2026 Bronco Badlands - First Impressions (and Changes vs. 2023 Badlands)

[redskunkape]

well now I feel dumb, I'm paying extra for the black appearance package because I figured the extra $500 for black rims was worth it if I already wanted the shadow black top and a black painted grill. just found out about the order guide. Looks like I just paid to downgrade to painted steel rims. Those grey rims in the shop&build looked bad. The rims on your badlands look great!

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[PixelPeepin]

Hi everyone!

Picked up our 2026 Avalanche Grey 4dr Badlands non-Squatch Lux on Friday and I thought I would share some interesting findings after spending a couple days with it. Not sure what all has been covered or is common knowledge but just wanted to share some year model changes for anyone that may find it useful.

I am coming from a 2023 Badlands 2dr with similar spec so that's kind of my reference point.

• Wheels / Tires

First off I am really happy with the new wheels. When I ordered, the B&P showed the old wheel design in carbonized grey. So I was curious to see what it would actually arrive with when the tracker updated to the new style around Christmas. The spoke is similar to the Mustang GTD wheels. Offset is now +40mm, down from +55mm so the stance is for sure a little beefed up compared to '25. They may be labeled as Carbonized Grey but they are just black. I was a little surprised to see the Territory RTs. I didn't notice, but RT is what's listed on the order sheet.
Wheel / Tire combo weight is 76.8lbs

• Flares

From what I can infer, due to reduced wheel offset and wider stance it appears as though all '26 Badlands will get the wider SAS fender flares. Curious to see how other trims and specs turn out.

• A-pillar handles

Nice addition. They feel super solid although ergonomically kind of blocky.

• Mirror turn indicator/ zone lights deleted and associated manual switch

Looks like they removed the integrated turn signals/ zone lights from all mirrors except from Raptor (based on a half-assed B&P review, if you trust the photos) I thought it was a nice feature and losing them is not great if you like to plan ahead and order color matched mirror caps

Thus there is no physical button for the lateral mirror zone lights
Personally, I thought the mirror lights on the dash switch was a nice touch and surprisingly useful. Having to go through the touchscreen for all zone lighting is not my favorite thing.

• Homelink Universal Garage Opener missing

It's listed as part of the Lux Package so sure seems as though I should have the visor mounted Homelink universal garage door opener. I will have to reach out for Ford on this one. Don't know if it got dropped or what. Im interested to see if other models still have it.

• Touch points

This is a bit subjective but the touch points don't seem as nice as our '23. The shift nob is a pretty cheap feeling plastic compared to the leather we had. Door inserts don't seem quite as nice, center grab handle has a more textured surface. It feels more utilitarian. Not bad, just not as nice fwiw.

• Double honk key alert

Double honk after closing door while the vehicle is running without a key is a selectable feature in the settings menu. This might be my favorite thing. I hated that so much and nice to be able to switch off without Forscan.

Nothing too riveting but some noticeable changes. Overall we are enjoying the new addition and looking forward to some adventures this summer.

Fantastic post. I really appreciated the level of detail you provided on many of the often overlooked aspects of the vehicle. I have two questions if you find time to answer:

1. I noticed in the official order guide, listed immediately beneath the "high clearance fender flares" element that you highlighted, that is also lists "HOSS 2.0 Off-Road Suspension with Rear Bilstein Position Sensitive Dampers"

Are you able to confirm if your 2026 Non-Sas Badlands has the position sensitive dampers on both the front & rear, or just the rear?

2. Do you happen to have any additional pictures from the direct front, or possible slightly off-center front of the '26 model? I'm curious to see how the 33" tires look with those high clearance fender flares.

I personally dislike the size of the high clearance flares even with the sas package, so the fact they put them on the non-sas models irks me given how expense they are to replace with standard flares. I don't understand why they couldn't just keep the same wheel offset as prior years, or create slightly wider standard flares to compensate. The high clearance flares extend past the width of the tire and look a bit goofy imo, but perhaps some front pics would help ease my opinion.

The bilstein question is more important since those are harder and more expensive to replace than flares, but I appreciate any info you can share. Congrats on the new ride amigo, hope to have mine delivered sometime in Q2.

 

[Reese]

Fantastic post. I really appreciated the level of detail you provided on many of the often overlooked aspects of the vehicle. I have two questions if you find time to answer:

1. I noticed in the official order guide, listed immediately beneath the "high clearance fender flares" element that you highlighted, that is also lists "HOSS 2.0 Off-Road Suspension with Rear Bilstein Position Sensitive Dampers"

Are you able to confirm if your 2026 Non-Sas Badlands has the position sensitive dampers on both the front & rear, or just the rear?

2. Do you happen to have any additional pictures from the direct front, or possible slightly off-center front of the '26 model? I'm curious to see how the 33" tires look with those high clearance fender flares.

I personally dislike the size of the high clearance flares even with the sas package, so the fact they put them on the non-sas models irks me given how expense they are to replace with standard flares. I don't understand why they couldn't just keep the same wheel offset as prior years, or create slightly wider standard flares to compensate. The high clearance flares extend past the width of the tire and look a bit goofy imo, but perhaps some front pics would help ease my opinion.

The bilstein question is more important since those are harder and more expensive to replace than flares, but I appreciate any info you can share. Congrats on the new ride amigo, hope to have mine delivered sometime in Q2.

I’m going through that right now with the fender flares. And I don’t like the offset either. That’s just my opinion, but it looks like your opinion is the same. I do not understand why they had to do a high clearance flare on both the sas and non sas. And now I’m left with making a decision which way to go. Or if at all. I’ve seen so many two doors with a 33 and many four door with the 33s and 35 and it just doesn’t do it for me.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

It’s been said here before: 2DRs need 35s, 4DRs need 37s, otherwise the proportions just look off.

