Motor Trend's Jonny Lieberman first test of the Bronco Outer Banks

[Adventure Bronco]

From the Motor Trend article »

The 2021 Ford Bronco Outer Banks is fun—silly, refreshing, and a good time. Perfect? Not by a long shot, but we're confident people who buy the new Bronco will love their purchase. Probably exactly as much as Jeep Wrangler customers have loved their throwback off-roaders for literally decades.​

Should Jeep be worried? Keep in mind that since the introduction of the 2019 MotorTrend SUV of the Year-winning JL Wrangler, Jeep has sold more than 200,000 of the modern-day anachronisms every year, and that pace seems likely to continue in 2021. The Bronco, while a pretty good effort from Ford, isn't putting the Wrangler on the trailer. It's great to see Jeep finally has some competition in the body-on-frame space, but that's exactly what the Bronco is: a worthy competitor. A rival. A foe to wage combat against for years to come. We'll have to wait to conduct a full-on proper comparison test to declare a victor, but competition will make both the Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler better. We're already seeing this happen vis-à-vis Jeep responding to Sasquatch. For now, despite some flaws, the Outer Banks edition of the Ford Bronco is more fun than the comparable Jeep model. And really, isn't having fun what SUVs like this are mostly all about?​

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[NachoMama]

Thanks for sharing it's always good to have as many reviews a s possible but, Motor Trend in my opinion, is just an advertising arm of the auto industry. You can say the same for others but, MT is definitely at the top.

 

[fpGT350]

I have a 2.3 OBX with MIC on order. I didn’t find his review to be encouraging. Excessive noise from the top at highway speed and woefully underpowered Is what I read.

 

[Mr. Nice]

For those of you that need engine advice-

While you can opt for an Outer Banks with Ford's 2.3-liter turbo I-4, our test vehicle was equipped with the $1,895 2.7-liter twin-turbo V-6. MotorTrend contributor Basem Wasef simultaneously happened to be driving a two-door Bronco Outer Banks with the four-cylinder, and he felt that even in the smaller, lighter Bronco model, the little engine is weak sauce. Additionally, the Outer Banks trim only comes with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and since you can't get any manual Bronco with the V-6, the big engine is absolutely the way to go. Unconvinced?
This new Bronco is no lightweight, as it tipped our scales to the tune of 4,828 pounds. To put that in perspective, a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara ("Unlimited" is Jeep-speak for four doors) with a 3.6-liter V-6 weighs 4,391 pounds. There's more than 400 pounds of additional beef on the Ford. Yes, you want the V-6.

You can learn more reading one article from automotive experts than of hundreds of owner/test driver reviews...

 

[Raptor911]

with what you own, you got the 2.3?

My wife test drove the wildtrak yesterday and during the drive she says .. this has too much power.

I have a 2.3 OBX with MIC on order. I didn’t find his review to be encouraging. Excessive noise from the top at highway speed and woefully underpowered Is what I read.

 

[Big Boss]

I don't care much for Lieberman. His reviews are ok, but I feel like when there is something in a segment he prefers his bias shows through

 

[Ricky_gibbs]

I have a 2.3 OBX with MIC on order. I didn’t find his review to be encouraging. Excessive noise from the top at highway speed and woefully underpowered Is what I read.

So I just got my mic base yesterday and I can say for sure, the road noise is a crazy amount less than a jeep. I didn't notice much at all. Did you get a 2 door or a 4 door?

 

[fpGT350]

with what you own, you got the 2.3?

My wife test drove the wildtrak yesterday and during the drive she says .. this has too much power.

I usually do not buy practical cars. The bronco is intended to be an exception for me. FWIW, I purchased my first new Bronco in 1978. It came with the 351 V-8 (5.77L) and had a whopping 160HP and 262 ft Lbs of torque. The 2021 2.3 comes with 300HP and 325 ft Lbs of torque. Granted, the 2021 is about 500 pounds heavier.

 

[fpGT350]

So I just got my mic base yesterday and I can say for sure, the road noise is a crazy amount less than a jeep. I didn't notice much at all. Did you get a 2 door or a 4 door?

4-door for me. Yes, my daughter has a modern wrangler with 35s on it. The street handling and noise level is ridiculously unacceptable.

 

[Ricky_gibbs]

4-door for me. Yes, my daughter has a modern wrangler with 35s on it. The street handling and noise level is ridiculously unacceptable.

My only guess with people getting loud road noise is they have a top thats not up to par. It is unfortunate that the consistency isn't there yet, but the noise is fine and I think you will be okay with it, I think as far as noise goes the worst issue with noise is just the ac because it is like a powerful leaf blower in strength and sound when you have it will max ac. My kids were complaining how cold it got in the back when there are only those floor vents and it was over 90 yesterday

 

[Adventure Bronco]

My only guess with people getting loud road noise is they have a top thats not up to par. It is unfortunate that the consistency isn't there yet, but the noise is fine and I think you will be okay with it, I think as far as noise goes the worst issue with noise is just the ac because it is like a powerful leaf blower in strength and sound when you have it will max ac. My kids were complaining how cold it got in the back when there are only those floor vents and it was over 90 yesterday

It's probably all very subjective as well. If you step out of luxury car and into a Bronco, you might think the wind noise to be excessive. If you jump in from having just driven in a Jeep or first generation Tacoma, it probably seems like a more civilized environment.

 

[Ricky_gibbs]

It's probably all very subjective as well. If you step out of luxury car and into a Bronco, you might think the wind noise to be excessive. If you jump in from having just driven in a Jeep or first generation Tacoma, it probably seems like a more civilized environment.

Thats fair, it is comparable to my wife's Honda pilot I don't have a way to check though so knows.

 

[Panaran]

I have a 2.3 OBX with MIC on order. I didn’t find his review to be encouraging. Excessive noise from the top at highway speed and woefully underpowered Is what I read.

A 5200lb SUV that gets to 60 in 6.6 isn't woefully underpowered IMO.

 

[Mattwings]

I don't disagree with any of the reviews I have read. I do have two comments related to the reviews, after owning my Bronco a few weeks. #1. There is Interior Volume at a given speed measured in DB. The tone and type of sound is not as tiring in my Bronco as it was in my past Jeeps. Hard to explain or display, but jump from one to the other and decide for yourself. #2 When reviewers talk about ride and handling, I think they are being very, very easy on Jeep. 30 minutes on local rods, maybe not a big deal. 3 hrs. behind the wheel? Bronco isn't even in the same class. Jeep wears you down in so many ways. We have gone back and forth 2.5-3 hrs. to our cottage several times and it's every day livable 100%. Jeep, in my experience and opinion, is not.

BTW, after 1800 miles, I am averaging just under 20mpg. Almost identical to my 2018 F1502.7 Super Crew 4x4. Bronco is heavy and heavy=slow and bad MPG. Oh Well, I love it anyway.

 

[Carolina Jim]

We'll have to wait...

Lieberman is more prescient than he knows

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