2022 Ford Bronco 2-Door
Serious Off-Roading
If your idea of a Sport Utility Vehicle is something quiet, posh and comfortable, I can tell you straight-away that the new Ford Bronco is not for you. However, if you want a vehicle that will actually take you places you never though a 4-wheel vehicle could go – then get your name on the waiting list because Ford has built something really special for those who enjoy going off-road and getting away from it all.
Available as a 4-door or a 2-door, both versions are built for serious off-roading and both have the ability to remove the entire roof and all the doors. Gone are all the unnecessary things like sound deadening materials, swanky leather or a cushy suspension – the body-on-frame Bronco is simple: it’s raw, it’s loud, and it’s bouncy but take it off-road and immediately it all makes sense – it’s all a compromise, you can either have the on-road niceties or you can have the off-road capability. Ford obviously choose the ladder.
The Bronco is stuffed with all sorts of off-road wizardry starting with standard 4-wheel drive that includes both hi and low gearing. Also, standard is a G.O.A.T. (Go Over Any Terrain) dial located in the center console that allows you get to select what type of terrain you are going over, from Mud/Ruts to Sand to Snow and everything in-between. Other off-road goodies vary depending on which one of the six Bronco models you purchase (Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Badlands, Outer Banks or Wildtrak) with specialty options like lockable front and rear differentials, disconnecting sway bars, trail one-pedal drive and a “trail turn assist” which helps the Bronco spin in place to mitigate through tight turns. Ford makes all of these features easy to activate with a touch of a button. Additionally, for buyers who truly want the ultimate in off-roading, there is the available add-on “Sasquatch” package which turns the Bronco into an all-terrain monster with 17-inch beadlock wheels wrapped in 35-inch mud tires and heavy-duty Bilstein shock.
Power comes from either a 2.3L turbo 4-cylinder engine making 300hp & 325 lb-ft torque or an optional 2.7L twin-turbo V6 making 330hp & 415 lb-ft torque. The standard transmission is 10-speed automatic with an optional 7-speed manual where that 7th gear is actually a slow-speed “crawler” gear intended for off-roading only. Unfortunately, buyers who opt for the manual can only have the 2.3L engine and have to forgo the “Sasquatch” package as well as the “trail turn assist” feature.
So, how was the 2-door Bronco like to drive? Well, having driven the 4-door version a few months prior, the shorter wheel-base of the 2-door makes the ride bouncier which was further amplified by the extra-large tires of the Sasquatch package on my test vehicle. Also, the 2-door has less cargo space and only seats four but is lighter and easier to maneuver making it a little more suited for off-roading over its bigger 4-door brother. For the interior, the fit and finish is not bad but it’s not great either – panels flex when you push on them and there is a lot of hard plastic. However, controls are nicely placed with real buttons and dials for the radio, volume and temperature settings. Having a conversion at speeds over 70mph can be difficult as tire and wind noise really start to overwhelm the cabin. On the plus side, both engine options feel strong and capable but the 2.7L V6 delivers effortless power at highway speeds and does 0-60mph in an impressive 5.9 seconds.
Prices for the Bronco are truly all-over the place. The Base version 2-doors starts at $29,995 but keep climbing the model ladder and the prices keeps climbing as well… Black Diamond will set you back $37,545 and Outer Banks tops the $40k mark at $40,450. The top-tier Wildtrak starts at $52,065 and can reach North of $56,000 with options making the pricing span between the lowest and highest Bronco over $26,000.
Overall, the new Bronco is great at what it is intended to do, get off the pavement and head down the beaten path. With all of the on-board technology and different drive-mode, the Bronco makes the hard stuff look easy – no matter what your off-roading skill level is, this new 4×4 will make you look like a pro!
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