New Bronco Up Close...

2door and 4door. 7 trim levels in total. Some of the trim levels are quite significant depending on your budget. Fourwheeler did a head to head with the Jeep. I forgot what the trim levels were tested but both were 4 doors. Bronco came out on top in most categories. Considering the price point of the various trim levels, the new Bronco is very competitive cost wise compared to the Jeep offerings. It was a shame for Jeep to drop the 4.0L inline six. One tough torquey motor.

 

Kind of like I do with Jeep Wranglers.

 

Yep the TJ was the last good Jeep. Maybe the new one is good but I can't afford it to find out. I would love a factory 470hp Hemi Wrangler Rubicon but it's gonna be serious money.

 

Rubicons are quite nice but 470 hp is a bit much. Would be fun to drive I'm sure but I'd have no use for 470 hp in a Jeep. But then again the only new Jeep I'd buy would be a Rubicon trim level. I really liked my 76 Bronco. Never had an issue. Pure simplicity and no nannies. Ran circles around Jeeps with it. Actually my best friends 345 V8 Scout II did too. I like what I'm seeing what Ford did with the Bronco. Well thought out. Lots of deposits were put down. Plenty of trim levels to fit a particular need and budget. I wouldn't base an impression on the intro Bronco Sport. The best is yet to come big time.

 

Just for reference, here's the profiles of the 3 basic styles. The Sport is the pavement version. Very different design language on the sport if you look at the bumpers, tail lights, headlights, and windshield slope.

 

The Bronco Sport is a bit of joke. They already have several non-capable SUVs rolling around; the world didn’t need another. In my opinion, it just further dilutes the Bronco name, and leads to confusion. It’s fugly to boot.

The bigger Bronco looks better, but is still a disappointment for me. Had it been based on an F-150, like the last generation of Broncos was, I would have gone for it. If Ford was aiming for Jeep buyers, they screwed up here too and forgot to add a solid front axle.

I still look forward to the day when a manufacturer decides to bring back a full-size truck-based vehicle like the K10 Blazer/2-door Tahoe, or the F-150-based Bronco. Til then, you’ll find me in a truck.

 

A huge part of what automakers have to do is please the regulators. That's why midsize trucks grew. That's why Ford has gone all in on the Ecoboost lines. Vehicles could be far more capable and exciting if the weren't strangled by aggressive regulation. It's just a simple fact of the way the system works.

The bronco sport will have more mass appeal and will help keep the overall MPG numbers for the brand up. The non sport Broncos are going to be more niche and targeted in their audience, whereas the Sport will be something that anybody can daily drive. Sure, you won't see any off roaders buying the Sport, but how many drivers out there are actually off roaders?

 

I dont generally get too worked up about new vehicle releases. Even less so about car manufacturers 're-releasing' a retired vehicle. Overall it seems like hyped up vehicle releases over the last 20 years have been a disappointment. Occasionally there is an exception. Maybe this will be one. However I'm already disappointed that ford has chosen one model to compete with the Jeep and this sport thing that looks like a less capable subaru.

 

This^^. The Sport is no different than other suv's in its class. I never liked any of the Broncos after 77. Series II was a joke, and the full sized Bronco wasn't much better. Too big. The Blazer wasn't impressive at all as a 4wheeler. Especially in sand or mud. Horrible actually. Not in the same class as the early pre 78 Bronco, Scout II, and CJ's.

 

The new Sport was not made to compete with Jeep Wrangler. Check out the new models that will compete with the Jeep. Post #25

 

I wasn't trying to imply that. I hope ford designers could see that wasn't going to work. Lol! I'm disappointed that ford is using one name plate 'bronco' to take on the jeep and also much lesser capable vehicles at the same time. Maybe they could rebrand that sport model the 'Shetland'.

