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Ford Bronco Badlands review: Can the new edition of the off-road icon convince?

Ford Bronco Badlands article image
Picture: TechnikNews
(Post picture: © 2024 TechnikNews)

With the newly launched Ford Bronco, Ford has brought one of the most legendary automobile series to Europe in 2023, in strictly limited numbers. The Badlands is the ultimate version of the Bronco, designed for extreme off-road situations and impressive performances on the road. Can the new edition of the off-road icon also convince us review?

We tested the Ford Bronco Badlands in Velocity Blue for you over the course of ten days in everyday use and off-road. You can find out how it performed in this test report.

tl;dr: Adventure on four wheels

The Ford Bronco Badlands impresses with its versatility and robustness. With its boxy chassis, cleverly integrated off-road aids and its inimitable silhouette, it is aimed at all those who seek adventure off the road and like to attract attention with their car. It combines retro charm, modern technology and comprouncompromising off-road capability in a unique package. Despite minor weaknesses in terms of noise comfort and city consumption, the Bronco is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to combine adventure and style. It makes a real statement and promises a unique driving experience that will delight both on and off the road. With fuel prices continuing to rise in the future, you should be prepared for expensive driving pleasure given the fuel consumption of the Bronco Badlands.

✅ Pro:

  • Outstanding off-road capabilities
  • interior with plenty of storage space
  • Intuitive operation and modern technology
  • Eye-catching and functional design
  • Great sound
  • Very good equipment for the price

⛔️ Cons:

  • High consumption in city traffic
  • Loud in the interior at higher speeds
  • High price
Ford Bronco Badlands Interior

Image: Ford Germany

Exterior of the Ford Bronco Badlands: Robust design

Visually, the Ford Bronco Badlands is a real statement. The angular silhouette, the unmistakable round LED headlights with high beam assistant and the wide radiator grille immediately evoke associations with the first generation from 1966. The all-round color "Velocity Blue" underlines the striking character of the vehicle, which always attracts attention both on the road and off the beaten track and catches envious glances. One of the special highlights are the removable doors and the hard top, which can be removed in just a few minutes to enable an open-top driving experience off-road - perfect for off-road driving where you need to watch the ground.

These features are complemented by practical details such as the trail visors, which serve as a guide on the terrain and can also be used as attachment points for loads of up to 68 kg. The functional design, including bolted fender flares and bumpers, allows for easy repairs. I also particularly like the Badlands badge near the driver's door, which marks it as the ultimate off-roader. The 17-inch alloy wheels painted in Carbonized Grey, which are on the 33-inch all-terrain tires sitting are also impressive.

Cockpit: Retro meets Tech

The interior of the Bronco Badlands is dominated by clean lines, inspired by the original model. Functionality and durability play the main role here, complemented by modern technology and good connectivity. The 8-inch TFT display behind the heated steering wheel shows a retro speedometer design that clearly displays all essential information. The generous 12-inch touchscreen is the heart of Ford's modern SYNC 4 system, which is always up to date thanks to over-the-air updates and worked very smoothly in our test. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay work, even wirelessly, without any problems in conjunction with the multimedia system. An inductive charging station for compatible smartphones and various USB ports are also on board.

The B&O 640 Watt premium sound system with 10 speakers, including a subwoofer, delivers a decent performance in my opinion. The nice haptic buttons on the steering wheel also offer all the necessary functions for everyday driving. The 360-degree camera with "split view" technology is also a real added value, especially when parking in the city. The ambient lighting in the footwell and a charming welcome animation, in which rolling stones become the iconic white Ford Bronco pony, round off the experience.

