Ford Bronco 2022 Review

The Ford Bronco is easily one of the most highly sought-after vehicles on sale today, and it's not all hype. Its all-terrain prowess is impressive, even when compared to the seemingly unstoppable Jeep Wrangler. And just like the Wrangler, the Bronco has a removable roof and doors, so you can drive topless for that extra bit of sunshine while on the street or tackling a trail.

You can get the Bronco with one of two turbocharged engines. Four-wheel drive is standard, and a seven-speed manual transmission is available for those who want to row their own gears. Even more exciting for off-road enthusiasts is the Sasquatch trim, which stands as a capable rival to both the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. There are also tons of accessories from Ford and aftermarket manufacturers to customize your Bronco to your heart's desire.

We're not expecting much to change for the 2022 Ford Bronco, though Ford has teased a new high-performance Raptor version. It's anyone's guess at this point what the Bronco Raptor will ultimately be like, but it's fair to assume it will specialize in high-speed off-road performance thanks to a modified suspension and a more powerful engine.

There aren't a lot of other rivals with off-road chops like the Bronco or Wrangler. The short list includes the 4Runner and the much more expensive Land Rover Defender. The Bronco is easily our favorite in this rather exclusive class. Our Expert Rating clearly spells out why and also where some improvements can be made. Really, the Bronco's scarcity and outrageous dealer markups are the only reasons we'd look elsewhere.

Which Bronco does MatoCar recommend?

[Editor's note: The following information is based on last year's 2021 Bronco. We expect the 2022 Bronco will have a similar lineup and we'll update this section once we have complete information.] The Ford Bronco is a four-wheel-drive SUV available in six trim levels: Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Badlands and Wildtrak. It's also available as either a two-door or a four-door and can be kitted out with a long list of options, ranging from appearance and personalization options to different roofs to off-road hardware, wheels and other accessories. Highlighted features include:

Base: Starts you off with:

• 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (300 horsepower, 325 lb-ft)
• Seven-speed manual transmission or optional 10-speed automatic
• 16-inch steel wheels
• Tow hooks (two front, one rear)
• LED headlights
• Hardtop (two-door versions) or soft top (four-door versions)
• Digital instrument panel
• Cloth upholstery
• Six-way manually adjustable front seats
• Power windows
• 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Six-speaker audio system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (with wireless connectivity)
• Push-button start
• Basic terrain management system with five drive modes

The Bronco's optional engine is a turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 good for 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. It comes with the 10-speed automatic transmission.

All Broncos also come with:

• Hill start assist (momentarily holds the brakes to keep the Bronco from rolling backward at a stop)
• Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
• Hill descent control (keeps the Bronco at a constant speed while descending steep slopes)
• Trailer sway damping (adjusts vehicle brakes to help control trailer movement if a trailer begins to sway)
• Trail Turn Assist (can help the Bronco make very tight turns when off-road; automatic transmission only)

Big Bend Adds some style and a few other features, such as:

• LED foglights
• Different grille
• Tinted second-row and rear windows
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
• Interior grab handles
• Upgraded terrain management system with six modes

Black Diamond Ratchets up the off-road capability with:

• Heavy-duty front and rear bumpers
• Skid plates
• Black grille
• Rock rails (prevents body damage while off-roading)
• 17-inch steel wheels with all-terrain tires
• Prewired auxiliary switches
• Vinyl upholstery
• Rubber flooring
• Seven-mode terrain management system

Outer Banks A fancier version of the Big Bend trim thanks to:

• Body color-painted door handles, fender flares and mirrors
• 18-inch aluminum wheels with all-terrain tires
• Side step rails
• Upgraded LED headlights
• Contents of the Mid package (detailed below)

Badlands Combines the Big Bend's features and the Black Diamond's off-roading-oriented features. It also has:

• Upgraded LED headlights
• Unique Badlands suspension
• Front stabilizer bar disconnect (allows for improved wheel articulation for off-road driving)
• Seven-mode terrain management system

Wildtrak Builds on the Outer Banks with:

• Turbocharged V6 engine
• Special graphics
• Hardtop
• Prewired auxiliary switches
• Seven-mode terrain management system
• Contents of the Mid and Sasquatch packages (detailed below)

Here's what you need to know about the Bronco's main optional packages.

Sasquatch package Optional on most trim levels, it adds more off-road capability thanks to:

• 17-inch beadlock-capable alloy wheels (beadlocks can secure the tire to the wheel to help maintain tire pressure at low pressure settings)
• 35-inch mud-terrain tires
• Shorter final drive ratio with electronically locking front and rear axles
• Lifted suspension
• Modified fender flares

Mid package Adds more tech and convenience via:

• Proximity keyless entry
• Ambient interior lighting
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Dual-zone climate control
• Heated front seats
• Remote start (available only with automatic transmission)
• Rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)
• Upgraded 8-inch touchscreen
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the Bronco back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)

High package Adds to the Mid package with:

• 12-inch infotainment touchscreen
• 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Bronco and its surroundings for tight situations)
• Extra sound deadening
• Front parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of the vehicle when parking)
• Mirror-mounted approach lights and spotlights

Lux package Requiring the High package, the Lux package adds:

• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Ford and the car in front)
• Upgraded 10-speaker audio system
• Integrated navigation system
• Evasive steering assist (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance)
• Heated steering wheel
• Wireless smartphone charging pad