The new Ford Bronco is a vehicle for people who want to push their personal boundaries. It’s a badass off-roader that can tackle beachside ruts, muddy fields, and mountainous terrain as easily as it can cruise to the grocery store.
The vehicle feels like a natural on the trails thanks to its advantageous geometry and generous ground clearance. It’s also equipped with a host of electronic assist features that make it feel almost unstoppable.
Features
The 2023 Bronco has a lot of features that help it stand out from the rest of the SUVs on the market. It has an impressive powertrain that can take you through rough terrain with ease. It also has some advanced safety features like pre-collision braking and automatic emergency braking.
Despite the fact that it’s small, the Bronco has plenty of space for passengers and cargo. Its rear seats can even fold flat to create more space for gear. This makes it easy to fit more equipment for your off roading adventures.
Its stylish design is a major selling point, too. The iconic exterior is a reminder of what the original Bronco was all about. It also has a modern interior that is comfortable and functional. Its SYNC infotainment system is user-friendly and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Ford offers many official accessories that help drivers customize their Bronco to suit their needs. There are grille designs, wheels, lights, tents, cargo management systems, winches, and more. It has unique trail technology that makes driving off-road easier, including trail turn assist and trail control. It also has one-pedal driving, which allows the driver to accelerate and brake with a single pedal.
The Bronco has a big advantage over the Jeep Wrangler when it comes to off-road capability. However, it does sacrifice some on-road handling in the process.
Safety
For a vehicle that’s intended to take on some pretty rugged terrain, a Bronco offers an impressive amount of safety equipment. A rearview camera, parking sensors and blind spot monitoring keep the truck secure in tricky situations, while a pre-collision system warns drivers of potential front-end collisions and can automatically apply the brakes in some conditions.
The SUV also includes a set of skid plates, sheet metal pieces that provide nominal protection for underbody components like the oil pan and transmission. They certainly came in handy during the off-road course, as the trucks slowly crawled over uneven piles of rocks and gravel.
While old-school off-roaders may bemoan the technologization of four-wheelin’, the fact is that many of these novel features make it easier for non-experts to enjoy a more satisfying off-road experience. That’s a good thing in our book.
And while the Bronco may have a bit of a tippy feeling on rocky slopes, it’s much more stable on pavement than the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator. On the highway, the Ford’s independent front suspension helps the truck carry its momentum and the cabin is quieter than both. (The Bronco does have a sound-deadening headliner, but it didn’t do much to quell the sensory overload that highway blast can induce.) Even CR staffers with some off-roading experience learned a few things at the course.
Off-Road Capabilities
The ability to tackle rocky, rugged terrain and overcome challenging obstacles like steep inclines and deep ruts is what sets off roading apart from other motorsports. This provides an exhilarating experience that can test a vehicle’s limits and the driver’s skills. It is also an excellent way to get in touch with nature and escape the rat race.
Choosing the right off-roading SUV is an important decision. Some people want to modify their vehicles with many different upgrades, but others prefer a vehicle that’s ready to go off roading right from the factory. The sixth-generation Ford Bronco is an example of the latter, with off-roading-specific features that aren’t found on any other SUV in this class.
For example, it’s equipped with skid plates, which provide minimal protection for critical components underneath the vehicle in the event of a rollover or other mishap. It also has a number of drive modes, including Normal, Eco, Sand/Snow, Rock Crawl, and Baja, which adjust engine settings and throttle response to best handle various conditions.
During our visit to Holly Oaks, CR staff members took the opportunity to take advantage of these off-roading features and put them to the test on tough terrain. Despite Mother Nature’s attempts to throw a wrench in our testing, the Bronco dominated. It was clear that the SUV truly shines when pushed to its limits on rough terrain, much like a racecar hankers for a track.
Comfort
It’s no secret that off-roading is inherently fraught with difficulty and risk. That’s why it is important for any off road enthusiast to have the necessary equipment to tend to themselves and their vehicle should things go wrong on a difficult off-road trail. Depending on the level of off-roading you’re looking to do, your essential accoutrement might vary. For example, while some people might only want to take their Bronco on a leisurely cruise up a local fire road, other enthusiasts may be looking to do a multi-day epic through bucket list trails.
While the Bronco is designed to be an off-roader, it is surprisingly comfortable on road as well. The 2.7L V6 offers good acceleration on road and the electric power steering adapts to different driving conditions to ensure a comfortable ride. In addition, the Bronco offers a Wi-Fi hotspot and multiple USB ports for connectivity and entertainment purposes on road trips.
The high riding position and large 35-inch tires make navigating narrow streets and darting through traffic hair-raising at times, but it is a lot of fun. Visibility is excellent and the controls and touchscreen interface (Ford’s tried-and-true SYNC 4.0) are easy to use. While the rear seats are comfortable enough for adults, you might struggle to load bulky child seats due to the doors’ limited opening width.