2023 Ford Bronco

What's new New Heritage and Heritage Limited Edition appearance packages debut Part of the sixth Bronco generation introduced for 2021 Overview From the Toyota RAV4 Adventure to the Honda Passport TrailSport and Chevrolet Trailblazer Activ, the big trend these days is a crossover that looks like it has off-road ability even if that's not necessarily the case. But what if you actually do need an SUV that can crawl over rocks, traverse muddy terrain and keep you riding high on the dunes? You might want to consider the 2023 Ford Bronco.   Now in its third year of production, the new Bronco is a truck-based SUV that's designed for off-roading. It's got four-wheel drive, plenty of ground clearance, and many available hardware add-ons to keep you moving over rough terrain. It even 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. Not much has changed for the 2023 edition of the Bronco, but buyers this year do have the option of selecting between two new retro-inspired Heritage Edition models (full details here).  The standard Heritage Edition builds off the Big Bend model with the Sasquatch package, then adds a white roof and grille, plus unique wheels and plaid cloth upholstery. The Heritage Limited Edition is similar but uses the Badlands as a starting point and has a few special exterior details, along with leather/vinyl upholstery. Only 1,966 examples of each body style two-door and four-door will be produced. Ford has also announced a new Bronco DR (for Desert Racer) but this appears to be a $250,000 V8-powered race truck and not something you'll be able to go pick up at your local Ford dealer and drive on the street. Regardless, we're impressed with the Bronco's strong off-road capability and consider it a great rival to the Jeep Wrangler, Toyota 4Runner and Land Rover Defender. Read our test team's Expert Rating to learn more about the Bronco's biggest hits and misses. What's it like to live with? We got our hands on a 2021 Ford Bronco First Edition and are excited to spend 20,000 miles with it in our long-term review fleet. We're putting the Bronco through its paces and reporting on what it's like to live with and how reliable it is. Check out our experiences with our Ford Bronco First Edition here.   Performance 7.5/10 How does the Bronco drive? Whether you stick with the turbo four-cylinder or opt for the turbo V6, the Bronco has sufficient and smooth power for daily driving with a quick-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission. The extra oomph from the V6 makes on-ramps and short merges easier and more fun, and the V6 Bronco reaches 60 mph from a standstill in 7.3 seconds, an average showing considering the big tires and four-door configuration. Jumping hard on the brakes produces plenty of nosedive normal for off-road SUVs though emergency stopping distances were much longer than we'd like. From 60 mph, a panic stop took 146 feet we typically see that kind of distance with heavy-duty pickup trucks. It should be noted that our test Bronco was equipped with the Sasquatch off-road package and its rugged tires, but other Broncos we've tested with less aggressive rubber only stopped a mere 10 feet shorter that's still longer than we'd like to see. The real star is the steering. Thanks to an independent front suspension, the Bronco's steering wheel relays confidence and stability to its driver at freeway speeds. While you shouldn't expect excitement on curvy roads, you'll appreciate that the steering on long-distance drives won't leave you fatigued. Comfort 7.5/10 How comfortable is the Bronco? While far from a luxury vehicle, the Bronco is more comfortable on the road than an equivalent Jeep Wrangler, its most direct competitor. The Bronco's seats feature better support and enough adjustments to reduce fatigue on long freeway drives. A truck-based construction means the ride is a bit firmer and bouncier than in other SUVs