Ford’s F-150 Raptor was a byword for high-speed off-road fun for more than a decade, but these days it’s got some pretty stiff competition, not least from its own little brother, the Bronco Raptor.
Sure, one is a truck and the other is an SUV, but there are enough similarities beyond the brand name and trim badges to conclude that some buyers might be torn between the two, so Edmunds pitched the pair into battle to see which is the best Raptor.
One of the biggest similarities is the price. Granted, finding a dealer willing to sell you a Bronco Raptor at list price is a long shot, but according to Ford’s MSRP info, both vehicles should cost just over $70,000, with the Bronco coming in around $1,600 below its truck bother.
Both are fitted with 37-inch tires and turbocharged V6 engines, but the F-150 Raptor makes more power (450 hp/456 PS versus 418 hp/424 PS) and more torque (510 lb-ft/691 Nm versus 440 lb-ft/597 Nm), so is a little quicker, despite weighing 211 lbs (96 kg) more. The F-150 scoots to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 5.8 seconds and through the quarter mile in 14.3 seconds, while the slightly tardier Bronco Raptor needs 6.3 seconds and 14.7 seconds in Edmunds’ tests.
Related: This Is Why The Ford Bronco Raptor Doesn’t Have A V8 Engine
Consider payload or towing capacity and again, the F-150 comes out in front, but the shorter Bronco’s superior approach, breakover and departure angles give it the best on-paper performance for anyone looking at tackling some serious off-road terrain.
Swapping the on-paper comparisons for the on-sand kind, Edmunds’ Travis Langness puts the Raptors through a series of tests design to test axle articulation, traction, high-speed composure and agility in tight turns. The F-150 definitely doesn’t disgrace itself and that big open bed means it’s going to be the best choice for many people. But at the video’s conclusion Edmunds gives the nod to the Bronco because it’s fun to drive and more capable on tough trails.
We have a feeling that the upcoming 2023 F-150 Raptor R with its supercharged V8 might change a few minds, but that’s going to cost a heap more cash. Of the current Raptors, which would you pick?