The Ford Bronco doesn’t exactly have a long heritage in the Philippines. Which is why it’s amazing that there’s clamor for this off-roader. Perhaps it’s the marketing hype or its throwback design, but this four-wheel drive horse has somehow resonated with local consumers.
But what used to be on the wishlist is now in the country. Launched back in May 2024, it marked the first time the Bronco would be for sale in the Philippines officially. We’ve tried it around the lahar beds of Sacobia already which was quite the experience, to say the least.
It was designed as an off-roader from the get-go, but the modern 4x4 shouldn’t just excel on the rough. These days, consumers want a good amount of tech and comfort, even if the Bronco is so clearly intended to be a trail hunter.
We recently spent a week with this beast, and we can confirm once and for all if it’s a great all-rounder or a one-trick pony.
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Styling
One can say that Ford has nailed the ‘retrofuturism’ design philosophy. The all-new Bronco takes cues from the original version that came out in 1965, and we can say with confidence that Ford did a great job bringing that classic look for the 2020s.
It’s retro without looking kitsch, which is often a trap retro-themed cars can easily fall into. One can tell it’s a modern vehicle with its pedestrian-friendly bumpers (sort of), LED lighting, and wide side mirrors. At the same time, the round headlights and generally boxy exterior are an ode to the mid-’60s.
What we have here is the Outer Banks model with the Sasquatch Package. In essence, it takes the butch-looking exterior and beefs it up even further. The result? A wider suspension track, higher ride clearance raised to a whopping 292mm, meaty mud terrain tires, and a set of 17-inch beadlock-ready wheels. Suffice to say it almost doesn’t need any more aftermarket add-ons. Almost.
The thing is, the Outer Banks Sasquatch Package goes beyond cosmetics. We’ll get to that a little later.
Interior
The retro theme carries on inside. Remember the days when dashboards were short and barely had any surface area on top? The new Bronco emulates that, complete with a flat and wide dash fascia. If you take time to Google images of the 1978 Bronco’s interior (the second-generation), you’ll see a passing resemblance to it.
Of course, it’s been thoroughly modernized with a whopping great center touchscreen and a fully digital instrument cluster. The dash top, while short for a modern vehicle, is enough to accommodate several dividers, boosting its practicality. It also comes with auxiliary toggle switches on the ceiling for, er, auxiliary items such as additional lights and winches.
But what amused us is its off-road oriented ergonomics. For instance, the differential lockers can be activated via buttons on the dash top. It’s not like other four-wheel drive Ford models wherein the driver is forced to dig through submenus. Also, basic radio controls and climate control functions are accessed via buttons and dials. It’s a refreshing sight as we’ve been experiencing way too much screen fatigue in modern cars.
For an SUV this long and wide, we were honestly expecting more room inside the Bronco. As a friend of ours put it, it’s all fender and not much on interior space. There’s no problem at the front, although there’s noticeably less legroom at the back compared to, say, an Everest. Funnily enough, the Bronco rides on an extensively modified Everest and Ranger chassis.
Cargo space is also smaller than the Everest’s. On the flip side, it’s still large enough to swallow a month’s worth of groceries and baby-related items. The floor is flat and wide, making the most out of area.
Engine performance
No puny four-cylinder here. The Philippine-spec Bronco is powered by a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 EcoBoost engine. It’s good for 330hp and 563Nm of torque, easily making this the most powerful Ranger-based Ford product in the country.
It pulls strong, that’s for sure. Ford claims this SUV can hit 100kph in the mid six-second range, which felt believable during its time with us. It’s not bad considering the Bronco is far from a flyweight and has to overcome the mass of those blocky mud terrain tires. Also, its 10-speed transmission felt smooth and seamless in its shifts. We didn’t experience any jerky behavior whether we were around the city, on the highway, and off-road.
What surprised us was its fuel economy. It’s no fuel sipper by any means, but considering it’s a gas-fed twin-turbo V6 that weighs 2.3 tons, a result of 5.1 km/L in city driving is commendable. We observed 12.1km/L on the highway and 9.3km/L in mixed conditions. Factor in its blocky aerodynamics and heavy tires, one can see why we could say it’s relatively efficient.
Ride and handling
We had the privilege of being able to test the Bronco on and off-road. For its on-road characteristics, the next sentence might come as a surprise. We could feel a bit of Ranger and Everest DNA in the Bronco. The steering is light and it actually handles well on pavement considering it’s made for the rough stuff. We can best describe the ride as being slightly firmer the Everest but softer than a Ranger.
Despite appearances, the Bronco is well-behaved and composed on the road. It doesn’t clumsily wander around on the expressway, and it tracks straight and true at higher cruising speeds. Dare we say it, we wouldn’t mind going long distances with it.
But it’s on the dirt is where the Bronco truly shines. Okay, the firm setup can jar the occupants from time to time, but the body stays relatively level even on the rough stuff. One always feels that it stays planted on the surface, never giving the driver any nasty surprises.
If there’s one thing we didn’t like about it, it’s the overzealous traction control and stability control. It’s never truly off and comes down like a hammer when it thinks you’re going a little too fast on the dirt. Of course, honing on public roads is a no-no, but it won’t let us have a little bit of extra fun on a wide lahar bed.
Extra features
The main even here is the Sasquatch Package. We mentioned the lifted suspension and wider wheel track, but it goes beyond that. It has something called HOSS, short for High-performance Off-road Stability Suspension.
The dampers are care of Bilstien, and we can attest that these work well on and off-road. Hardcore off-roaders will also like the fact that it has three locking differentials. Yes, it has diff lockers at the front, center, and rear. It’s then aided by its terrain management system dubbed GOAT Modes, short for Goes Over Any Terrain. It includes Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, and Sand.
Other neat features? Trail turn assist locks the inside wheel when pulling a U-turn in tight spots. However, that feature should only be used on loose surfaces. There’s also off-road cruise control that allows for one pedal driving for better pedal modulation on bumpy tracks and trails. We tried them all out and, well, everything we mentioned here works.
One of the highlights of the Bronco is its removable doors and roof panels. We didn’t dare try to strip off those panels, but Ford claims those bits can fit inside the cabin so these don’t have to be left behind. That said, we did experience a leak around the driver’s side. It was resolved by taking the front left roof panel off and refitting it.
As for other noteworthy features, there’s a 220V power outlet, power seats, wireless charging, and rubber mats for easy hose-down cleaning after a day of off-roading. It also comes equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.
Verdict
Locally, the Bronco retails for P4,998,000, so it isn’t what anyone would call affordable. It does pack a whole heap of off-road features, and you get a vehicle that’s capable on just about any surface.
But perhaps the best thing about it is its duality. The compromises are kept to a minimum, so it’s great at what it’s set out to do (be an off-roader) while being legitimately easy to live with.
So, to answer the question earlier, this bucking Bronco is far from being a one-trick pony.
SPECS: 2024 Ford Bronco Outer Banks Sasquatch Package
Price: P4,998,000
Engine: 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6
Power: 350hp
Torque: 563Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Layout: 4WD
Seating: 5
Score: 9/10
More photos of the Ford Bronco 2024:
