VIVIAN ASHER

Now that we know the mechanical specifications of the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor, details about its twin-turbo V-6, and how its suspension is upgraded, what about its price? If you figured "somewhere close to the 470-hp Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392," pat yourself on the back—the Bronco Raptor starts at $69,995, a few thousand bucks shy of the V-8-powered Jeep. Now, let's see how it stacks up with that SUV and its other competitors. For fun, we'll also include the Bronco's bigger brother, the F-150 Raptor, just to get a sense of how the two Blue Oval-built, high-speed off-roaders compare. Especially since both utilize high-output, turbocharged V-6 engines under their hoods and Ford says the Bronco can do everything the F-150 can.

What Are You Getting For $69,995?

Just as a refresher, here's what you're getting when you opt for the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor. Underhood is a 400-hp-plus twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 bolted to a 10-speed automatic transmission. From its two-speed transfer case (selectable as Auto, four-high, and four-low), the driveshafts lead to two Dana differentials that have selectable lockers and a 4.70:1 ratio. The front is a Dana 44 with an 8.3-inch ring gear while the rear is a Dana 50 with a 9.25-inch ring gear.

The suspension has extended the travel over the standard Bronco with 13 inches in the front and 14 inches rear with Ford's "H.O.S.S. 4.0" suspension system. The motions of those 37-inch BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires are controlled by a set of 3.1-inch diameter Fox Shox dampers with "Fox Live Valve" electronically controlled valve adjustments and an internal bypass design.

This new longer-travel suspension, plus improved axles and larger tires, required new flares to keep the tires properly covered. Unique to the Raptor, those fenders increase the Bronco's width by 8.6 inches (to 73.6 inches versus 65.0 inches); ground clearance increases by 4.8 inches (to 13.1 inches, from 8.3) over the base Bronco four door. The Raptor touches don't stop there with a unique hood, Rigid auxiliary lighting, amber daytime running lights on the LED headlights, and a heavy-duty modular steel front bumper with tow hooks and removable end caps.

You also get Raptor reminders inside with new selectable G.O.A.T modes, exclusive Performance View on the 12 inch cluster, paddle shifters, bolstered seats, Code Orange trim, and low-gloss carbon fiber accents. This is all in the Bronco Raptor's "High Package" option, the only one currently available with the "Lux Package" coming some time later. Overall, the Bronco Raptor looks to be a decent bit of kit for the money but let's look at some other models to be sure.

As we can see from the Bronco Raptor, the off-road space is only heating up and Ford has come out of the box with a truly capable and impressive machine, at least on paper. If everything holds true to the production version and in the real world, any automaker that claims to have the ultimate off-road vehicle will have a very tall mountain to climb if they want to equal what the Raptor is coming with. If they can deliver that for less than seventy grand like Ford has, all the more power to them.