What is a Bronco? A Bronco is a midsize SUV built in the Wayne, Michigan assembly plant and sold in North America by the Ford Motor Company. Now in its fourth year of production, the new Bronco is a truck based SUV that’s designed for off roading. It’s got four wheel drive (4WD), plenty of ground clearance and many available hardware add ons to keep you moving over rough terrain.
The Bronco is a model line of SUVs built by Ford. As the first SUV model developed by the company, five generations of the Bronco were sold from 1966 to the 1996 model year. If you’re looking for an adventure vehicle, the Ford Bronco is the one to get. From the standard 4×4 system on the base model, to the world class off road performance of the Bronco Raptor, a Bronco is the midsize SUV of choice for the outdoor enthusiast.
The 2024 Ford Bronco arrives with 9 trim level options that start with: Big Bend, Black Diamond, Heritage Edition, Outer Banks, Badlands, Everglades, Wildtrak, Heritage Limited Edition, and the Bronco Raptor. The Badlands Edition comes with a set of Bilstein position sensitive monotube shocks, a front stabilizer bar disconnect, and front and rear locking differentials; which makes the Badlands Edition the most capable off road Bronco you can get for around $50,000, plus sales tax and license plates.
To prove that point, this week Ford sent me a 2024 Bronco 4 Door 4×4 SUV to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this Badlands Edition is $51,385. The options on the test SUV are: the upgrade equipment group for $4,575, the metallic paint for $995, the 2.7L Ecoboost V/6 gas engine for $2,145, the 10 speed auto transmission for $1,495, the hardtop with molded in color for $1,895, the leather trimmed seats for $2,195 and a set of floor liners with carpeted floor mats for $160. The manufactures suggested retail price (MSRP) , including the $1,895 delivery fee, is: $66,740.
After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealers fees, the out the door and in your driveway total purchase price came to: $75,083. At just over $75 Grand, this Badlands Edition Bronco is in the luxury SUV category. As a new vehicle costs an average of $48,800 in 2024, luxury SUVs and crossovers cost over $75,000. But this is a Badlands Edition and it’s a Badass SUV.
Power for this rig starts with a 2.7 liter EcoBoost V/6 gas engine with 330 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, running on premium fuel, bolted to a 10 speed automatic transmission, routed into a 4×4 four wheel drive traction control system, with a 4.46 rear axle ratio and locking front and rear differentials. Traction goes to the ground thru a set of 17″ Badlands gray painted machined faced aluminum alloy wheels, with a set of 33″ tall LT 285/70R 17″ all terrain tires that grip any on or off surface with ease.
The Badlands series equipment package adds in: dual zone electric climate control, front row heated seats, power outlets, Ford Co-Pilot 360 assist, the high luxury equipment trim package, a 360 degree camera, adaptive cruise control, a heated steering wheel, a wireless charging pad, rock rails, remote start, push button start, LED signature lighting, a sound deadening headliner, a front row top panel storage bag and an AM/FM surround sound audio system with 10 speakers. If you want more options, just pick a higher trim level.
The Badlands Edition is the first model in the lineup to focus on offering more off road ability. It comes with all the features of the previous trims, but has an equipment package that has a specifically designed suspension system, with a front stabilizer bar disconnect and larger tires than the lower trims. If you like to go off road, buy a Badlands Edition.
Today, the Ford Bronco is once again one of the hottest vehicles in America. Part of why the new Bronco is so popular is simply that it’s a unique vehicle, and in an age where manual transmissions are being phased out, the Bronco offers it as an option. The Bronco doesn’t forget its early off road roots either, since 1966.
Call, click or visit your local Ford dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on the new 2024 Bronco 4 Door Badlands Edition 4×4 SUV. And remember that the base price for a new Bronco starts at only $39,630. Bronco – Built Ford Tough.
Be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, You Are What You Drive, and maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should Drive one, Buy one, Today. Have a great day, drive safely, and enjoy the ride, as the future looks nice and bright – Tony the Car Guy.
This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. Tony the Car Guy is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to [email protected] and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net