 

Except the name alone will sell them. It's the same reason that there are V6 Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers, etc. and the auto transmission 'Vettes and the like. It's all about selling them. No auto company gives 2 f**ks about offending or irritating hardcore niche buyers. No automaker cares about what you, me, or any other individual wants. They care what the statistics and numbers say are going to sell. Look at the Supra. Ultra polarizing how the 2020+ was done, BUT they aren't struggling to sell every one they make. Supra diehards are RHEEEEing in the streets, and the new Supras are rolling by with no f**ks to give.

The only place you will find the kind of internal brand integrity you are asking for is going to be in ultra high price specialist vehicles. Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Lamborgini, but no mass market automaker can afford to be that much of a purist.

 

Remember Jeep is a brand with several iterations now of the Wrangler and other lesser suv's with Jeep badging.

 

yup, the Bronco sport definitely competes with the lower end (car based) Jeeps like the compass, renegade and base cherokee

 

The Sport reminds me of the Subaru Forester and probably targeted to those buyers for sure.

 

Azure posited pics, thank you. I didn’t want to be taking pics of someone’s vehicle in public in today’s world without their permission. That’s when you become the “creepy guy taking pictures of vehicles in public” on Facebook....

 

Your right, and I get it. Just seems like this takes it to a new level. It's not just a watered down version of the same vehicle, it looks like a different model. Personally I think Ford is one of the worst when it comes to releasing watered down models to affect marketing stats. Ex. The F150.

IMO I think that Jeep can be added to that list of mfg with that internal integrity. The Compass and the Renegade don't share a model distinction with their offroad counterparts.
Either way I didnt mean to hijack this thread. Just my opinions. When Ford says they are going to take on the Jeep, I bet most people assume they are talking about capability, not just sales numbers. I'm sure they will make a killing in the market. Your right people will buy it so they can say they have a new 'bronco'.

 

No worries about hijacking. This is good fun. I would say Jeep walks a fine line on the integrity part. They've diluted the Wrangler with longer wheelbase 4 door variants to appease the mall crawler crowd just like everybody else. It's not as blatant as the Bronco to be sure, but it is there to a degree. Just MO though.

 

"The Compass and the Renegade don't share a model distinction with their offroad counterparts." Sort of . They both can get the laughable Trail Rated badging that the much more capable Wranglers get. You might want to read up more on the new non Sport Bronco's capabilities although not a fan of the Ecoboost

https://www.fourwheeler.com/news/2021-ford-bronco-off-road-specs/

 

Sport specs. Will definitely compete with the Forester, easily. https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a34886203/2021-ford-bronco-sport-badlands-drive/

 

Can't speak toward the Compass, but I had a Renegade Trailhawk with those "laughable" badges. It was way more capable than I though it would be. It handled a Wyoming winter that had my WRX locked down for 6 months. I blasted through snow over it's hood a few times. Also, a reviewer took it over Black Bear Pass in Colorado. Would I buy one as an off roader? Hell no. But will it get 90% of the people where they want to go? Yes, yes it will. It was a great little 4x4 grocery getter. Easy to park, comfortable, and could still get to some fishing holes. I actually miss that little rig, and kinda wish I had kept it.

 

I can actually visualize a Trailhawk making it over Black Bear. The super tight switchbacks would be a piece of cake with such a short wheelbase. I should have referred to the Compass only. The old Patriot left a lot to be desired too.

 

Had an ‘06 Grand Cherokee that was tons of fun. One of those we regretted getting rid of. Wife cried when we did.

 

So i finally saw a new bronco on the road. What a pathetic remake of a classic. A person with poor vision wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a new bronco and a jeep renegade (womans car).

The new bronco was designed for teenage girls who surf, thats about it

 

I take it you saw the Sport version?

 

The one of the left reminds me of the Jeep Renegade and will be driven primarily by women.

 

Rumor has it OJ was first on the list for a new bronco..

 

Yes the small one

 

Looks like a Range Rover to me.

 

Just FYI...the Bronco Sport shares the platform as the Ford Escape. That is why it looks so small and puny. I'm sure when the "real" full size Bronco is released, it will be much more impressive.