Going off-road is easy — if you have the right equipment. Not so easy is also being easygoing on the road.
Despite its rugged looks, the revived Ford Bronco is exactly that. Plus, more than just about anything else.
What It Is
The Bronco is a two- or four-door midsized SUV and unlike any other new SUV — with the sole exception of the Jeep Wrangler, which it's meant to compete with. Both of them feature removable doors and tops and, miraculously, come standard with manual transmissions. This alone sets them apart from every other new SUV available since all of the others are automatic-only.
The Ford starts at $30,800 for the base two-door trim — almost the same asking price as the base Wrangler two-door, which lists for $29,995.
It comes standard with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine paired up with a seven-speed manual transmission and a part-time/selectable four-wheel-drive system. A 10-speed automatic is optional.
Adding another pair of doors bumps the asking price to $34,700 — and the total cargo capacity to 73 cubic feet from 52.3 cubic feet. Four-door versions of the Bronco also come standard with the 10-speed automatic transmission.
From there, you can select from among six additional trims, including a new high-performance Raptor iteration that comes with 37-inch all-terrain tires, Fox heavy-duty 3.1-inch diameter shocks with internal and external fluid reservoirs, modified control arms, nearly 12 inches of ground clearance, 13-14 inches of wheel articulation and, uniquely, a twin turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that summons 400 horsepower.
This one stickers for $68,500.
What's New For 2022
In addition to the Raptor, Ford has also added an Everglades variant to the roster.
It features an air snorkel for the engine, the ability to ford 36.4 inches of water, a winch, heavier-duty front fender, different fender flares and unique graphics.
What's Good
Wide price range makes this real-deal off-roader accessible.
Multiple body styles and configurations.
Much more civilized than it looks — notwithstanding how capable it is.
What's Not So Good
You may be able to afford the Bronco, but will you be able to afford the gas?
Manual transmission is only offered with the four-cylinder engine.
A more teched-out machine than the Wrangler, which relies on simpler and possibly more long-term hardy V6 and V8 engines without turbos.
Under The Hood
The original Bronco — the one this new Bronco is meant to emulate — was powered by nothing less than a six-cylinder engine and often with a V8 engine, which was optional back in 1966. That's no longer necessary today because four-cylinder engines make more power now than V8s did back then.
The new Bronco's standard 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine makes 300 horsepower — 100 more than the original Bronco's optional V8 and almost 200 more horses than the original Bronco's 105-horsepower six.
A 2.7-liter V6 with two turbos is the next-up engine offering. This one doesn't make that much more horsepower (330) than the 2.3-liter four with just one turbo — but it does make a lot more torque (415 foot-pounds at 3.100 rpm vs. 325 foot-pounds at 3,400 rpm), which makes it even better-suited for the kind of low-speed grunt work the Bronco is built for.
The Bronco Raptor gets the largest of the small engines that power the new Bronco at just 3.0 liters — but 400 horsepower and 430 foot-pounds of torque.
On The Road
Not just for off-roading or not getting stuck in snow, on road but also for the ride everywhere — even with the Sasquatch off-road package. Typically, a vehicle all jacked up and ready to rock will crawl and feel like a rock on the road.
But for the tires: The tall sidewall, puffy-balloon-type Goodyear 35-inchers that come with this thing. They are meant to flex and give as they feel their way over terrain. This has the happy side effect of softening up the on-road ride remarkably — such that even a Sasquatch feels almost housebroken.
At The Curb
The new Bronco is meant to emulate the look of the original one. It has many reminiscent styling similarities, including the retro-sealed-beam-looking round headlights (which are actually modern LED lights) and 90-degree angles. Plus, of course, the removable roof, which can be taken off in sections or entirely. Soft and hard shells are available.
But then you get in and it's definitely 2022, not 1972.
You sit in front of an LCD main gauge cluster, which, like most, is configurable and so can display more than just what you see, as analog gauges do. To your right is a bigger LCD screen, through which you access the audio system, the GPS maps and some secondary info screens depicting which axles are engaged, your mileage/range and so on.
The Rest
Filling up the two-door's 16.9-gallon tank with regular (premium is wanted for maximum power) will set you back about $75 at current prices. At 17 mpg, this setting back will happen often. The four-door, which has a larger 20.8-gallon tank, costs about $90 at current prices to refill.
The monthly gas bill approaches the monthly payment.
Even so, the best things in life often aren't free.
This is one of them.
The Bottom Line
Whatever your situation — or wants — there's probably a Bronco that suits.
It's nice that small trucks are making a comeback — even if they aren't, really.
Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
View the Ford Bronco this week.
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