Road test: Ford Bronco Wildtrak
After a 25-year absence from the rugged terrain segment, Ford is renewing its icon.
Test for the only vehicle in Israel capable of challenging the Jeep Wrangler;
Will Bronco 2022 live up to expectations?
Written and photographed by Rami Gilboa.
Participated and led by: Joy Byrne
19/01/2022
Wednesday, 19 January, 2022, 23:00 Updated: 23:02
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Ford Bronco recreates the embers of the rugged terrain, ready for battle with Jeep Wrangler (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
There are usually no major revolutions in the surface world, but the last two years have done us a favor;
About two years ago the all-new Defender was launched, electric SUVs buzzing on the horizon and today we go out on a test with the successor of the ancient Bronco.
Contrary to the urbanization trend that has been gnawing at us in recent years, Ford has realized the huge potential of a rugged SUV;
With bridal eyes her managers saw how a jeep sells hundreds of thousands of wranglers, and decided to re-release her winning horse into the meadow.
Examiner's Joy Byrne:
Despite the huge buzz that accompanied the arrival of the new Bronco, everyone's so much interest in the new vehicle, and because of my love for the Jeep brand, I did not look forward to it.
More on Walla!
Ford Bronco "Hennessy": 405 horses in the field
To the full article
The design is charming and nostalgic, the doors and roof are detachable, the 35 tires give it a combat pose (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
We took the Wildtrak version to the test, which is supposed to compete with the Jeep Rubicon.
This is not the toughest version of the Bronco, but it is the model that arrives in Israel with 35-inch tires, which we wanted to test.
The Badlands version is tougher, but it only arrives in Israel with 33-inch tires.
The Wildtrak test car costs NIS 450,000 before additions, but there are cheaper versions, starting at NIS 405,000.
The price of Bronco 3 doors starts at NIS 385,000.
Sounds insanely expensive to you for a car that is supposed to wallow in the mud?
You're right but calm down, Wrangler also costs similar amounts, and even a Land Cruiser.
The front is very unique, a nice combination of headlights 'as before' and LED technology (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
From the outside
The Ford Bronco is a 4.83-foot-tall vehicle with a curb weight of 2,400 pounds.
The nostalgic façade boasts round headlights, with LED lighting integrated in the inscription BRONCO.
The square bow rises to a height, I loved the metal folds on the sides of the hood.
I'm less excited about the black anchor hooks designed to stretch "jungle cables" in favor of a trip to the Amazon.
Looking sideways we discover a square vehicle with huge 35-inch tires.
Like the arch-rival from Jeep, here too the doors and roof can be dismantled;
I was happy to dismantle the roof and enjoy the winter sun but the truth?
It's rare to see someone dismantling Wrangler's doors, and it does not seem to me that language would be different.
The clumsy Bronco has a very impressive arrival effect, certainly in the "camel-tropical" mustard color of the test vehicle.
It is large, combining historical elements and modern polishing, transmitting a distinct space atmosphere.
The square chassis preserves the roots of the ancient Bronco.
The roof is a paid option (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
Bronco Wildtrack's 35-inch tires have another importance, beyond the increased off-road capabilities.
This is the first time in history that an SUV comes here with such large tires, officially and neatly.
No more combos and tricks, no fear of offenders ... This is a great innovation in the Israeli landscape, the uniformed blues will start to get used to the look and who knows, maybe a little dam will open on the idea that SUVs can lock tires in different sizes?
The quality of the assembly and materials, is not perfect.
The switches and levers are easy to use, the main screen is excellent (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
living space
The cabin is spacious and up-to-date, you immediately feel that this is an all-new vehicle. The dashboard is designed in straight modern lines, you will not find sensual curves here. At its center is a 12-inch multimedia monitor with handy apps, 360-degree cameras, and full connectivity. The shelf under the front window has niches for placing small items, charging sockets, and control switches for the differential locks and other space functions. Adjacent to the ceiling are six sockets for connecting external accessories (lighting, public address, camping, etc.). Large physical switches allow easy control of the sound and air conditioner. The dashboard includes an analog speedometer, and an 8-inch monitor with a strange design - small RPM Intuitive, miniature fuel gauge, it does not fit into a knotted SUV. The padding materials look good but are simple and relatively cheap to the touch and feel, certainly in a vehicle that is close to half a million shekels. There are plenty of storage compartments but I lacked massive grip handles, that of the passenger is not solid.