Interior: Functionality is the focus

With a storage space of 504 liters, expandable up to 1.804 liters, The Bronco offers enough space for excursions and all kinds of equipment. The partial leather upholstery (seat center panels in leather, seat bolsters and back in vinyl) in the color
Black Onyx fits in very well with the rest of the vehicle. There is enough space for other passengers in the back seat and they even sit a little higher than the driver and front passenger. The back seat can also be folded down in a 60:40 ratio and has an armrest with two cup holders. The materials used in the interior are durable and water-repellent, which makes the Bronco ideal for outdoor adventures and subsequent cleaning. There are also various switches in the roof console (pre-wired) for connecting accessories such as additional headlights. This takes a bit of getting used to for people who don't normally drive off-road vehicles, and is due to the fact that the doors are removable: the controls for the side mirrors and windows have been moved to the center console.

drive and assistance systems

The 2,7 liter EcoBoost V6 engine is the heart of the Bronco Badlands. With its 246 kW (335 hp) and a torque of 563 Nm at 3.100 rpm, it delivers impressive performance – both on and off road. With this engine, however, it cannot compete with competitors such as the Land Rover Defender 110 with its 525 hp 5,0 liter V8 compressor engine. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 7,2 seconds, which is impressive considering the vehicle weight of 2.418 kg (EC unladen weight). In addition, the short wheelbase of 2.950 mm provides additional agility, which I could clearly notice review. The 10-speed automatic transmission provides smooth gear changes and optimum comfort even at low speeds. The top speed is 161 km/h - not fast, but the Bronco's off-road performance is clearly the main focus and is really impressive due to its design and technology. Another cool feature is the Ford Easy Fuel comfort tank cap, which also provides misfuelling protection. The adaptive cruise control system with lane following assist including lane keeping assist is neither outstanding nor bad. It does what it's supposed to, reliably, and supports you on longer motorway journeys.

driving behavior

The Bronco excels off-road thanks to its highly specified HOSS 2.0 off-road chassis with Bilstein 3-zone dampers with external additional reservoir. They cool during intensive driving and offer stability even with maximum suspension travel. Functions such as the decoupleable front anti-roll bar or the lockable front differential maximize traction. With a ground clearance of 261 mm, a front approach angle of 40,6° and 33,3° at the rear, and a wading depth of 800 mm, it proves to be a genuine off-road vehicle. Thanks to the "Bronco Terrain Management System", seven driving modes are available, including "Baja", "Mud" and "Rocky". These influence the steering behavior, throttle response and gearshift strategy, so that no terrain is too difficult - in the spirit of "GOAT" ("Goes over any Terrain"). The various modes are set using an easy-to-use wheel in the center console. The Bronco also cuts a fine figure on the highway and in city traffic. The acceleration feels lively thanks to the all-wheel drive, and the car attracts a lot of attention. However, there is a loss of comfort due to the high interior noise level from about 100 km/h – despite the sound-dampening headliner of the hardtop.

consumption of the Ford Bronco Badlands

With a tank volume of 79 liters, the Bronco should be able to cover a distance of over 600 kilometers. In our test, a full tank was enough for 570 kilometers, driven on country roads, in the city and on the highway. The average consumption over the entire 777 test kilometers was 13,5 l / 100 km (Figure 2 below). This combined consumption is OK for an off-road vehicle in its class, but it could be a little more efficient in the city - here it is often significantly higher than the stated 17,2 l/100 km (Figure 1 below). However, it should be clear that this vehicle is not intended for inner-city driving.

Officially stated fuel consumption (WLTP):

  • Combined: 12,7 l/100 km
  • Inner city: 17,2 l/100 km
  • country road: 10,8 l/100 km
  • highway: 13,3 l/100 km

Price of the Ford Bronco Badlands

The Badlands variant starts in Germany at 69.950,00 Euros (incl. 19% VAT.). The standard color Oxford White is included here for €0. If you want a different exterior paint finish, this costs €1.200,00 or €1.300,00 depending on the color. Other extras such as a removable tow bar (€1.200,00) or storage bags for the front or rear doors (€336,00 or €315,00) can of course also be configured for an additional charge.

Thanks to Ford Germany for providing the Bronco Badlands for this review.

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Kasimir Hupe

Kasimir is 28 years old and after his bachelor's degree in technical journalism, he is now studying for a master's degree in digital communication and media innovation. He is very enthusiastic about smartphones, wearables and the topic of mobility. Here at Techniknews He particularly enjoys testing the latest electric cars, plug-in hybrids and combustion engines for you.

Kasimir has already written 7 article and 0 comments.

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