Pros & Cons
- Unshakable high-speed composure
- Shockingly livable desert capability
- Polished powertrain under pressure
- Persistent thirst under throttle
- Noticeable cabin noise presence
- Cumbersome rear swing access
It’s basically a factory-built desert missile that jumps like it’s actively trying to escape Earth’s gravity.
Overview
Look I’ve blasted across dunes in plenty of rigs but this one still jumps like it has a personal vendetta against gravity and that instantly puts it in my favorites file. It has that 1970s-inspired vibe that hits the retro appearance spot without feeling like an old-school costume party. The whole package is wildly livable for something that looks like an uber-Bronco fever dream. The system cranks real confidence even when the tires are howling across paved roads or thudding over bumps that would make a Wrangler sweat. And yes the flares are cartoonishly wide yet somehow earned. Blame the Fox dampers and outboard hardware that let you keep your dignity when the trail gets spicy.
What really matters is how the 3.0-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 goes. It dishes out 418 horsepower which is impressive even in a world where 392 and 470-hp V8s shriek for attention like caffeinated toddlers. Sure a V-8 or something Hemi flavored would make the enthusiast crowd swoon but this setup packs plenty of shove without turning daily driving into a borderline circus. The transmission is smooth, the powertrain feels polished and the whole thing soaks up boulders with enough travel and clearance to go farther than any pickup-adjacent SUV has a right to. It’s a testament to Ford’s engineering chops that this beast still feels livable even with knobby 37-inch rubber and skid plates thick enough to stop a resentment-powered meteor.
Slide it into a comparison and you see how the segment has gotten hotly contested. A Jeep Rubicon might get closer in slow crawling but this thing just feels refocused for Wheeling with speed. It’s decidedly truck-like in a charming modern-day way yet avoids feeling cheap or disjointed. Every fender and underside surface feels covered and the doors come off with that 2021-era ease that still sparks memory of when Bronco hype first launched. The Raptor trim adds Upgrades that aren’t just extra stickers. It’s notable performance gear that protects the vital bits and lets you compare it head-on with any competitor in its range.
Call it the Braptor or the Edition you were always waiting for. Either way the 2025 update feels anticipated and totally modern without losing the Ranger-related DNA its brethren earned. It still feels bound for any go-anywhere adventure moment you can dream up. It still whumps the street with a thundering soundtrack that never doesn’t amuse me. And while it’s undeniably expensive it’s the closest thing to a factory-built fever dream that a normal human can buy without turning their driveway into a Big budget movie set. One single truck that can be pushed farther across tracks or paved curves and somehow come back asking for plenty more.
Pricing, Trim Levels, and Best Pick
Powertrain, Transmission, and Driving Dynamics
When you drop a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine under the hood of a Raptorized Bronco that weighs about 4500 pounds, you expect chaos or glory. On my initial test drive, I got both. The thing claims 418 horsepower and it absolutely has enough punch to hit 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, which feels like convincing a stubborn linebacker to sprint after telling him there is free barbecue at the finish line. The 10-speed automatic transmission pairs exclusively with that boosted setup and mostly does what I ask, though I still find myself occasionally trying to coax it into the gear I actually want. Still, the whole package works in concert with Ford’s advanced four-wheel-drive system and selectable G.O.A.T. modes and yes it really Goes Over Any Type of Terrain with amusing enthusiasm.
Out on the test track, the beefier suspension setup, wider track, and Fox adaptive dampers make this thing feel like a chubby parkour athlete who refuses to admit physics exists. One minute I am crawling rocky passes, the next I am jumping through the air or powering over sand dunes with the Raptor’s trademark swagger. The 37-inch tires and BFGoodrich K02 rubber help it handle bumpy terrain without rattling my fillings loose, and the all-terrain tires stay surprisingly composed even at speed. Compared with the standard version of this SUV or even the F-150, this feels closer to an F-150 Raptor in miniature spirit complete with that familiar shove when the throttle meets the floor. It is also equipped with low-range gearing and is rated to tow a respectable load, though I will admit towing is not nearly as fun as bounding across open dirt.
All told, the thing feels downright engaged every moment you prod it. Sure a 3.5-liter V-8 fantasy crossed my mind once or twice but this boosted V-6 brings plenty of personality. And if high desert antics are your therapy of choice this thing delivers the kind of off-road prowess that could tempt anyone to call in sick and find a dune instead.