Plenty of storage space and charging sockets. Human engineering is generally good, despite falls such as the placement of the handbrake switch (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
The leather seats are good and spacious, providing a high seating position with a ‘dead pedal’ to the driver’s left leg. The view out is not good; The front window is relatively low, as is the rear. The hood limits visibility to the outside, and the jungle hooks do not help here - although they do help to know where the corners of the vehicle are. For the benefit of the driver comes an array of 360-degree cameras, which project what is happening near the front wheels.
The space in the back is excellent, with plenty of charging points. The back seat backrest is too upright for my liking, I would have been happy with an increased range of motion. The trunk is square and large; Piles of equipment can be loaded into it, and fastened with four metal hooks. The test vehicle was fitted with a coffee shelf and a pull-out drawer, these are two of the dozens of paid options, with the help of which the Bronco can be adapted to the customer's taste. The After Market is not developed enough yet, but it will start to swell, as soon as the first dedications begin in the US. Customers in Israel receive a gift of a basic, nice rescue kit.
The rear seat is spacious, although the backrest is too upright (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
Under the shell
The Bronco is based on the configuration of the "Ranger" van, which includes a ladder chassis, a live rear axle and independent suspensions.
The front independent suspensions give clear priority to road customs, refinement and stability.
They are less suitable for extreme offenses but the Ford people have decided that this is the right compromise, suitable for 2022.
In the end, even the toughest Jeep spends most of its time on the road and the front suspension gaps largely compensate for the differential locks and disconnect the stabilizer bar.
The differential lock switches are easy to operate, well positioned.
There are also 2 charging sockets for road cameras, speed detectors and other external accessories (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
In front is a supercharged 2.7-liter gasoline engine in a V6 configuration, which provides 330 hp at 5,250 rpm. More importantly, it delivers a massive 57.4 kg already at 3,100 rpm. Coupled with a 10-speed gearbox, the dual-supercharged engine easily handles the Bronco's curb weight. Light pressure on the gas and the Bronco leaps forward - the acceleration is strong and immediate, the rpm is low, 0-100 passes in less than 7 seconds, we really liked it. The engine continues to push to speeds of road six, foreign sources report over 160 km / h without blink. The power unit is excellent and exciting, and the price is paid at the gas station; In challenging driving on the Arad-Sodom road, we burned a liter of gasoline every 4 kilometers, but it also knows how to be more economical: in normal long-distance driving, fuel consumption ranges from 6.5 to 9 kilometers per liter.
The 10-speed gearbox is not nimble but it functions well.
The control is done using a small switch on the gear lever, I did not like.
The GOAT system offers a choice of six driving modes: normal, sporty, economical, dune, 'slippery' and 'baja'.
In the Bronco 'Bedlands' there is also a 'rock crawling' mode, and a stabilizing rod detachment.
The Bronco 2022 offers the required safety systems - autonomous braking and active lane keeping, dead space monitoring, accident avoidance system, adaptive cruise control.
Oversized spare wheel, suspended at the rear.
The Bronco feels great in the field, and also on the highway (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
Road customs
You wouldn’t expect a Jamus space that locks 35-inch tires to give full refinement on the road, but the Bronco is surprisingly good.
The independent suspensions absorb the road disruptions well, the body's inclination in turns and braking is not excessive;
We sit on long-stroke suspensions, oversized AT tires and a high center of gravity, but the road behavior is perfectly reasonable.
It's not a Land Cruiser or Grand Cherokee, but the independent suspension and steering wheel comb provide precise steering, in terms of SUV.
The transfer case allows driving a road in a 2x4 rear, or 4x4 with an open central differential.
The electronic switch sometimes delays in switching between modes, it's not fun but not terrible.
