Desert dunes, loose sand, rocky paths, and steep mountain climbs. If any of these terrains are part of your daily commute, then this Bronco Raptor is right up your alley. If not, then the Braptor is mechanical excess at its finest, an indulgence of off-roading might that is capable of rock crawling over your neighbour’s driveway and performing high-speed desert runs to your local Whole Foods. And it’s well-equipped as a result.

The features list is impressive. Over the standard Bronco, the Raptor comes with a HOSS 4.0 (High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension) system and FOX semi-active dampers that allow for increased travel and articulation, automatically monitoring the terrain and adjusting it hundreds of times per second. The front and rear axles have been beefed up, increasing the track width by 220 mm. The vehicle features a strengthened steel frame with skid plates and added points of reinforcement, providing 50% more torsional rigidity than the base Bronco. It wears 37-inch tires wrapped in BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 rubber and sits higher with 122 mm more ground clearance. 

The 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 has been massaged to produce 418 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque through its 10-speed automatic gearbox, 4.70 axle ratio, and selectable four-wheel drive. This laundry list of factory-standard upgrades sounds intimidating, and its $115,925 entrance fee certainly reflects that, as it is double the price of a base Bronco. But it drives remarkably well.

The V6 is a peach of an engine, carrying you to ridiculous speeds and outgunning unsuspecting SQ5s and X3 M40is, not that you (or they) would expect that from a Ford brick with the drag coefficient of a small planet. The gearbox can feel laggy and sluggish when left to its own devices, but when you take the helm via the paddles, the V6 emits crispy downshifts and the exhaust belches out when revved to its 6,200 rpm limiter, a soundtrack reminiscent of the VR38DETT V6 in the R35 GT-R.

Near-equal length exhaust pipes give the vocals that smooth, turbulent-free decibel flow, and activating the most extreme Baja exhaust setting (it goes Quiet, Normal, Sport, and Baja) even triggers a warning message that says ‘Off-Road Use Only’, making you feel particularly naughty. We think it should have been called Bajajaja mode because of all the laughs and giggles it provides. Rev the engine in Baja and it radiates motorsport levels of whine and tomfoolery, followed by a high-pitched wail uncharacteristic of a Ford V6, let alone an off-road SUV.

Baja Mode is tuned explicitly for off-roading at high speeds, such as on desert dunes, featuring turbo anti-lag calibration and optimization, along with increased sensitivity of the throttle control for improved responsiveness and power delivery. The closest desert may be thousands of kilometres away from us, but that doesn’t stop us from dreaming. The tires even have a Baja champion logo on the tire sidewall. But no matter the driving mode, expect an unquenchable thirst for fuel. We averaged 16.1 L/100km over a mix of city and highway driving. Ford claims you can fill it up with 87-octane fuel, but adding 91-octane premium should improve its power ratings and help its performance at higher altitudes, hotter temperatures, or when towing.

The Bronco behaves like any other SUV with a solid rear axle, shimmying over bumps and taking time for it to settle and regain composure. Still, we are genuinely surprised by its on-road civility. After thirty minutes behind the wheel, we often forget that we’re driving a lifted, Baja-ready rig. In many ways, such as steering effort, turning radius, and road compliance over pockmarked roads, it feels no different than piloting a full-size pick-up truck, sometimes better. The Raptor remains exceptionally calm on harsh roads thanks to its extra wheel travel, and we found it rode better than the Mustang Mach-E GT and Land Cruiser 1958, even though those didn’t have knobby off-road tires.

There’s extra street cred and road presence to be found with the Raptor’s widened stance and amber daytime running lights – very Velociraptor – while the scripted FORD grill, RIGID fog lamps, and side fender ducts that function as heat extractors complete the exterior package. The roof and doors are all detachable, giving it more character and a sense of occasion over a 4Runner TRD Pro, Land Cruiser, or Defender. Ford doesn’t seem to be taking itself too seriously and isn’t afraid of having some light-hearted fun with its styling. And while the Bronco may not be as famous or sought after as the G-Wagon, it certainly appears tougher, like it wouldn’t back down from a fist fight, whereas the G would be frightened about staining its chrome loafers and carbon fibre pants. 

Does it feel like a $120,000 car inside? Not entirely, with scratchy black plastics running rampant throughout. But then you have to remember these materials need to hold up to inclement weather, and possibly jungle or desert wilderness. Luckily, it doesn’t feel overly cheap either, and is a step up from the standard Bronco with some Raptor-specific accents. Large paddle shifters bestow a sense of racing motorsport, with a red stripe at the 12 o’clock position and an optional carbon fibre package ($2,195) that adds supercar-quality carbon fibre panels to select areas: steering wheel surrounds, dashboard grab handles, passenger-side center grab handle, and gear shifter insert. 

The blue marine-grade vinyl is an interesting texture and upholstery, reminiscent of jean denim but flatter, shinier, and more durable to the touch. It’s what we assume mermaid skin would feel like. There are also red accents on the G.O.A.T. drive mode selector, which Ford says stands for “Goes Over Any Type of Terrain”, which should make it GOATOT, but we all know it means ‘Greatest of All Time’. Our mind thinks it activates ‘Gone on a Trip’ mode, or pulls up the ‘Glossary of Acronyms and Terms’, but that’s besides the point. What makes us happy are the six roof-mounted auxiliary switches that will make any inner child giggle with excitement like a pretend fighter pilot.

At low and medium speeds, cabin insulation is quite acceptable. You don’t hear the same tinny background noises and the wind pummeling the windscreen like you would in the comparative Jeep Wrangler 392. It’s only when you swing past 100 km/h that the wind turbulence and tire noise begin to distract and drown out your ears, notably around the roof area and A pillar. Above 120 km/h, you’re really going to have to turn up that, quite impressive, I might add, Bang and Olufsen stereo system. 

More power, suspension travel, and ground clearance have transformed this Bronco into a high-flying acrobatic desert warrior. The chariot of choice for Tusken raiders and Mad Max, the Raptor also impresses with its on-road civility, full birthday suit mode without doors and roofs, and enough decibel thrills to make us all bajajaja. Whether you’re looking to cross abrasive terrain or stand out at your next Cars and Coffee, the Raptor will fit the bill nicely.

Specifications:

Model: 2025 Ford Bronco Raptor
Paint Type: Marsh Grey
Base Price: $115,925
Price as Tested: $121,765
Wheelbase (mm): 2,960
Length/Width/Height (mm): 4,852 / 2,206 / 1,975
Curb Weight: 2,608 kg
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6
Horsepower: 418 hp @ 5,750 rpm
Torque:  440 lb-ft @ 2,750 rpm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Engine & Drive Configuration: Front engine, 4WD
Observed Fuel Consumption (L/100km): 16.1
Tires: BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2; 37X12.50R17LT