 

[Imaginary Friend]

Fortunately there will continue to be sources of parts for those of us who prefer older, non-connected stuff. Two of the openers are 20 years old and the only reason one isn't older is that the garage expansion didn't occur earlier.

But hell, I still enjoy audio in the house that includes CD's instead of an app.

Ditto, I'll die on that hill. Played through my 1960s tube amp.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

Ditto, I'll die on that hill. Played through my 1960s tube amp.

Keeps skipping when I take it on the trail.

 

[Reese]

There is no hard fast rule. Whether someone has said it here before. Past or present. It’s irrelevant.

People have different opinions, preferences, budget, aesthetics and what you want out of your vehicle and how you want it to perform. And for some out of the box is all they want. Others want to modify continuously. Which is also fine.

The 2026 models have now been lifted and offset. Therefore you still have gaps both by height and width. And the flares are one fits all on the Badlands which is ridiculous. Even if you modify after the fact the gaps and offset are there regardless of tire size.

Even with 35s on a 2 door “2026” it looks odd and different than the 2023 and prior years.

It’s not one over the other is better, it’s preference and also after market cost for some. Not everyone wants to spend additional costs and if the options were there to purchase they would. They just aren’t there.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

There is no hard fast rule. Whether someone has said it here before. It’s irrelevant. People have different opinions, preferences, budget, aesthetics and what you want out of your vehicle and how you want it to perform.

Don’t have much of a sense of humor do you? Of course there’s no hard fast rule about anything. There’s my opinion and your opinion and we’re both likely irrelevant to some and insightful or funny to others. Your mileage may vary. No need to police things said as jokes here. Enjoy.

 

[Pieman]

Fantastic post. I really appreciated the level of detail you provided on many of the often overlooked aspects of the vehicle. I have two questions if you find time to answer:

1. I noticed in the official order guide, listed immediately beneath the "high clearance fender flares" element that you highlighted, that is also lists "HOSS 2.0 Off-Road Suspension with Rear Bilstein Position Sensitive Dampers"

Are you able to confirm if your 2026 Non-Sas Badlands has the position sensitive dampers on both the front & rear, or just the rear?

2. Do you happen to have any additional pictures from the direct front, or possible slightly off-center front of the '26 model? I'm curious to see how the 33" tires look with those high clearance fender flares.

I personally dislike the size of the high clearance flares even with the sas package, so the fact they put them on the non-sas models irks me given how expense they are to replace with standard flares. I don't understand why they couldn't just keep the same wheel offset as prior years, or create slightly wider standard flares to compensate. The high clearance flares extend past the width of the tire and look a bit goofy imo, but perhaps some front pics would help ease my opinion.

The bilstein question is more important since those are harder and more expensive to replace than flares, but I appreciate any info you can share. Congrats on the new ride amigo, hope to have mine delivered sometime in Q2.

Glad you enjoyed!

Ill see if I can crawl underneath and check out those dampers after the kiddos are asleep.

Here are some quick shots with non-squatch flares. I scooped up some used ones cheap as a proof of concept.

 

[PixelPeepin]

Glad you enjoyed!

Ill see if I can crawl underneath and check out those dampers after the kiddos are asleep.

Here are some quick shots with non-squatch flares. I scooped up some used ones cheap as a proof of concept.

Appreciate it man! Those standard flares, even with the new offset, do look better to my eye than the high clearance flares. I really liked the standard flares being right in line with the 33" tires on previous years, I'm not a fan of tire poke.

Grew up around far too many overdone trucks that were usually just status symbols instead of legit utility vehicles, so I got bored of the look. I really enjoyed the lean, mean, precisely engineered machine look of the 33's on a 2-door Badlands with standard flares. The proportions were just perfect.

With the 2026 flares my 2-door with 33's will look like it's wearing oversized bell-bottoms that do nothing but reduce aerodynamism and make it harder to fit into tight spaces.

Dammit Ford, the hell they doin' over there lol

 

[Reese]

Appreciate it man! Those standard flares, even with the new offset, do look better to my eye than the high clearance flares. I really liked the standard flares being right in line with the 33" tires on previous years, I'm not a fan of tire poke.

Grew up around far too many overdone trucks that were usually just status symbols instead of legit utility vehicles, so I got bored of the look. I really enjoyed the lean, mean, precisely engineered machine look of the 33's on a 2-door Badlands with standard flares. The proportions were just perfect.

With the 2026 flares my 2-door with 33's will look like it's wearing oversized bell-bottoms that do nothing but reduce aerodynamism and make it harder to fit into tight spaces.

Dammit Ford, the hell they doin' over there lol

Indeed!

 

[RR25HB]

Indeed!

With the 35" inchers on my HE, I definitely prefer the wider flares, myself, to catch as much "flack discharge." 🫩

 

[PolyTect]

Glad you enjoyed!

Ill see if I can crawl underneath and check out those dampers after the kiddos are asleep.

Here are some quick shots with non-squatch flares. I scooped up some used ones cheap as a proof of concept.

Yeah, looks much better. I don't know what Ford is thinking there. The standard flare width looks great with the offset you have. Wise choice, but irritating you had to do that in the first place. And no update in the guide on this change.

 

[irishmurph01]

Wow, I had a ‘26 on order, but found a ‘25 on the lot. So glad!

Yeah same here!!! 26’ big bend MT on order, but found a 25’ badlands lux MT with leather and 5k miles. Same price = done deal!

 

[rubber_ducky]

Another low cost solution to the “tuck” that comes with the new wheels & high clearance arches is to use ~1.5” wheel spacers. This will give you a wider track, which some may prefer… save for those looking to tuck their bronco into tight spots.

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