Despite a clear terrain orientation, the Bronco is pleasant and safe on the road as well.
Much thanks to the independent suspensions (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
The main problem with road driving is loud wind noises coming from the detachable roof, at any three-digit speed.
A freak body is a nice thing, but it also has a price - in terms of noise level, vibration, durability.
Ford is about to apply a 'recall' to the current fiberglass roofs, assuming they will be quieter down the road.
Between us - the noise is not terrible, get used to it.
When traveling in the city, the Bronco offers good ride comfort, thanks to the soft suspensions and the 35-inch tires.
Entrance to the parking lot, maneuvers in the alleys of Tel Aviv - not bad, you can get used to everything, it's good to have cameras.
The independent suspensions and a steering wheel comb greatly refine the behavior of the Bronco, it is reminiscent of a less tough urban jeep (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
Going down the path
But all of this is meaningless in the face of the exciting moment when we descend to the dune with an entirely new SUV, lowering air pressure to 24, and incorporating a 4X4. The first few miles are very happy - the soft suspensions get assistance from a large tire at low air pressure, providing excellent ride comfort. The Bronco is very comfortable in calm and sporty driving, it does not hit you, and maintains excellent contact with the ground. In fast turns and ground waves he sways quite a bit but always in control, never too tough. This is joined by the excellent engine, and brakes with ABS adapted to the terrain. We quickly dismantled the roof, and enjoyed a great off-road experience.
Joy Byrne:
In a matter of minutes - and the roof over the driver and passenger disappear into the storage compartment at the back - into a dedicated bag. And the world shines on me. how fun. In an instant, the SUV becomes a pure pan-vehicle, connecting passengers to nature - urban or real. For me, this is one of the coolest features in an SUV - regardless of its dynamic capabilities.
A short belly wash refreshes us, at the end of a day a delightful area (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
The narrow paths of their grove illustrated to us the great width of the Bronco, over two feet.
Maneuvering is not simple, between races and branches.
The steering wheel comb does not transmit vibrations to the steering wheel but it is difficult for the passenger on the right to stabilize himself, with grip handles that are not optimally positioned.
The shaky path revealed slight creaks from the roof (not terrible), and some freedom in the side windows;
I would tie this to the beginning of the production series.
Ford has dedicated the Bronco to Hard Core off-road work and the question is, how will the independent suspensions cope with challenging technical transitions?
The large tires and body angles benefit with it, not to mention the meaty engine.
His relative weakness comes from the independent suspensions that give less stroke than a live axle, like that of Wrangler.
Joy Byrne:
I can state unequivocally that I think this is the most comfortable serial SUV in the field.
Joy relishes the precise control of the Bronco.
The giant tires are of great importance, but the 33 and 32-inch versions will also move here, easily (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
The 35th Club
I'm not used to driving a car with 35-inch tires, and the experience was very impressive.
It is said that "a big tire, reduces an obstacle" and indeed, the clumsy Bronco climbed with contempt rock steps and difficult passages.
The transfer ratios are short enough for a slow and controlled crawl.
It is possible to run the business with the right foot, but there is also a 'crawl control' that allows you to select the speed of progress (above 1.6 km / h), and it will remain stable and consistent. That would dismantle any urban SUV (Cruiser, Jimny, Discovery / Defender, Rexton, or 4X4 pickup)
Joy Byrne:
The Bronco has proven that even though theory says one thing, reality shows otherwise.
Despite the limited suspension travel up front - and indeed not one of the most impressive I have encountered, the combination of data - wheelbase, tire diameter, option for lateral locks - all of these, allow Bronco to swing wheels impressively, but for one moment, do not delay or stop it.
And I'm a fan of rigid axles - both in my Jeep and in the Patrol, and yes, I understand and know the importance of a large suspension move, and mechanical robustness and technical offense that demands all of these ... But, for the first time, I came across a tool that is not equipped with the required data, This, not only does he not stop in the face of obstacles, but does not even linger over them.