Fuel Economy & Real-World Driving
I’m supposed to whisper sweet nothings about economy and fuel, but here’s the honest information you didn’t know you needed. If you’ve ever watched a Wrangler 392 gulp down gas like a 6.4 liter frat star, the 17 and 16 ratings here look almost polite, even if they’re still hilariously marginal. The EPA wants you to visit its website for the official fuel economy gospel, but out on my familiar 75 mph route, the thing earns what I’d politely call a 1 out of ten for subtlety. And yes I was surprised it didn’t tattoo its mpg on the windshield.
Compared to an F 150 or any mainstream pickup, you don’t get a real advantage because this beast is still proudly thirsty, especially on 35 inch tires that laugh at aerodynamics. The Bronco faithful will swear it’s better, while Jeep fans will wag a finger and mumble something about the Raptor being too big, but both camps quietly agree that Ford never estimated anyone would care about being more frugal in a 470 hp V 8 that basically equals fun over sanity. On my city loops and highway stretches it kept returning a stubborn 15 to 2 mpg under its optimistic rating which felt expected for something this joyfully unhinged. In short it still earns every drop it drinks.
Interior and Comfort
I fiddled with every auto setting I could find just to see how the climate system handled a cold day and the intensity ramps up fast enough to thaw a frozen snack. The front seats with heated front seats give better support than the regular Bronco, though the whole interior design still sits you in a proudly bolt upright driving position that makes you wonder if the dashboard was placed using a laser level. The quirky charm is real. The marine-grade vinyl upholstery shrugs off dirt, the rubberized flooring does not care what is stuck to your boots, and the leather-trimmed seats try their best to whisper luxury vehicles even though the extra-capable Raptor screams something else entirely.
Bring kid(s) and the rear-facing child seat ritual becomes its own sport. The spacious second row has the roomier vibe the Jeep Wrangler wishes it had, though sliding a rear-facing child seat past the frameless doors requires patience usually reserved for assembling furniture. At least the front passenger will not feel squeezed thanks to clever adjustments to dimensions and just enough space to stash smartphones, strap on GoPros, or plug into 12-volt outlets, plus a few extra outlets hidden around the cabin. On long freeway drives the wind noise around the base of the windshield and the hardtop will remind you this is no luxurious cabin, but the removable hardtop, removable body panels, and the fact you can literally unbolt the doors and run doors off means complaining feels pointless. Sure you get vibrations, the occasional rattles, and that unmistakable sense the body panels do not always fit together properly, but that is part of the charm of anything trying to out-muscle its direct competitor, the Wrangler.
Take it on the road or into off-road testing and you notice clever touches like the overhead set of auxiliary toggles, a small rack of adventure promises that beg to be used. Toss a pack in the back, clip a camera to the windshield, spot the world through the big exterior mirrors, and head onto the freeway without fear of fatigue because the whole setup tries to reduce fatigue more than you expect. Even with hardtop panels off at low speed, even with vibrations tickling your elbows, this interior keeps its chaotic charm. It is not perfect. But if perfection mattered more than personality you would not be looking at a Bronco in the first place.
Cargo & Practicality
In Cargo and Practicality I get all personal about space because this rig plays the rugged Bronco cosplay while sneaking in touches that would make a Honda Passport blush, even if it is a bit of an outlier among models that pretend to balance lifestyle and logic since the side swing setup still refuses to park easily in tight lots and reminds you this is a Raptor with a hardtop and liftable glass that feels more industrial than elegantly rated, yet the whole vibe lands somewhere between wild ute and civilized crossover as long as you forgive the soft manners of that rear swing motion which adds seconds when you are juggling items you meant to put in place before the rain hits and while the Toyota 4Runner crowd insists their ancient layout is peak simplicity I say this rig’s 3 step reach and pull routine is still perfectly adequate for any passenger who wants a bigger gulp of fresh air and a couple more cupholders that are not absurdly far from human hands but ultimately you get enough clever touches to stay sane.
Like the tail panel that opens wide with Jeep Wrangler swagger and a number of hooks plus a roof strut that laughs at the rated 500 pounds of dynamic load so your fantasies of a VW Atlas Cross Sport getaway tent suddenly feel achievable thanks to multiple spaces shaped for adventure trailer gear and goofy weekend storage bins that feel open enough for overpacking which might test that 500 pounds roof deck once the seatback folds flat into a 4 foot load well that lets you tow your hobbies without whining.
Since the rear bench translates into a long platform you can prop gear across thanks to a swing gate that stays obedient no matter the size of your ambitions even if rivals offer smoother layouts and cleaner cargo tricks because this machine gives you weirdly generous options up top with modular versions that mix small cubbies with Wrangler like anchor points and an interior full of rubber lined nooks plus a roof rod that feels ready for any needs you hurl at it though the wheel well humps demand a larger duffel and offer less square footage compared to softer road trip machines.
