Car Vrum

Jeep has the Wrangler, Land Rover has the Defender, Mercedes has the G-class. And Ford has had the Ford Bronco since 2020, but initially it would not come to the Netherlands. At the beginning of this year we asked Ford what the plans were and got this answer: “For the time being, we have to rely on gray imports.” But the Bronco will still come to Germany and the Netherlands at the end of 2023, as a four-door and in limited edition.

Ladder chassis and rigid rear axle

The big Ford Bronco show, of course, starts as you enter the site from the public road. Enable all programs that enable off-road driving – including low gearing – and you can drive to the end of the world. The only thing stopping you from doing that is an empty tank. Unlike the SUV-like Bronco Sport, the Bronco has a ladder chassis and a rigid rear axle. Basically, only the rear wheels are driven, but you can also switch on the front wheels via a rotary knob on the center tunnel.

Just like the Jeep Wrangler

The Bronco has numerous riding programs, such as Goat mode, which transforms him from a wild horse into a mountain goat. Rocky trails, loose sand, snow: the Bronco can handle it all. On top of the instrument panel, there’s a button that engages the differential lock, making it even easier for the driver to worry about getting stuck.

Never be stuck with your car knowledge again?

You can, if you receive our weekly newsletter for free, with the latest news about the Bronco.

You can rebuild the Bronco – just like a Jeep Wrangler – in many ways. In the US you can order it as a two-door, with a roof that consists of three removable parts. Only the four-door Bronco comes to the Netherlands and has four removable roof parts, which you remove by clicking the clips loose. You can also remove the side panels. If that’s not enough, you can remove the styleless doors and get the ultimate outdoor feeling. You can take them on board.

Bronco with four-cylinder or V6

At the beginning of 2022, we drove a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder (270 hp), which we know from the Mustang. There is also a V6 with a capacity of 2.7 liters, which is also equipped with a turbo. But regardless of its power, the Ford Bronco never becomes a sports car. Even the V6, in combination with the ten-speed automatic transmission, comes into its own much better with a quiet driving style and can only be tempted with difficulty on the asphalt to speeds of 160 km/h.

After 300 miles of poorly maintained California roads, you’ll feel broken like John Wayne after a drive across the Great Plains. The Bronco resists tight corners with all his might. The contrast with the terrain could not be greater: there is hardly a better car there, but on asphalt we would have liked to exchange the Bronco for that other horse, the Mustang.

Electric Ford Bronco?

The Bronco will probably also come on the market in the Netherlands with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost or the 2.7-liter V6, with a small chance of a plug-in hybrid and even an electric version. According to Auto Zeitung Ford has even made plans for an all-electric version through Mike Levine, director of Product Communications North America. It would use the same technology as the Ford Mustang Mach-E.

It is not yet clear how much the Bronco will cost in the Netherlands. However, we can report the American price. The new Bronco costs 30,800 euros in the United States, a bargain for this Mustang for the rough work.