Key Features:

• 37-inch B.F. Goodrich tires mounted on 17-inch rims allow for 33 cm (13 inches) of ground clearance. 
• Unique-to-Raptor 3.0-litre twin-turbo V-6 produces 418 horsepower and 440 lb.-ft. of torque.
• Ultra-wide stance, with an 1,869 mm (73.6-inch) rear track width, provides extra stability for high-speed running. 

Direct Competitors:

• Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Unlimited
• Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
• Land Rover Defender V8

From the moment two years ago when Ford Motor Company revived the beloved-but-tarnished Bronco brand, it was clear this new version of the backwoods beast was serious about going head-to-head with Jeep’s venerable Wrangler. 

Now, the no-compromise Raptor sits at the top of the eight-model Bronco lineup, including the compact Bronco Sport, with performance, capabilities, and flat-out fun that will have you heading into previously unreachable territory at every opportunity. 

2022 Bronco Raptor | Photo: Ford 

The Raptor includes parts adapted from the F-150 Raptor, like the HOSS 4.0 (high-performance off-road stability system) featuring Fox live-valve shocks. But it has its own twin-turbo V6, beefed-up chassis, distinctive dual-exhaust growl and an ultrawide stance that is actually 25 cm (9.8 inches) wider than the standard Bronco for added stability at high-speed running. 

If only Canada had more Baja-like terrain! All of it sits on massive 37-inch B.F. Goodrich all-terrain tires – the largest paws offered on any production SUV, while extensive steel bash plates keep all the critical bits underneath intact. 

New Bronco Raptor’s 2022 price & main rivals

OK, so about the price. If you want to be the top off-road dog in Canada, it’ll set you back a cool $99,995 plus freight and taxes. That’s a world of hurt, but not at all out of line with the price on a Wrangler Rubicon 392, which weighs in at an equally breathtaking $101,445. 

Not cheap but expect a long list of Bronco off-road upgrades

These prices are about 2 ½ times what the base models cost, but the Raptor offers a comprehensive list of upgrades: a beefed up fully-boxed frame increasing towing capacity to 4,500 pounds, Fox live-valve internal bypass dampers with 13 inches of travel front and 14 inches rear, standard front stabilize bar disconnect, 12-inch (diagonally measured) infotainment screen, 360-degree cameras, Raptor-only twin-turbo V6 engine, modular winch-ready front bumper with integrated fog lamps, full vehicle bash plates, and the best tech Ford has on offer. 

Ford Bronco Raptor Interior

2022 Bronco Raptor | Photo: Ford 

The Raptor, available in four-door only, shares its interior design and dimensions with the rest of the Bronco lineup. Rubberized, hose-out flooring is standard, while the seats are trimmed in serviceable marine-grade vinyl. A dashboard rack includes a threaded mount for smartphones and GoPros, with nearby 12-volt outlets (plus standard USB and USB-C outlets). 

The Sync 4 interface, Ford’s latest, includes a 12-inch (diagonal) touchscreen and the infotainment system offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a wi-fi hotspot. Even the steering wheel is fatter than on other Broncos and is leather-wrapped, and the gauge display has a wide variety of configurations. 

Although upgrades are few, you can bump up to leather seats and a full-throated Bang & Olufsen sound system – in case you think you to need to draw more attention from passersby. 

Bronco Raptor engine, performance, and drive impressions

Fasten your seatbelts and prepare to catch some air. This monster practically cries to be pushed to unreasonable speeds through the roughest terrain. The extra-wide stance also makes it feel virtually untippable. 

2022 Bronco Raptor | Photo: Ford 

Loads of torque, 4,500 pounds of towing capacity, and definitely not fuel efficient

Perhaps even more important than the 418 horsepower produced by the twin-turbo V-6 is the 440 lb.-ft. of torque. With no detectable turbo lag, this engine is paired with a 10-speed transmission that will not only propel this beefy 2,600-kg (5,764-pound) beast from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, but it will also haul you over rocks that to the naked eye appear unassailable. 

The Raptor’s frame has been reinforced to enable 4,500 pounds of towing capacity, 1,000 pounds more than other models (but just slightly less than the 4Runner TRD Pro’s rated 4,750). 

The one downer is thirsty fuel consumption common to such off-road warriors. Transport Canada hasn’t published a Raptor rating yet but a comparable Bronco Sasquatch 4WD is rated at 13.4 l/100 km combined. In our admittedly aggressive driving, the best we could hit was 14 l/100 km.

Verdict: is the Bronco Raptor worth it?

2022 Bronco Raptor | Photo: Ford 

If you just want to beat around the boondocks, a well-appointed but much cheaper Bronco Badlands will do the job quite nicely for $40,000 less. But if you’re a no-compromise kind of driver who relishes the thought of turning heads at every mud pit (and traffic light), then the Raptor’s six-figure price tag becomes as irrelevant as the dismal gas mileage. 

You’re the type of driver who has worked his or her butt off and wants to show the world the dividends you enjoy. Here’s a look at the entire Ford SUV lineup.