- Pros and Cons with the 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor
- 1. PRO: The Ford Bronco Raptor is easy for daily life
- 2. PRO: The tech is intuitive, and the controls have an excellent layout
- 3. Removing the top is simple
- 4. PRO:The 2023 Bronco Raptor isn’t short on power
- 5. PRO: The Ford Bronco Raptor has tons of cargo space
- 1. CON: The Bronco Raptor has a tall lift-over height
- 2. CON: The Bronco Raptor could have better seats
- 3. CON: The climate control systems are loud
- 4. CON: The backseat is tight
- 5. CON: Storage for personal items is limited
We’ve been spending a week with the Ford Bronco Raptor to see what life is like with this beast. From daily driving to road trips, and slugging mud, the 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor has provided tons of surprises. Check out a few pros and cons that we’ve discovered.
Pros and Cons with the 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor
2023 Ford Bronco Raptor | Allison Barfield, MotorBiscuit
The 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor costs $73,780, so you may want to really think it over before buying one. However, driving one makes you feel like a million bucks because it’s fun, sporty, capable, convenient, and comfortable.
To provide a fair warning, the Bronco Raptor gets tons of attention. People stare at it with dropped jaws, ask questions, and want to get in it. It gets more attention than the Ford Maverick, Ford F-150 Lightning, and Toyota Tundra TRD Pro.
Aside from possibly unwanted attention, check out a few other aspects of Bronco Raptor life to consider. We go beyond the loud interior noise and stiff ride that’s to be expected with a supercharged SUV.
1. PRO: The Ford Bronco Raptor is easy for daily life
Sometimes monster trucks like the Ram 1500 TRX are too big and cumbersome for daily errands. But the 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor is surprisingly convenient and easy to handle.
It has a sharp turning radius, making it easy to park and maneuver in tight areas. We disagree with Car and Driver about it being too wide for traffic lanes and parking spots.
It looks long and wide, but provides plenty of visibility. The parking sensors and 360-degree camera offer tons of visibility to promote confidence in crowded parking lots and narrow sections of the trail.
Also, you don’t have to drive in in an extreme manner all the time. You can put the exhaust in quiet mode and use the Comfort Mode for relaxing trips around town. The Normal Mode is another alternative to the beefed-up Sport mode and Baja off-roading mode.
2. PRO: The tech is intuitive, and the controls have an excellent layout
Everything you need to adjust the settings on the 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor is located on the steering wheel. With the press of a button, you can change the exhaust settings, driving mode, suspension dampening settings, and audio settings.
You can use a rotary dial located in front of the center console to adjust the off-road settings too. It’s a little more straightforward.
The 12.0-inch touchscreen is easy to reach and control. The buttons are larger and clearly labeled. Plus, the auxiliary switches are mounted perfectly on the roof above the infotainment screen.
The tech is intuitive. It’s easy to find the settings and information you need in the blink of an eye. The graphics look great, and the Ford Sync 4 system is very fast.
It’s easy to quickly connect your phone, and the wireless charging pad is an excellent perk. The Wi-fi hotspot provides enough power for kids to game on their Nintendo Switch or other devices. Also, the Bang & Olufsen premium sound system is crisp and clear.
3. Removing the top is simple
2023 Ford Bronco Raptor | Ford
You don’t need a friend to help you take the top off of the 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor. The hardtop roof is divided into lightweight panels that are easy to reach. Shorter folks can access them from the running boards.
The panels pop out with the twist of a few switches and can be stored in a massive canvas bag in the rear. Taking the doors off is pretty easy too, but they are bolted on. However, they can be removed while out on the trail and stored in the back.
4. PRO:The 2023 Bronco Raptor isn’t short on power
The 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor is built to thrill. It has a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 418 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with a smooth 10-speed automatic transmission and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds.
Sometimes there is a slight delay before it takes off, but the turbos need to pull in fresh air and exhaust gasses to spin up. Perhaps a launch control mode could prevent turbo lag. But once it gets going, it flies.
Also, the downshifts can be pretty aggressive around corners in Sport mode, but the paddle shifters provide more precise control. On that note, the handling is very responsive and direct. There’s no body roll around sharp bends, and the brakes are incredibly confident.
Slippery seemed to be the best mode for our conditions in the mountains while off-roading. The dirt trails were covered in thick, slippery mud, but the Bronco maintained composure to power through obstacles. It slipped a little in Off-Road mode but felt much more controlled in Slippery mode.
Also, the Bronco Raptor started to feel hefty while going down steep inclines. It weighs 5,733 lbs, but it’s still easy to stop. The downhill descent control is beneficial if you want to lay off the brakes.
5. PRO: The Ford Bronco Raptor has tons of cargo space
2023 Ford Bronco Raptor | Allison Barfield, MotorBiscuit
The 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor offers tons of cargo space. There are 38.0 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats with up to 83.0 cubes total. The seats fold flat to create a level cargo floor.
The rear hatch opens wide, and the roof is pretty tall, making it easier to load bulky items. Also, the rear glass can be left open for quick access. The rear door is tall enough to prevent dogs from jumping out.
1. CON: The Bronco Raptor has a tall lift-over height
The 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor has a 13.1-inch ground clearance, so this beast is tall. However, accessing the cabin is easy thanks to the running boards and handles to grab. But you may have to put your drink, bag, or personal items down before climbing in.
Also, the rear hatch has a tall load floor. If you’re trying to haul something heavy, lift it with your back and be prepared to lift it up and over the cargo floor. The Bronco Raptor might be too tall for dogs to jump into as well, so you may have to lift them in.
2. CON: The Bronco Raptor could have better seats
2023 Ford Bronco Raptor interior | Ford
We found the leather bucket seats in the Ford Bronco Wildtrak Sasquatch to be more comfortable than the seats in the Ford Bronco Raptor. The leather-trimmed seats look great, and the soft cloth upholstery is nice, but they aren’t as supportive.
They could use a little more padding and support for longer drives and road trips. But they are well bolstered and hold you in place over larger bumps and sharp turns. Also, they have plenty of adjustment controls.
3. CON: The climate control systems are loud
The 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor is well-equipped to keep you warm when it’s cold and provides plenty of comfort when it’s hot outside. But the air conditioning is so loud! It’s almost louder than the interior at highway speeds.
While traveling at lower speeds, the cabin is pretty quiet unless you have to raise your voice over the air conditioning. It can be a little distracting and makes it more challenging to hear people in the rear.
4. CON: The backseat is tight
2023 Ford Bronco Raptor | Ford
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The 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor is for group adventures, but it can really fit only four adults at once. The rear seat is pretty tight, and taller folks may want more legroom. From the outside, you would assume that the back seat had more space.
But the back row is well-padded and comfortable. The backrest sits at a relaxing and supportive angle for passenger comfort, but your knees might hit the seat in front of you.
5. CON: Storage for personal items is limited
The 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor isn’t great for storing smaller items. There ardent may cubbies and trays to take advantage of, and the glove box is shallow. There are only two cup holders up front, which can be taken up by the driver’s coffee and water.
The back of the front seats have a grid system to hand up tools, but we typically have toolboxes for our gear. The seatback pockets are shallow, and there isn’t much space on the sides of the doors to take advantage of.
There is much more to say about the Bronco Raptor, and we’re still learning about it. Stay tuned for our full-length review.
Keyword: 5 Pros and 5 Cons With Driving the 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor