The Off-Road Powerhouse: The Ford Bronco Raptor SUV

Have you ever been off-roading before? The uncertainty, the delight of getting through an obstacle, the problem solving, the feeling of accomplishment when the trail is over knowing you did something that most cars couldn’t handle. Driving off-road is one of the most fun things you can do in an SUV and it really shows the full capabilities of the vehicle, especially in a Ford Bronco Raptor.

I was kindly invited by Ford to test drive the Bronco Raptor in St. John’s, Newfoundland and I jumped at the chance.

Enter The Ford Bronco Raptor

It’s not every day that you get to drive a Ford Bronco Raptor on the east coast. Not just a regular Ford Bronco either, one that’s more capable than a standard Ford Bronco and one with a $100,000 price tag depending on how it’s spec’d out.

The Ford Bronco Raptor is a true off-road performance vehicle that is designed to take on the toughest terrains with ease. With its aggressive styling, advanced technologies, and powerful engine, the Bronco Raptor is a force to be reckoned with on the trails. It honestly makes harsh off-roading and trails feel like you are driving on Dufferin Street in Toronto in a sedan.

The Design of The Ford Bronco Raptor

When it comes to looks, the Ford Bronco Raptor doesn’t disappoint. It features a bold and aggressive front grille, a chiselled hood, and a rugged design that is sure to turn heads. The Ford Bronco Raptor also comes equipped with a set of high-performance offroad tires, a set of FOX racing shocks, and a set of heavy-duty skid plates that protect the underside of the vehicle from rocks and debris. That comes in handy because you can really hear the bottom plates hitting and bouncing off rocks and boulders.  When you are off-roading and a big rock hits the undercarriage, this Bronco is so tough, that you barely see a mark on the plates or paint job, if at all.

What Powers The Ford Bronco Raptor

Under the hood, the Ford Bronco Raptor is powered by a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine that produces 310 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 4×4 drivetrain that allows the Bronco Raptor to tackle the toughest trails with ease.

Off-Roading In The Ford Bronco Raptor

In terms of offroad performance, the Bronco Raptor is an absolute beast. It comes equipped with a set of advanced offroad technologies that help it navigate even the most challenging trails. For instance, the Bronco Raptor comes equipped with a terrain management system that allows the driver to choose from several different drive modes depending on the type of terrain they are driving on. These modes include sand, rock crawl, sport, and normal, among others. It’s crazy that you don’t even need some heavy action to change drive modes or an additional tactile experience, you just turn a knob and the car has a completely different configuration.

The Ford Bronco Raptor is built on the brand’s proprietary G.O.A.T. Modes (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) Terrain Management System, which is intended to assist drivers in more effectively navigating off-road environments. There are several different modes that can be selected by the driver, one of which is called Baja Mode and it activates a turbo anti-lag calibration to maximize performance while driving through high-speed desert and loose ground runs. The Tow/Haul mode is brand new to the Bronco and helps enable a tow rating of 4,500 pounds, which is an increase of 1,000 pounds in comparison to the standard model. In addition, Trail Control, Trail Turn Assist, and Trail One-Pedal Driving are incorporated into this package.

The Ford Bronco Raptor also comes equipped with a set of advanced traction control systems that help the vehicle maintain its grip on the trail. These systems include Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Assist, and a set of locking differentials that help the vehicle distribute power to the wheels that need it most. These particular factors give really great peace of mind when on the trails. There is nothing worse than staring down a hill with a massive rock at the end that you have to avoid and nothing to avoid it with. This really keeps the fun of off-roading but keeps you in control.

Interior Of The Ford Bronco Raptor

Standard on the Ford Bronco Raptor is the High Package, which includes SYNC®4 with a 12-inch touchscreen that supports swiping, an information on-demand panel, and improved voice recognition. It even has a camera with the capability to view in all directions is one of the additional technological features, very handy. Customers who are interested in even more human-centred technology, such as an available 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and Adaptive Cruise Control, can purchase the Lux Package, which is offered by the company.

The New Bronco Trail App

If you are looking for some adventure and don’t know where to start, we would suggest looking at the newly launched Bronco Trail App. Those who are exclusively Bronco owners using Android devices and iPhones can enjoy all the app has to offer.

The app includes 1200 trails and off-road experiences all over the US, Mexico and Canada. You can record waypoints with photos and videos and share your experience all across your social media channels.

Enjoy curated trail maps, select and navigate to popular points of interest, and experience adventure tracking and even satellite imagery as well.

The Bottom Line

Overall, the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor is a true offroad performance vehicle that is designed to take on the toughest terrains with ease. It’s aggressive styling, advanced technologies, and powerful engine makes it a force to be reckoned with on the trails. Whether you’re a seasoned offroad enthusiast or a weekend warrior, the Bronco Raptor is sure to impress.

I really couldn’t believe how easily it handled some of these tough ATV trails. It really is the ultimate outdoorsy vehicle that is highly configurable, highly capable, and highly enjoyable.

For more information about the Ford Bronco Raptor, be sure to learn more and test drive it today.

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