Parking at the side of the road (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
The rear axle has an excellent suspension move but the front triangles are less generous, and the front wheels are quick to detach from the ground. We also found that the traction control is not one of the best available - it is less accurate than that of the Jeep or Land Rover, but allows progress on a bumpy path and steep ascents. When the control loses control, two lateral locks, the ultimate weapon for offenses, settle to the aid of the bronchi.
With cross-haired crosses, the Bronco waved its wheels, even in a super-slow crawl. The theoretical inferiority of the independent suspensions was hardly expressed in the field, including in difficult passages. Those looking for extreme offenses will surely reach the limits of the Bronco grip - in the end, a four-tire grip is more effective than a three-tire grip. Where is the step that will overwhelm the Bronco, and not the Rubicon? The answer will come in a comparative test, whose time is yet to come.
Joy Byrne:
And when the breast protrudes, and the right leg feels free, the fast driving in Brocco turns out to be easy and easily controlled.
Again, the combination of the suspension system and the large tires, allow for exceptional driving comfort and safety.
Here, too, the weight of the bronco is evident, and the great mass is felt in every face.
Requires reference and attention.
It's not a rally car, it's more of a very fast truck.
For our benefit, the engine and the precise gearbox are also harnessed, providing available power at all times - a great pleasure.
The design of the dashboard is not friendly, the RPM and travel speed are not noticeable. To my surprise, it is impossible to change the display (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
The Bronco has an innovative trail turn assist that absorbs a rear-inner wheel, at a very tight turn.
It allows you to walk almost "on the spot", great for grove trails with 180 degree turns.
After a two-day test in very diverse terrain conditions, our answer is clear - the Ford Bronco offers an excellent offense that should suffice for any trip seeker, who does not seek to shatter the most extreme offense obstacles.
He will also contemptuously swallow summer dunes, small on him.
An exciting addition to the SUV segment, in Israel and around the world (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
Returning to the big city
The Bronco gave us great pleasure for the desert trails but in the end, had to return home.
The first encounter with the Ford Bronco was excellent, giving new hope to off-roaders.
Among us, this is the vehicle that should have introduced the Land Rover as a replacement for the Defender, but the British chose to go for a more luxurious and urban azimuth.
Ford personnel placed a cross on the target and created an excellent SUV, which provides comfort and safety on the road as well.
Bingo!
In an extended look we will tell you that Bronco also has a young and urban brother, the crossover 'Bronco Sport'.
The piping also breeds a Bronco 'Raptor' on 37-inch wheels, and a serious off-road van.
The hood is reminiscent of a baseball field;
It looks very good, but slightly limits the view out (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
Forty Broncos arrived in the country in the first shipment, and were sold in the blink of an eye.
There is currently no forecast for another shipment, demand in the US is completely hysterical. We welcome the Bronco's joining the miniature market segment of rugged SUVs; Worth the wait.Thanks
to
Dudi Moskowitz Image Photography
for helping prepare the article
It should have been the new Defender, here in a classic "Tropical Camel" pose (Photo: Rami Gilboa)
On the technical side: the Ford Bronco Wildtrack
Engine, propulsion:
supercharged gasoline 2,694 cc, dual propulsion for road and
power / rpm (3 hp):
330 / 5,250
torque / rpm (5 kg):
57.4 / 3,100
gearbox:
automatic, 10 gears
Acceleration 0-100 (seconds):
about 6.8 seconds (unofficial)
Maximum speed (km / h):
161
Long-distance fuel consumption Test (km / h):
7.0
Offenses:
2x4, 4X4 propulsion, power transmission, controlled differential lock , Traction control, Cruise control for the terrain, Rotation 'on the spot'
Length (cm):
482.6
Width (cm):
201.5
Height (cm):
191.1
Wheelbase (cm):
295
Trunk volume ( Liters):
1008
ventral spacing (cm):
29.2
Access / departure angle (degrees):
43.2 / 37
Tires:
315 / 70R17 Net
weight (kg):
2,396
General competitors:
Toyota Land Cruiser, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, Land Rover Defender
Price: NIS 450,000
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Tags
Ford
SUV
Area
4x4
Delek Motors