Tech & Connectivity
The cabin tries so hard to help you navigate any road like a large friendly robot that comes standard with more tech than you thought you needed. The selectable drive screens run through Sync wizardry on a digital setup that feels unique enough to forgive the occasional software shrug while stabbing at the pad of options on the 12.0-inch touchscreen mounted front and center. The Bang & Olufsen sound system does its best diva impression, loudly reminding me it was offered with Sync 4, which initially confused drivers who just wanted navigation without diving into an app like a recovering Luddite. You tap through a cycle of six layouts, each pretending it’s the hero of your 4×4 fantasies, starting with a powerful graphic system and ending with enough ports to make a gamer blush. The key thing is that the maps and menu flow fast enough that Apple CarPlay isn’t the only option worth bragging about. But yes, all the features you’d expect are here, and they include everything a Bronco Raptor owner flexes about on dusty roads in the middle of nowhere while planning the next vehicle flex for Ford fans who swear Ford invented off-road swagger.
The structure feels built around your smartphone because Apple knows you’ll complain at the first hint of lag, and the interface tries to prove it’s not showing its age. CarPlay runs clean, USB menus load quick, and the route guidance taps into the latest high-tech tricks. You even get wireless everything buzzing across the dashboard, nudging you toward the next trail like a caffeinated scout troop. There are 4 ways to link in, Android Auto for the rebels, and enough baked-in use cases to keep a Wi-Fi hotspot humming while you scroll menus for the most desirable tweaks. Sure, Auto layouts sometimes feel like they’re judging your choices, but the Bronco infotainment system redeems itself with fast charging, friendly Android support, and the kind of contemporary convenience that makes you forget this beast still prefers dirt to pavement.
Safety
Safety is where the grown ups lean in and the spec chasers wander off to websites searching for lap times while I am here poking Ford’s latest technology to see if the basics actually hold up and trust me the suite of driver-assistance features available now comes closer than ever to feeling like a helpful co pilot or should I say CoPilot even if the Raptor attitude still wants to pretend it does not need help from anyone.
As the National Highway nerds at NHTSA and the lab coat crew at IIHS sharpen their pencils waiting for fresh test results that will tell us whether all this information and Administration jargon actually translates to real world control when Traffic gets messy and the unexpected crash scenario lurks around the next corner and yes the Institute grades plus the Insurance data make me feel slightly better knowing the Bronco brain now includes adaptive cruise that behaves like a polite intern lane-keeping that mostly minds its business lane-departure nudges that tap you on the shoulder like a nervous hall monitor.
Forward-collision warning that yells before it slams the metaphorical door and automated emergency braking that steps in when your snack grabbing reflexes betray you all bundled into a 360 bubble of safety with assist tricks and even some optional goodies which serve as a Key reminder that spec sheets might flex but real peace of mind comes from systems that work when you are too busy humming old pop anthems to notice the world trying to drift off course.
Warranty and Maintenance Plan
Here is where the Ford playbook gets a little quirky. The company technically offers solid warranties, but it also kinda lacks the sparkle you might expect when you are handing over a pile of cash big enough to buy a small moon. The limited warranty runs three years or 36 000 miles, and the powertrain warranty stretches to five years or 60 000 miles, which align well with most rivals including Jeep and its usual chest thumping. What sweetens the deal is the complimentary scheduled maintenance which actually covers your basic maintenance for a bit and helps the whole package feel more competitive than it first appears. Sure it is not glamorous but it gets the job done without asking you to sacrifice your weekends to oil changes and tire rotations.
Daily Use + Off-RoadIs the 2025 Ford Bronco Raptor a good choice for both daily driving and off-road adventures?
ComparisonHow does the Bronco Raptor compare to competitors like the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392?
PracticalityWhat practical features does the Bronco Raptor offer for families and everyday use?
| SPEC | DETAIL |
|---|---|
| Engine | Twin-turbo 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 |
| Power / Torque | ~418 hp / ~441 lb-ft (≈ 598 Nm) |
| Transmission | 10-speed SelectShift automatic |
| Drivetrain / Suspension / Tires | 4WD; independent front & rear suspension; standard 37-inch all-terrain tires |
| Ground Clearance / Off-Road Specs | Approx. 13.1 in ground clearance; water-fording aligned with 37-inch tire height |
| Curb Weight | ~5,733 lbs (≈ 2,600 kg) |
| Cargo Capacity | ~33.3 cu ft |
| Fuel Economy (Estimate) | ~15 mpg combined |
| Towing Capacity | Up to ~4,500 lbs (≈ 2,041 kg) |
| Warranty | 3-year/36,000-mile basic; 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain |
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