2023 Ford Bronco Raptor
We’ve got a special car on tour today. Although it’s not on my usual list of vehicles, I’m super excited to talk about the 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor is up and I’m going to break down just how family-friendly it can be. If you’re looking to see this vehicle’s rock-climbing facilities, this is not the post to tune into, but if you’re looking to see if this vehicle can fit three car seats across- I’ve got you covered.
If you’re new here- welcome! I’m Kelly the Car Mom and as a certified child safety tech, mom of three, and just a genuine car lover my goal is to help you find the best car for your family. If you’re anything like me, you’ve thought the 2023 Bronco Raptor is a cool looking car, but questioned if it could actually work for families day in and day out. By the end of this post, I’ll make sure you know the answer.
Before you dive in and start car shopping, make sure you’re fully prepared to tackle today’s market with confidence. To learn everything from dealership prep to a complete negotiations strategy, check out my Car Buying Course!
2023 Ford Bronco Raptor Exterior
I don’t think I have to say much about this exterior- it’s one of the coolest looking on the markets. Off-roading vehicles just have such a fresh look to them and the Bronco is one of the most aesthetically pleasing cars on the market right now to look at.
The Raptor specifically is not like the other vehicles in its family, but focuses on being a high performance SUV with off-roading in mind. Despite it not looking the most family-friendly on the exterior, it actually has some features that work for a daily commute.
The running board is a great addition to getting into the second row for buckling children in and out, but the height of this vehicle is really impractical. I’m almost six feet tall and hoisting a rear-facing baby into the car was no joke.
2023 Ford Bronco Raptor First Row Details
This vehicle is not designed to be the absolute height of luxury - it’s meant to be rugged and durable. If you’re interested in this vehicle I’m assuming you expect to not be able to fit a Stanley cup in every cup holder. Overall, I love the interior blue color with fun orange contrast stitching.
This Bronco Raptor has heated seats and steering wheel as well as a wireless charger, USB, and USB-C ports. Cupholder situation works great in the middle console and is situated right next to the GOAT mode (Go Over Any Terrain) and window controls.
As far as visibility is concerned, it’s going to be tough. With that back windshield, spare tire and how small that back windshield is, if you have forward-facing or rear-facing car seats in the second row you will not be able to see.
Infotainment System
As far as the family-friendly tech going on up front, I’m impressed. You all know how much I love and appreciate seat belt sensors included in the tech, so to see it here is really exciting. As for the infotainment system itself, it has everything you could want and what’s considered industry standard now. Nice big display that’s simple and easy. You’ll see this setup across the Ford lineup, so nothing that crazy special.
2023 Ford Bronco Raptor Second Row Details
The second row is what we’re all really here for, so let me walk you through everything that’s going on with three car seats across. First things first, there is absolutely no ventilation in the second row. Your kids will be hot, especially if they are rear facing.
As far as fitting car seats, I was actually able to successfully fit three car seats in this Ford Bronco. I'm not necessarily surprised because it is a nice big wide vehicle, but I am impressed with the car seat configuration.
For hardware, I've got lower anchors on the outboard seats and three tether anchors across the bench. I have used no lower anchors in my installation and went for all seat belts. The reason for doing seat belt installations over a lower anchor installation is that I'm able to move the car seats just a few inches this way to give everyone a little bit more space, especially that middle seat.
I started in the middle seat with a forward-facing Graco Slim Fit 3LX and then I did two more of those on either side: one forward facing one rear facing. Honestly, I think multiple combinations of forward and rear-facing seats would work, but by the time you introduce booster seats into the mix you could run into some difficulty because of how close the buckles are to each other. If you want to see a master list of the slimmest car seats on the market, check out my guide here.
Another thing when it comes to deciding if this car works for families is how narrow of an opening the car door gives you. Infant seats are going to be very hard to hoist in here. Also, I wanted to note headrests are removable which I really like. It's not a necessity, but can be helpful when installing certain seat options.
2023 Ford Bronco Raptor Trunk Details
Moving to the back, the trunk has a refrigerator door opening and I am able to fit the Mockingbird single stroller in with ease. There’s no doubt in my mind a double would fit great as well. As for the space of the trunk itself, it’s nice and wide (I prefer this over depth) and has a nice tall ceiling.
Is it going to win any awards for excellent trunk space or efficiency? No. Is it an easy trunk to load and unload things into? Absolutely.
2023 Ford Bronco Raptor Wrap Up
For being one of the coolest vehicles I’ve ever walked through, it has a few more family features than I originally thought. The running board on the exterior, as well as the width of the vehicle make up for a lot of its faults as being impractical. However, the lack of visibility, amenities, and essentials (such as second row ventilation) make it one I recommend really test driving before considering it as a family purchase.
To see a complete walkthrough of the 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor, click here.
Do you think the Raptor could work as a family vehicle? Let me know in the comments! And to keep up with the latest vehicles on the market, check out my recent car tours:
