2022 Ford Bronco

Overview

The 2022 Ford Bronco rocks a nostalgia-inducing design along with both civil on-road driving manners and big-time trail-tackling ability. The sheer bandwidth of its capabilities is what makes Ford's off-roader such a hit. While the Jeep Wrangler has ruled the off-road world as the de facto SUV for people seeking a vehicle with bona fide trail-eating cred—even if they never plan to tackle a boulder-strewn two-track—the Bronco is similarly configurable with a convertible top, two- and four-door body styles, and removable doors. Inside, the durable materials and simple design recall the original, old-school Bronco, but the interior aesthetic looks cheap on upper trim levels. All Broncos have all-wheel drive and either a turbo-four or a twin-turbo V-6. Neither are very fuel-efficient or sound particularly pleasant, but they're quick and responsive. The optional Sasquatch and Everglades packages—beefier tires and other enhancements—help make the 2022 Bronco the ultimate off-road SUV and earn it a spot on both our 10Best and Editors' Choice lists.

What's New for 2022?

With its first model year in the books, the 2022 Bronco lineup grows with the addition of the Everglades model, which builds on an off-road-oriented Sasquatch package. Along with distinct visual clues–including an exclusive Desert Sand paint color–the Everglades adds a snorkel air intake, a Warn winch that can pull up to 10,000 pounds, and 17-inch rims on 35-inch tires. However, it's limited to the four-door body style and the 300-hp turbo-four powertrain. Sadly, the engine only pairs with the 10-speed automatic and not the seven-speed manual. Ford has also introduced a $2505 Hoss 3.0 package for the Wildtrak model, which adds sturdier Fox adaptive dampers and other chassis upgrades. However, it's currently only offered to reservation holders and unscheduled order holders. For the most extreme Bronco model, the newly introduced Raptor version (reviewed separately) has a 400-plus-hp twin-turbo V-6, a beefier suspension, and available 37-inch tires.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The base two-door Bronco starts at just over $32,000 but upgrading to upper trims gets expensive quickly. Our ideal configuration would be a four-door with the more powerful engine, and it needs to have the off-road hardware to live up to its roots. That points us towards the Bronco Wildtrack, which comes standard with 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels and huge 35-inch mud-terrain tires.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Sorry, folks. The Bronco doesn't come with eight cylinders. Instead, there's a standard 300-hp turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder or an optional 330-hp twin-turbo 2.7-liter V-6. A 10-speed automatic transmission bolts to both gas engines, but a seven-speed manual is only compatible with the smaller one. Unfortunately, neither engine has an enthusiastic soundtrack. Every Bronco sends power to all four wheels, and its independent front suspension is more sophisticated than Jeep's front stick axle. Other noteworthy options include 35-inch mud-terrain tires, beadlock-capable wheels, electronic locking front and rear differentials, and a sway-bar-disconnect feature. After our first driving impressions, the Bronco impressed us with its on-road refinement. Not only is its steering more precise than the Wrangler's wheel, but the Ford simply handles better overall. Of course, equipped with the largest tires and softest suspension, there's significant brake dive, and its body-on-frame construction isn't kept secret. Still, the Bronco isn't a one-trick pony, and it's capable of conquering truly treacherous terrain. Both the two- and four-door models are also rated to tow 3500 pounds—the same as the Wrangler.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The four-cylinder Bronco with the automatic transmission is the thriftiest variant, with ratings of 20 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway. Upgrade to the V-6 version with the Sasquatch package that includes aggressive, oversized tires and its fuel economy plummets to 17 mpg both in the city and on the highway. We've run automatic-equipped Broncos with both engines on our 75-mph fuel-economy route, with the four-cylinder earning 22 mpg and the V-6 earning 18 mpg. For more information about the Bronco's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Available with two or four doors, soft tops or hardtops, and removable body panels, the Bronco offers the same open-air possibilities that make the Wrangler an outdoor person's delight. The Ford's interior has a few more innovations than the Jeep, too. For example, the Bronco has a rack built into the top of its dashboard that allows smartphones and GoPros to be mounted there. It also has frameless doors that are easy to remove. However, their long side glass can snag the weatherstripping and they allow extra wind noise to enter the cabin. Still, the extended-wheelbase four-door models have space on board to store all four doors. Since the exterior mirrors are mounted on the base of the windshield, they're still usable when the doors are taken off. When exposed to the elements, the cabin can be protected with the available rubberized flooring and marine-grade vinyl upholstery. Those who want a fancier environment can opt for leather seating surfaces, but the interior's expansive swaths of plastic look cheap on upper trims. Even in the two-door Bronco, there's enough space in the back seat to comfortably fit two adults. The four-door version alone has a third, middle seat in the rear and offers a hair more legroom, but most of its extra length applies to the cargo area, which is more than 50 percent larger than the two-door.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

Ford's latest in-dash Sync 4 software powers the 8.0- or 12.0-inch touchscreen that's embedded in the middle of the Bronco's dashboard. The setup allows over-the-air updates and can connect to the cloud and the user's smartphone wirelessly. The infotainment system also supports a host of modern infotainment features that include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot. The unit can also be upgraded with desirable options, such as built-in navigation and a more powerful B&O stereo.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Bronco is available with a suite of driver-assistance technology, including automatic high beams and parking sensors. It also has equipment that makes low-speed rock crawling and trail driving easier. For more information about the Bronco's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Available forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
• Available lane-departure and lane-keeping assist

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Ford provides a competitive limited and powertrain warranty that aligns with most of its rivals. However, it lacks the complimentary maintenance that some competitors provide.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

More Features and Specs