Overview
The 2022 Ford Bronco boasts a design that brings back memories as well as excellent on-road manners and incredible off-road prowess. The reason Ford's off-roader is so popular is due to the sheer breadth of its possibilities.
The Bronco is similarly configurable with a convertible top, two- and four-door body styles, and removable doors, whereas the Jeep Wrangler has dominated the off-road world as the de facto SUV for people seeking a vehicle with genuine trail-eating cred—even if they never plan to tackle a boulder-strewn two-track.
The sturdy materials and straightforward design inside evoke the vintage, original Bronco, but the interior design appears cheap on higher trim levels. All Broncos come equipped with all-wheel drive and a turbo-four or twin-turbo V-6 engine.
Both are swift and responsive but neither is extremely fuel-efficient or has a particularly pleasing sound. The 2022 Bronco is the ultimate off-road SUV thanks to the optional Sasquatch and Everglades packages, which also include beefier tires and other improvements. It is listed on both our 10 Best and Editors' Choice lists.
What has changed for 2022?
The 2022 Bronco selection expands with the addition of the Everglades model, which builds on an off-road-focused Sasquatch package, after completing its first model year. 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 in addition to distinctive visual cues, including a special Desert Sand paint color. However, it is only available with the 300-hp turbo-four and the four-door body style. Sadly, the engine doesn't work with the seven-speed manual transmission; only with the 10-speed automatic.
Ford has also released the Hoss 3.0 kit, which costs $2505, for the Wildtrak variant, which modifies the chassis and includes stronger Fox adaptive dampers. However, at this time, it is only accessible to customers with reservations and ad hoc orders. The newest Bronco model, the Raptor (reviewed separately), boasts a 400+ horsepower twin-turbo V-6, a stronger suspension, and optional 37-inch tires.
Which one to Purchase?
The starting price of the base two-door Bronco is just over $32,000, but the cost of upgrading to higher trims rises quickly. For it to live up to its off-road roots, our ideal configuration would be a four-door with a more potent engine. This suggests the Bronco Wildtrack, which includes enormous 35-inch mud-terrain tires and 17-inch Beadlock-capable wheels as standard equipment.
2022 Ford Bronco: Interior and Comfort
The Bronco offers the same open-air capabilities that make the Wrangler a thrill for outdoor enthusiasts and is available with two or four doors, soft tops or hardtops, and removable body panels.
Additionally, Ford's interior features a few more advancements than the Jeep. For instance, the top of the dashboard of Bronco has a rack that can be used to mount iPhones and GoPros. It also includes easily removable frameless doors. Their lengthy side glass, however, can snag the weatherstripping and let more wind noise into the cabin.
The four-door variants with expanded wheelbases, however, have room inside to store all four doors. The external mirrors are still functional when the doors are removed since they are attached to the base of the windshield.
The cabin can be shielded from the elements when exposed by using marine-grade vinyl upholstery and available rubberized flooring. Leather seating surfaces are available for those who prefer a more opulent setting, although the interior's large expanses of plastic seem cheap on the upper trim.
Even with the two-door Bronco, the back seat has enough room to accommodate two persons. The four-door variant is the only one with a third, middle seat in the back and slightly greater legroom, but much of its additional length goes to the cargo compartment, which is significantly bigger than the two-door.
2022 Ford Bronco: Connectivity
The 8.0- or 12.0-inch touchscreen that is integrated into the middle of the Bronco's dashboard is driven by Ford's most recent in-dash Sync 4 software. The system supports wireless connections to the cloud and the user's smartphone and supports over-the-air updates. Several contemporary infotainment options, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot that requires a subscription, are also supported by the infotainment system. Desirable features like an improved B&O stereo and built-in navigation can be added to the device.
2022 Ford Bronco: Engine and Performance
Sorry, everyone. There aren't eight cylinders in the Bronco. Instead, a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower is standard, and a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine with 330 horsepower is optional. Both gas engines can be connected to a 10-speed automatic transmission, while a seven-speed manual transmission can only be used with the smaller engine. Sadly, neither engine offers a piece of motivating background music.
All Broncos have independent front suspension, which is more advanced than the front stick axle on a Jeep. All Broncos also have power going to all four wheels. 35-inch mud-terrain tires, Beadlock-capable wheels, electronic locking front, and rear differentials, and a sway-bar disconnect mechanism are additional interesting choices.
The Bronco's on-road smoothness pleased us after our initial driving impressions. In addition to having more precise steering than the Wrangler's wheel, the Ford also has superior handling in general.
Naturally, there is a noticeable brake dip because it has the widest tires and softest suspension, and its body-on-frame structure isn't a secret. The Bronco, however, isn't a one-trick pony and is capable of navigating extremely dangerous terrain. The towing capacity of the two-door and four-door variants is similarly 3500 pounds, the same as the Wrangler.