There’s a new king of the desert, and it’s called the Ford Bronco Raptor. It’s the most capable production off-roader ever, and after playing in the dirt, people are hooked. The 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor might not have the best looks, but it’s going above and beyond its hype. 

Is the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor worth buying? 

Yes, after critics have had the opportunity to play with the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor in the sand, they’re all saying take my money. While the Ford Bronco Raptor starts at $70,095, it includes plenty of value. 

People wanted the regular Bronco to conquer the Jeep Wrangler, but it falls short. However, the Bronco takes things to the next level as the option people have been waiting for. Its hosts of upgrades begin with 37-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain K02 tires. 

It has new upper and lower control arms that are longer than before, with 8.6-inches of extra track length in the front and rear for more stability. It’s 10 inches wider too. 

The electronically controlled Fox Live Valve 3.1 dampers have three settings of adjustability. Plus, the rear units have external reservoirs offset from the dampers to ensure full wheel clearance. 

There are 13.0 inches of wheel travel in the front and 14.0 inches in the rear. This beats the Sasquatch by 4.3 and 3.6 inches. 

How does the Bronco Raptor perform? 

The 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor comes with a 3.0-liter V6 engine with 418 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 5.0 seconds. The Bronco has paddle shifters to increase the fun and control. 

It has a powerful, confident acceleration with smith transmission shifts from the 10-speed automatic transmission. The response times are snappier and have a better response to inputs. Plus, Ford added extra bracing to provide 50 percent more rigidity. 

Over significant dips and ditches, the Bronco Raptor continues to fly without raddling the cabin. Larger impacts in the dirt and pavement are absorbed with ease. 

According to Car and Driver, similar bumps may send passengers flying in a Jeep Wrangler. You can activate Baja mode to take advantage of the anti-lag function. 

Can the Bronco Raptor go rock crawling?

The 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor was tested on the grueling King of Hammers course, which includes obstacles to climb over. It was impressive racing through the dirt and climbing rock faces. 

It has a 13.1-inch ground clearance with plenty of undercarriage protection. The Dana axles provide a crawl ratio of 67.9:1. The Rock Crawl mode puts the two-speed transfer case in a low range, locks the rear differential, and disconnects the front anti-roll bar. 

The one-pedal driving mode takes care of braking so you can focus on other aspects, and the front-facing camera helps you see obstacles ahead. 

During an entire afternoon of adventuring in 109-degree weather, the Bronco Raptor didn’t get stuck, overheat, or tip over. It had plenty of power to clear obstacles without breaking a sweat. It’s better than expected, but we will keep an eye out to see if any problems emerge.