Consumer Reports: Ford Bronco is Most Satisfying Midsize Two-Row SUV to Own

[HotdogThud]

over 30k miles in, and I'll admit to still being satisfied. I love the damn thing.

All the things that make it a 4x4, Ford absolutely nailed, it's perfect in the utilitarian sense of the word. I can go out and play in the dirt any time I want, and it just does it without breaking a sweat.

All the things that make it a good daily driver? Ford kinda phoned that in. Paint quality issues, cracking tops, mismatched seats, windows that lose programming, wipers that make up new programming, windshields made of butter, stereos made of paper, the list goes on and on.

And yet, it still puts a smile on my face when i drive down the road, or put the top down, or get it absolutely filthy after 80 miles of muddy trails:

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[NORCALGXP]

Hell ya! I'll drink to that!!

 

[Karl_in_Chicago]

Pay Wall prevents me from reading their opinion's? I'll just have to take everybody's word for it.

It's rated almost as high as the Maytag Front-loading Over/Under Washer Dryer Combination.
I know all of us look to CR as our first and most trusted source for all things automotive.

 

[Happycampinman]

Two Fords and a Chevy. Sure don’t build em like we use too.

 

[l88m22vette]

I'd agree, since its my first truck and still look for reasons to drive it after 4 months of ownership. We didn't really get any kind of winter this year, so I can't really report on how it is in real 4x4 snow, but warm weather will be here soon so its almost time to take the roof panels off

We just did a short weekend trip and it was great, lots of room and very comfy on highway drives. We were able to fit the dogs in the back seat without folding it down, and all the junk that loads up our Renegade didn't even block the rear windows in my 4dr. I love how big the cargo area is, and the packed truck still drove well on the backcountry roads; it seems happier when you use it instead of babying it.

I'd love an updated cluster, a rear e-diff that could go from unlocked to LSD to locked (sort of like an Audi), and a thinner console lid. I wish the trans didn't sound like a coffee grinder, and I'd like a bigger gas tank. My favorite parts are driving the 7MT, the advanced 4x4, the look of it on 33s, and how its a "big small" truck off the Ranger platform.

 

[Ground_zero298]

Wonder how much Ford had to pay consumers for this.

 

[prospectfour]

A lot of bronco issues are solved by ordering the base,if you ain't got it it can't go wrong , I pass of the little things as personality

I’m cranky, anything less than mid package is insufferable as a daily.

 

[T Copp]

Pay Wall prevents me from reading their opinion's? I'll just have to take everybody's word for it.

It really doesn't say anything. Just explains what the Bronco is and what it's capable of.

Driving Experience
Includes acceleration and handling
73 / 100
Comfort
Includes seats, climate control, noise, and ride
73 / 100

Value
Did you get what you wanted relative to the price you paid?
43 / 100

Styling
How it looks inside and out
95 / 100


2023 VEHICLES
Would you buy this vehicle again?

Ford Bronco
79%

Toyota 4Runner
72%

Jeep Wrangler
68%

Reliability
3/5

Overall
52/100

 

[Bdisco]

Like the Land Rover Discovery Series 1 we owned, the 6g Bronco is a very impressive and capable vehicle, which can be satisfying, when it’s not in the shop for repairs or recalls.

 

[Sadskwatch]

I have two Broncos. My Basesquatch needs a new transmission at 157 miles. Not so satisfied there, but it’s the luck of the draw I suppose. Otherwise the Bronco is a lot of fun and very capable.

I do wonder about the correlation between waiting so long and owning a still relatively hard to buy vehicle and the higher satisfaction level? If reliability isn’t a problem, I think I’ll only like the Bronco more.

Also the windshield wipers are a joke.

 

[Tricky Dick]

Not surprising considering how much we love them even with sooo many warts.

 

[ths0002]

I smile every time I go out into the garage. Took the top off this weekend for the first time and loved it. Aside from now having a car payment after a few years not having one, I don’t regret it for a second. My 2 year old calls it “Dad’s green Broncotruck” and that alone is worth it.

 

[Sherminiator]

Wonder how much Ford had to pay consumers for this.

Consumer reports doesn't take any advertising...but IMO their ratings system leaves a lot to be desired-like assuming a new product will be like the old one and giving it a recommended rating like they've done over the years with Toyota products.

 

[DefNotBuddyLee]

Reminds me of the CR post from @Broncodave with CR having the Bronco pretty much at the bottom of overall scoring (just above the Jeep Wrangler). However, it just goes to show that there are things they don't quantify in their testing, and there are pieces left out when they review an off-roader against comfort SUVs. I mean, they have a sports car category so they don't compare the Corvette against a Camry since they recognize the typical buyer pool is looking for different things. Why compare a Bronco or Wrangler against the Hyundai Santa Fe? I do get that a lot of Wrangler and Bronco owners will ultimately not take them off-road, but I could say the same for the number of older people cruising 5 miles under the speed limit in their new Z06.

 

[cracKen]

Makes sense. Love my new manual i just bought this month. CR needs a smiles per miles rating. Already got its first paint chip after taking it off roading, less than 2k miles on the vehicle.

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