Ford Bronco Raptor | Best Off-Roader ever made?

The Ford Bronco Raptor might just be one of the best Off road vehicles ever made. From it’s rugged look to the standard 37-inch tires, even the Jeep Wrangler 392 must admit defeat to this beast of a vehicle.

As standard, this SUV comes with 37-inch tires from the factory which is something we rarely see. In contrast, the ‘baddest’ Jeep Wrangler 392 comes with 35” tires from the factory, if you option it with the ‘Xtreme’ Recon Package.

Aside from this the Bronco Raptor comes with a wide variety of party tricks that makes it an excellent off roader as well as a comfortable daily driver. This is thanks to two features exclusive to the Bronco Raptor; the GOAT ( Go Over Any Type of Terrain) modes and the adaptive dampers. There is so much to discuss about this vehicle, so let’s get right into it.

Specs.

• 3.0l EcoBoost V6 Engine
• Produces 418 Horsepower and 440lb-ft of Torque
• 10-speed Automatic Transmission
• Electronic locking front and rear axles
• Sway bar disconnect features
• Adaptive Cruise Control (as an option)
• Forward and Reverse Parking sensors
• 37-inch All-Terrain tires
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Fox Live Valve 3.1 Internal Bypass Semi-Active Dampers
• Dual Zone climate control
• Heated front seats
• Standard 12” LCD infotainment screen with voice recognition
• Wireless Apple car play and Android Automatic
• Removable doors and Top

Power Train.

The Ford Bronco Raptor comes with a 3.0l Twin Turbo charged EcoBoost V6 engine. This power train produces 418 Horsepower and 440lb-ft (597NM) of Torque which is adequate enough for both off reading and daily commute. There is no V8 option like in the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, but the way it distributes the power through the 10-speed Automatic gearbox is just phenomenon.

The Bronco Raptor manages an impressive 6.3 second time from 0-60Mph for a truck that weighs north of 3 tonnes (2,600Kg or 5733lbs). One other impressive advantage of the 10-speed automatic transmission over an 8-speed, is that it produces optimal power and acceleration in low and mid-ranges of the power band. As a matter of fact, this 10-speed transmission offers about a 20% decrease in RPM while shifting which is quite desirable.

GOAT Modes Explained and Off Road Capabilities.

GOAT mode which is a Ford trademark stands for Go Over Any types of Terrain. The GOAT modes alters things like the throttle response, shifting points and traction control. In this Ford Bronco Raptor, it consists of 9 modes;

• Normal
• Eco
• Sport
• Slippery
• Sand
• Mud/ Ruts
• Rock Crawl
• Baja
• Tow-Haul

Normal Mode.

This is the perfect daily mode to drive your bronco in. In fact, is the default mode when you startup your vehicle.

Eco Mode.

Just like the normal mode, Eco is designed to be driven in high traction surfaces while offering an improved fuel efficiency. Both Eco mode and Normal mode are perfect for city driving during your daily commute. Both modes make the Bronco Raptor a more desirable car to live with.

Sport Mode.

Sport mode increase throttle response and alters the steering feel to give you a more dynamic driving experience. In addition to this, when you engage sport mode, the lower gears are held longer for a faster acceleration.

Slippery Mode.

Slippery mode unlike sport mode, lowers throttle response and adjusts shift point to maintain stability. This mode often defaults to Four Wheel drive Automatic and optimizes vehicle stability in order to provide traction to the wheel with most grip. Slippery mode works best during winter when the road is covered in ice or snow.

Sand Mode.

Since Bronco Raptor has removable doors and windows, it’s quickly become a favorite and popular vehicle in beach driving. Although you should still air down your tires when driving on the beach, the Bronco Raptor tweaks it’s chassis to provide a good experience.

For example when driving under 15Mph, it enables the front camera so that you can see the terrain better. Moreover, the lower gears are held onto longer for better momentum and the ABS also works well to provide power to the wheel with the most traction.

Mud/ Ruts.

As the name suggests, this mode is ideal when going over muddy and slippery terrain. The vehicle automatically turns off traction control to allow for more wheel spin which is ideal in slippery situations. In addition to this, the rear differential is locked and you can electronically disconnect the sway bar for more articulation of the front axle.

Rock Crawl.

Rock crawl is an extreme off road scenario which requires all the off road feature you can get. Luckily, the Bronco Raptor is heavily equipped with all the features you will ever require in a car for rock crawling. In this mode, both the front and rear axles are locked for maximum traction.

The sway bar is automatically disconnected for more articulation and the most important feature of all is the 8.8-inch ground clearance coupled with under body protection which makes the Bronco Raptor one of the best commercially produced rock crawling vehicles. Another important thing to note, is that the Rock Crawl Mode defaults to 4L which means that it uses a lower gear ratio for maximum torque.

Baja Mode.

Baja is designed for high speed off-roading in sand-like terrain. This modes defaults to 4H and the sway bar can be optionally disconnected.

Here’s a summary of the GOAT Modes courtesy of CJ Pony Parts.

Removable Doors and Top.

This is the one feature that Puts the Ford Bronco Raptor in line with the Jeep Wrangler. Removing the doors and top brings an open air feeling which is desirable by people who like adventures and outdoor activities.

Here are some photos of a top-less and door-less Bronco Raptor.