We're so glad you love your BroncoIt's been approx. 5 months since I picked up my 2024 Big Bend.
Here are my initial impressions and observations:
1. Exterior-
Love the look and styling of the Bronco. Too many rounded cross overs out there, not enough old school looking Trucks and SUV's in my opinion. I was a little worried about how the Bronco would look with the stock 32" tires (non-sasq) but on the 2 door I think it works fine and the proportions of the vehicle are just right. I could upgrade to the 33" badlands wheels/tires, but have no urgency to do so. I really am digging the gray wheels with the Azure gray paint and accents. Speaking of paint, the Azure Gray was a just under 1k option and I don't regret it at all. I had the paint ceramic coated which really helps with keeping it clean, as well as appearing clean when it isn't. The metallic flake is just subtle enough to give it some character and depth. The hoop steps were another question mark for me vs a full running board, but I really like them. They are grippy, and extremely functional when navigating into the car as well as behind the seats. Love the upgraded LED headlights as well. Visibility is great especially out that panoramic right rear window.
2. Performance-
The base 2.3L 4cyl engine is peppy and provides plenty of power when on the hwy, passing etc. I haven't really had the need to go into Sport mode due to lack of performance. I used the sport mode in my Mazda cx5 frequently as it had very little grunt without it. The automatic transmission has been great, shifing is fast and smooth. Gas mileage has been "good". I did a lot of research on the forum and knew what the range was. Without the extra weight of the larger tires, bumper etc.. I am getting 18-22 city/hwy combined which is fine for the amount of driving I do. Handling on the 2 door is great.. surprised by the turn radius and no problems parking the beast.
3. Interior-
Cabin Noise has been a interesting dynamic with this vehicle. The hard top panels have been fairly quiet with only wind buffeting on highway drives. The interior itself is prone to outside noise, tires, wind etc. But overall it has been livable to the point where I could do prolonged road trips with no problems. The marine grade vinyl seats have been extremely comfortable. I did add the seat risers to allow my legs to be supported a bit more which really helped. Yes, the plastic does scratch easily, but I was able to get most scuffs out using a Mr Clean Magic Eraser.
The controls for climate, sound, modes, etc are very straightforward and most importantly don’t require a lot of interaction with the main screen. I love the larger screen for backup camera, stereo, gps maps, etc. I am really disappointed that they did not make a front facing camera standard. That is a big disappointment, but I can live with it until an after market solution arrives (maybe).
4. Misc/Mods, etc-
Adding the Bestop Sunrider has increased the noise dynamic, but not to the extent I feared. It’s been “livable” with a bit more wind noise, a few popping noises etc.
I did add additional weather stripping as well as adjusting the front brackets which has helped.
The benefit of the Bestop Sunrider far outweigh the minor drawbacks of additional noise. After taking the hard top panels off a few times during sunny weather I realized the sunrider would be a simpler solution. It’s been a game changer to be able to open the top in the morning and then close it when inclement weather appears.
I also added soundskins sound deadener to the entire interior and doors, as well as upgrading the stereo amplifier and speakers. The sound deadener has reduced overall road noise levels significantly as well as enhancing the sound of the updated stereo system.
The addition of a rear tailgate table and rear shelf has really increased the functionality of the vehicle in regards to my work and storage capacity.
4. Fun Factor-
This “truck” is so much fun to drive. You sit up high and it just feels like you can go over anything (goat?). Having the top open and windows down adds to the experience. I have not had the doors and rear cap off but feel like that would take this to the next level. Will be looking into door brackets and a lift system for the garage to accommodate taking those pieces off.
5. Issues-
The only issue so far is a passenger side tilt adjustment handle that broke. This was fixed under warranty.
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