The Bronco is one of the most popular SUVs in America. It stopped being manufactured in 1996, but in 2021 Ford successfully recovered it and now also sells it in Europe. It has an unmistakably American style, robust, unsophisticated, with an authentic 4×4 spirit that qualifies it for intense off-road use. That is to say, it is focused on off-roading, on adventure, although with a particularly attractive recreational orientation as it has removable doors and roof.
It is a large 4×4, 4.81 meters long and 1.85 meters high. And a cumbersome 1.93 meters wide, impractical to enter a city parking lot. But it can also fulfill the function of a spacious family car with a large trunk. It is a car, in any case, special. With which you never go unnoticed. And, of course, very different from the SUVs that we usually see on our roads.
In the United States, as we pointed out, it is a legend on par with the Mustang and is sold in many versions. But in Europe it comes with a single V6 gasoline engine in a four-door body and in two equipment levels: Outer Banks (the one in the test) and Badlands. Ford believes it is an offer tailored to the tastes of European drivers.
The Badlands offers more, more extreme equipment, with a different front end and additional anchors. In addition, it offers plastic wheel arches and mirrors, which in the case of the Outer Banks are painted in the body color.
Another difference is the wheels and tires. Those from the Outer Banks are more suitable and balanced for asphalt, although they are not for tourism. It rides some wonderful Bridgestone Dueler A/T, in size 255/70 R18, valid for all types of conditions. Even rain or snow.
Developed from the ground up with adventure in mind, the Bronco offers unique 4×4 features such as removable panels, integrated mounting points designed specifically for accessories and easy-to-clean materials. Everything as standard.
Likewise, Bronco owners can choose from a wide range of Ford-certified accessories, all designed for perfect integration with the vehicle and maximum customization to adapt to a wide variety of outdoor activities.
The Bronco’s hard plastic roof separates into four panels with dedicated onboard storage bags for the two front panels for maximum flexibility. In addition, all doors can be completely – and individually – dismantled with a single tool and in just eight minutes, providing a total feeling of freedom and greater visibility. For their part, frameless windows reduce the overall weight of the doors, making them light enough to be removed by their owners.
The Bronco has other removable elements that allow both customization and improved performance on the track, including the grille and front bumper, which can be removed and exchanged for alternative versions. The plastic wheel arch trims are designed to separate without damage in the event of an impact and can be easily replaced.
With label C, don’t look for hybridization of any kind. It’s not the car for this. The 334 HP engine emits a sound very recognizable from Ford’s V6 family. It is a 2,694 cc gasoline V6 EcoBoost with turbo. It has excellent thrust capacity in any situation, with 563 Nm of torque at 3,100 rpm.
That is, it is capable of moving with agility the more than 2.5 tons that it weighs with passengers and luggage. Perhaps the response is not immediate, but it is energetic and makes us perceive it as light. And it is not.
The 10-speed automatic transmission works correctly for conventional use. On the road, at a good pace, if we want more precision we can use a manual mode, with a button on the gear lever.
Consumption, obviously, is not its best quality. Although the approved figure is 13.7 liters, it is easy to exceed 15 liters. Of course, it maintains very decent comfort on the road. And it’s pretty well insulated.
The Bronco’s chassis is one of the technical characteristics that best defines it. Ford uses an independent suspension at the front and a rigid axle at the rear. In addition, it includes a triple differential lock, reducer and removable stabilizer bar.
And a whole compendium of aids through driving modes and exterior cameras to circulate with peace of mind in complicated environments. The driving mode selector bears the inscription GOAT (Goes Over Any Type or Terrain), a statement of intent of its benefits and capabilities as a pure all-terrain vehicle.
In addition, the driver can choose a specific low-speed travel program for driving over rocks or overcoming difficult obstacles.
Traction configuration is done through buttons on the surface of the selector and allows you to choose automatic all-wheel drive, a rear-wheel drive mode and also a specific 4-wheel drive mode with long or short ratios. Really complete.
Spacious, with excellent visibility and a somewhat peculiar, but practical driving position, the quality in general is good. It should be noted that it is a car that exudes unusual solidity, a car that will last and is well made. With some hard plastics. That too.
Or curiosities such as the fact that the window controls are placed just in front of the central armrest, since the doors are removable. And we found handholds so that all passengers can hold on. We also highlight the large 12-inch central screen. Very large and well visible.
And the infotainment system works quickly and intuitively and supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Everything is very well resolved in this sense.
