple of Lincolns and is closely related to the engine found in the Ford Explorer ST. Ford has also thrown in a dual-exhaust system with near-length pipes for enhanced aural pleasure. You can choose from Quiet, Normal, Sport, and Baja modes to adjust the engine note. The V-6 sends power to the wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission (with paddle shifters on the steering), that features a heavy-duty clutch.

But here's what really sets apart the 2023 Bronco Raptor from the regular Bronco is the additional off-road hardware, heavily inspired by the Bronco 4600. To handle the abuse and improve durability off the pavement, Ford has strengthened the steel frame and the body on frame chassis with seven cross members. You also get new shock towers.

Ford has added two visible carbon crossbars within the cabin that further improves torsional rigidity by up to 50 percent. Heavy-duty steel bash and skid plates help with protecting the engine, transmission, and transfer case.

The advanced 4x4 system on the Bronco Raptor allows you to choose from three drive modes using the G.O.A.T (Goes Over Any Terrain) mode selector. The system also features an upgraded two-speed transfer case with a 67.88:1 crawl ratio. Towing capacity sees an improvement as well, and the Bronco Raptor can haul 4500 pounds.

A heavy-duty setup with Live valve technology takes care of suspension duties. You get Dana 44 AdvanTEK front-drive axle and a Dana AdvanTEK solid axle with a 4.70 ratio at both ends. A five-link rear setup features a Panhard rod and outboard coil-over springs. Just like what we've seen on the F-150 Raptor pickup, the Bronco Raptor features High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension (HOSS) Fox shocks.

The 3.1 Internal Bypass Semi-Active dampers come with integrated reservoirs. They allow for 13 inches of suspension travel up front and 14 inches at the rear. The ground clearance has also gone up by a massive 4.8 inches and the Bronco Raptor sits an impressive 13.1 inches off the ground.

2023 Ford Bronco Raptor Specs

RELATED: Ford Bronco vs Bronco Raptor - Does The ‘Raptor’ Factor Add Value?

Exterior Design

You don't need to look hard to spot the differences between the Bronco and the Bronco Raptor. Starting up front, the script on the grille reads FORD instead of Bronco. The headlights' signature for the LED daytime running lights is amber rather than white. Further down on the bumpers, you get tow hooks (2 Front, 2 Rear) and fixed LED foglights and off-road lamps. They feature removable endcaps that you can take off when you're out and about in the wilderness.

Unlike so many pseudo SUVs these days with fake vents, there is no shortage of actual functional vents on the Bronco Raptor. Take the vented carbon black hood and the heat extraction ducts on the front side fenders. They don't just look cool, but genuinely help that V-6 under the hood breathe better.

Speaking of fenders, you get a far more aggressive-looking design along with perhaps the Bronco Raptors defining feature. Those flared-out plastic fenders, take the overall width to well over 80-inches. It requires the Bronco Raptor to include three ambler running lights on the grille as per the feeder mandate for extra-wide vehicles. Also along the sides, you'll find rock rails with removable running boards.

The reason the fenders are so wide is to accommodate the 37-inch BF Goodrich KO2 all-terrain tires sitting on 17-inch rims. These are the biggest factory-fitted tires of any vehicle in North America. You can also choose from two Beadlock compatible wheels, a 17-inch Cast Aluminium ($1,695) or 17-inch Forged Aluminium option ($1,995).

Also, unlike the standard variant, the Bronco Raptor only comes in a four-door configuration. You can completely transform the look of your Bronco and enjoy an open-air experience, thanks to the removable frameless doors and the hard carbonized gray roof.

The Raptor retains innovative features of the standard variant like the windshield-mounted rear-view mirrors that continue to stay in place when you take off the doors. In the back, Ford has reinforced the side-opening tail-gate to support the bigger full-size spare.

The taillights along with the high-mounted stop light are unique to the Bronco Raptor. As far as optional extras for the exterior, there aren't really many aside from the enticing Upgraded Raptor Graphic Package ($1,075). Doors on or off, the Bronco Raptor exudes style unlike anything else on the road and looks cool, full stop.

