2023 Ford Bronco Raptor

　　

Ford Bronco Video Shorts

by zzdcar Test Team

　　

2023 Ford Bronco Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　From the Toyota RAV4 Adventure to the Honda Passport TrailSport and Chevrolet Trailblazer Activ, the big trend these days is a crossover that looks like it has off-road ability — even if that's not necessarily the case. But what if you actually do need an SUV that can crawl over rocks, traverse muddy terrain and keep you riding high on the dunes? You might want to consider the 2023 Ford Bronco.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$306/mo  for Bronco Raptor

　　Bronco Raptor

　　Raptor 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 10A) (Most Popular) - $76,580 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Now in its third year of production, the new Bronco is a truck-based SUV that's designed for off-roading. It's got four-wheel drive, plenty of ground clearance, and many available hardware add-ons to keep you moving over rough terrain. It even has a removable roof and doors, so you can drive topless for that extra bit of sunshine while on the street or tackling a trail.

　　Not much has changed for the 2023 edition of the Bronco, but buyers this year do have the option of selecting between two new retro-inspired Heritage Edition models (full details here).  The standard Heritage Edition builds off the Big Bend model with the Sasquatch package, then adds a white roof and grille, plus unique wheels and plaid cloth upholstery. The Heritage Limited Edition is similar but uses the Badlands as a starting point and has a few special exterior details, along with leather/vinyl upholstery. Only 1,966 examples of each body style — two-door and four-door — will be produced.

　　Ford has also announced a new Bronco DR (for Desert Racer) but this appears to be a $250,000 V8-powered race truck and not something you'll be able to go pick up at your local Ford dealer and drive on the street. Regardless, we're impressed with the Bronco's strong off-road capability and consider it a great rival to the Jeep Wrangler, Toyota 4Runner and Land Rover Defender. Read our test team's Expert Rating to learn more about the Bronco's biggest hits and misses.

　　

What's it like to live with?

We got our hands on a 2021 Ford Bronco First Edition and are excited to spend 20,000 miles with it in our long-term review fleet. We're putting the Bronco through its paces and reporting on what it's like to live with and how reliable it is. full details here.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Bronco drive? Whether you stick with the turbo four-cylinder or opt for the turbo V6, the Bronco has sufficient and smooth power for daily driving with a quick-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission. The extra oomph from the V6 makes on-ramps and short merges easier and more fun, and the V6 Bronco reaches 60 mph from a standstill in 7.3 seconds, an average showing considering the big tires and four-door configuration.

　　Jumping hard on the brakes produces plenty of nosedive — normal for off-road SUVs — though emergency stopping distances were much longer than we'd like. From 60 mph, a panic stop took 146 feet — we typically see that kind of distance with heavy-duty pickup trucks. It should be noted that our test Bronco was equipped with the Sasquatch off-road package and its rugged tires, but other Broncos we've tested with less aggressive rubber only stopped a mere 10 feet shorter — that's still longer than we'd like to see.

　　The real star is the steering. Thanks to an independent front suspension, the Bronco's steering wheel relays confidence and stability to its driver at freeway speeds. While you shouldn't expect excitement on curvy roads, you'll appreciate that the steering on long-distance drives won't leave you fatigued.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Bronco? While far from a luxury vehicle, the Bronco is more comfortable on the road than an equivalent Jeep Wrangler, its most direct competitor. The Bronco's seats feature better support and enough adjustments to reduce fatigue on long freeway drives. A truck-based construction means the ride is a bit firmer and bouncier than in other SUVs, but not enough to make you want to drive it any less.

　　The available, and effective, dual-zone climate control allows you to adjust the intensity of the auto setting, and the heated front seats work extremely fast, which is excellent if you've got the doors off on a cold day. The removable hardtop lets in a significant amount of wind noise at pretty much any speed, dragging down the Bronco's score in this category. There were also several rattles and vibrations during our off-road testing.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below