Ford Motor Company kicked up its heals in the 2021 model year with the re-introduction of the feisty Bronco. This beast goes just about anywhere its four wheels desire.
Bronco returned from hiatus to slay such rivals as Jeep’s all-purpose Wrangler and the much pricier Land Rover Defender. All incorporate a smallish, sturdy, body-on-frame structure found in most pickup trucks lending themselves to play dirty in the mud.
As with Jeep’s Wrangler, if Bronco’s aluminum side doors and sun-blocking roofs are bothersome, simply remove them for open-air ambiance. Bronco’s cowl-mounted, side-view mirrors conveniently stay attached to the frame when ditching doors. Bronco also offers the slowly vanishing manual transmission for those desiring the lost art of mechanical engine management.
Ford introduced Bronco back in the 1966 model year with a stout 92-inch wheelbase (distance between front and rear axle) and attractive $2,194 list price. Five Generations continued uninterrupted until 1996 when Ford’s family-focused Expedition took over its production slot, sending Bronco off into a hazy semi-retirement for almost a quarter century.
Returning 2022 trim levels with creatively wild namesakes include Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Badlands and Wildtrak. Two body styles (two or four side doors) both sport hatchbacks. There’s also two available engines, two transmissions and two 4 x 4 delivery systems.
Little changes Sophomore year save for a couple new lower-volume trim levels, including the Bronco Rapture. As with its F-150 full-size pickup namesake, Rapture promotes higher performance nuances.
A second all-new 2022 trim level revealed at the 2022 Chicago Auto Show, Bronco Everglades, enjoys a factory-installed snorkel with reversable air vents and heavy duty modular front bumper exclusively in four-door configurations.
It’s important to distinguish between Ford’s Bronco and the similar sounding Bronco Sport; two very different beasts. This week’s Bronco tester shares off-road underpinnings with the mid-size Ford Ranger pickup. The tamer, smaller Bronco Sport (also introduced in 2021) borrows its undercarriage from the uni-body (car frame) Escape crossover intended for dryer pavements.
A base two-door 2022 Bronco starts at $29,300 while the base four-door sneaks in at $33,450. Our silver metallic two-door V-6 Wildtrak with advanced 4 x4 started at $46,980. A specialty equipment group (heated steering wheel, wireless charging pad, 12-inch center screen, adaptive cruise control) added $3,590. A smattering of a-la-carte options and $1,495 destination charge brought the bottom line to $53,650.
Bronco continues as an acquired taste. A truck-like ride targets those who bounce along with the action; a rocky ride designed as such. Add in extra patience for slightly longer stopping distances. Our two-door incorporated an inspiring, very tight turning radius. While Ford markets Bronco as a mid-sizer, our two-door accommodating four travels felt distinctly compact; but oh-so capable.
A 10-speed automatic transmission comes standard in both engines while a seven-speed manual (with specialty low crawl gear) is available only with base, 2.3-liter inline four Ecoboost turbocharged engines delivering 275 horses. The 2.7-liter V-6 Ecoboost turbo powertrain delivers 315 horses. Towing capacities dictate by the trim selected but maximizes out at 3,500 pounds. Both engines accept regular 87-octate engines but enjoy increased horsepower with higher-octane fuel. Our V-6’s fuel economy checks in at a rather lousy 17 mpg for both city and highway.
The two shift-on-the-fly electronic 4 x 4 choices include ‘standard’ and ‘advanced.’ Standard includes part-time selectable two-wheel, four-wheel and four-wheel low. Advanced adds a four-wheel-drive auto, all selectable via a circular dial between front buckets with a quadrant atop representing one of the four opportunities. This same dials also rotates to select up to seven drive modes dependent upon the trim level.
An available Sasquatch Package comes standard in Wildtrak, the optimal choice for off-road rock heads. This package includes not only a locking rear differential, but locking front differentials. Times when selecting a locking front differential may be limited to tight turns while traversing a rocky bottom, but if needed, Bronco delivers as one of a handful of off-roaders with this feature. Ford places electric-locking tabs atop the center dash locking each axle.
Sasquatch packages remain available in most trims (sans the Raptor) including base, sporting HUGE 35-inch mud-terrain tires, high-mounted fender flairs and position-sensitive Bilstein shocks. BIG tires and a diminutive two-door body create a baby monster truck look.
Two-door models include a removable, paneled hardtop. Two front panels remove in seconds each sporting a palm-type push hinge and three twist-style latches; each weighing less than 15.5 pounds and easily disengaged by a single person. Four door versions offer the choice of removable soft or hard tops.
The pleasant instrument panel combines both analog and animated genres, with a circular speedometer gauge far left, Illuminated PRND indicators horizontally across the bottom and digital screen center left. The bar-type animated fuel gauge occupies a section of the digital window.
The straight-across front dash features a long overhang and lipped bottom. Four vertical air vents intersperse lending visual support. Electronic push-button start situates right of the steering column. Power window controls locate between front buckets, the same location for outside power side-view mirror functions, better accommodating removable side doors.
Wildtrak, Badlands and Outer Banks trims offer a large 12-inch flat multi-function center screen optional (up from the standard 8-inches) working along with Ford’s Sync 4, the latest Sync version (with twice the computing speed of Sync3) available since 2020. Two twist knobs below help monitor volume and station present along with secondary steering wheel buttons. Larger dual twist knobs below control climate zones with push buttons in between for fan direction.
Static side running boards help egress and ingress, but the sizeable 11.5-inches of ground clearance with the Sasquatch package still makes for a leap in and out. Sans this package, expect a better manageable 8.4 inches. Each dashboard end includes a molded grab handle. Note the location as it’s often called upon. Optional running boards (marketed as a powdered tube step) add $395 but rate as a worthy investment.
Substantial ground clearance and manually tilt and slide front buckets make entry into the two-person row two quite the challenge with two-door models. Those with limited mobility may want to just stay up front or call Uber. Lots of head room though once ensconced. With 50/50 backs folded, the two-door Bronco enjoys 52.3 cubic feet of space. When prone, a rather limited 22.4 cubic feet remain.
An old-style whip radio antenna on the passenger-side front fender contrasts with new-style secondary turn signal blinker bands built into square, side-view mirrors. Both super-sized side door rectangular grab handles/bars have a machine-like appearance.
The lower rear hatch, hinged on the right swings open like a refrigerator door while the windowed upper portion swings up. This all to accommodate a standard-sized spare tire mounted on the outer door, just to the right of a vertical grab handle. Placing it under carriage would inhibit off-road travel. This design provides the vehicle’s tall-standing vertical look, with a 90-degree-like roof-to-hatch angle rather than a curved style popularized by street-friendly crossovers. Straight front A pillars tilt at a slight angle framing the rectangle-like stationary windshield.
Red taillights incorporate a ‘Capital D’ likeness to the far right with a mirror image far left; or maybe the tail art closer resembles an elongated horse hoof. Up front, a circular headlight design incorporates modern LED technology.
2022 Ford Bronco two-door
Price as tested: $53,650
Engine: 2.7-liter V-6
Horsepower: 315
Wheelbase: 100.4 inches
Overall Length: 173.7 inches
Overall Height: 75.2 inches
Overall Width: 79.3 inches
Curb Weight: 4,575 pounds
Fuel Economy: 17 mpg city, 17 mpg highway.
Powertrain Warranty: Five Years/60,000 miles
Assembly: Wayne, Michigan