Exterior Colors

Exterior Dimensions

Interior Quality and Technology

The changes made to the inside of the Bronco Raptor are even more extensive. Let's begin with the upright dash. You get a rack that allows you to mount your smartphone or action cam that plug into a conveniently located 12-volt outlet. There is no shortage of USB C and A charge ports in both rows.

Code orange is the Raptor color and you'll find code-orange accent pieces across the cabin with BRONCO spelled out in orange. You'll also find code orange on the controls that allows you to adjust the A/C vents, the G.O.A.T. mode selector, the storage nets in the doors, contrast stitching on the seats, and the Bronco logo on the instrument panel.

You can also get code orange seat belts ($395). The Interior Carbon Fiber Pack ($1,725) will get you low gloss carbon fiber accents on the grab handles, the steering wheel bezel, and the gear shifter knob.

The Bronco Raptor also gets some significant tech upgrades over the standard model. A 12.0-inch capacitive touch LCD panel that comes pre-loaded with SYNC 4 and Enhanced Voice Recognition comes with the Bronco Raptor. Also part of the package are:

- Wireless Phone Connection

- Wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto

- Wifi Hotspot

- Digital Owners Manual

- AM/FM with Seven speakers and sub-woofer

- Sirius XM with a 90-day prepaid subscription

- Connected Navigation

You also get a highly-configurable 12.0-inch digital driver display. Grab onto the meaty center line steering wheel again with contrast stitching finished in the same Raptor code orange shade. Take control of the 10-speed transmission using the high-quality magnesium shifter paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.

As for upholstery and the cabin's theme, you can choose from two options. The Marine Grade Vinyl seats, finished in Black Onyx come as standard. Choose the Blue with Black Onyx option ($2,495) and you'll get leather-trimmed vinyl seats with neo-suede inserts and code orange accents.

Six-way manually adjustable heated front seats that are unique to the Bronco Raptor have just the right amount of seat bolstering. The base Vinyl grade interior comes with rubberized flooring and drain plugs, giving you the ability to wash out the interior.

Interior Dimensions

2023 Ford Bronco Raptor Price and Availability

2023 Ford Bronco Raptor Price

The 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor carries an MSRP of $68,500. Factor in the $1,595 handling and destination fee and you're looking at a grand total of $70,095. With every optional extra checked off in the configurator, you can max out your Braptor at over $80,000. Big money, yeah, but crucially, still undercutting the V-8 powered Jeep Wrangler 392.

Since the Bronco Raptor sits at the very top of the range, a lot of equipment comes as part of Standard fitment, with the included High Package. Choose the optional LUX Package ($2,695) for even more convenience features like:

- Adaptive Cruise Control

- 10-Speaker B&O Sound System with Subwoofer

- Connected NAV with Live Traffic

- Evasive Steering

- Heated Steering Wheel

- Universal Garage Door Opener

- Wireless Charging Pad

Build your Ford Bronco Raptor here.

Safety

The Bronco Raptor comes standard with Ford's CoPilot 360 suite of features. The list of safety and driver assist features includes:

- Four-Wheel Disc Brakes

- ABS with ESC

- Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking

- Post-Collision Braking

- Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist

- BLIS-With Cross Traffic Alert

- Auto-dimming rear-view mirrors

- Hill Start Assist

- Trailer-Sway control

- Rear-view Camera

- 360-Degree Camera

- All-row Safety Canopy with SIde-Curtain Rollover sensor

- Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System

RELATED: These Are Our Favorite Features Of The Ford Bronco Raptor

Main Competition

Without a doubt, the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor goes up against the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392. The 392 is a fairly recent addition to the Wranglers lineup and was in direct response to the Bronco.

With its 470 horsepower V-8, the Jeep does have a clear power advantage against the Bronco Raptor, but you will have to shell out even more cash for it. But for a more in-depth look at how these two off-road rigs differ, here is a detailed comparison of how the Jeep Wrangler 392 compares to the Ford Bronco Raptor.

So, to summarize the Bronco’s Raptor edition packs a significant number of off-road upgrades to climb rocks, traverse mud, and fly from dune to dune with even more poise. While the potent V-6 under the hood will suffice for now, deep down the hardcore enthusiast in you might lust after a V-8 heart.

That could perhaps become a reality with a future Bronco Raptor R. But for now, the Bronco Raptor should be more than up to the task of handling everything you throw at it.