2023 Ford Bronco Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The Ford Bronco is offered in nine distinct trim levels: Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Bronco Outer Banks, Bronco Badlands, Heritage Edition, Bronco Wildtrak, Heritage Limited Edition, and Raptor. All of them share the same blend of retro-cool styling and modern engineering that make them stand out from any other vehicle. The blocky upright shape, wide horizontal grille, and big round headlights are unmistakable, even from long distances. The Base trim has a charm all its own with a decidedly primitive and bare-bones look with steel wheels and little adornment. On the opposite end of the lineup, the Raptor proudly displays its position as the top dog with a wide stance, elevated height, and huge fender flares covering the massive tires.

Somewhere in the middle is the new Heritage Edition trim that pulls even harder at those nostalgic heartstrings with a throwback white grille, roof, and wheels, along with unique plaid seat upholstery. There's also the similarly charming but more capable Heritage Limited Edition trim. What’s new is the Everglades trim appears to have been short-lived and hasn’t returned for 2023. Note the Ford Bronco Sport is unrelated to the Bronco and is better considered a more rugged relative of the Ford Escape.

There's no doubt that the Bronco's styling is a big draw for shoppers, but don't think that it's only an aesthetic. A lot of what gives the Bronco its personality has legitimate functions. The cleats above the headlights can be used to secure cargo and tree limb-lifter cables. Along with the raised "fins" that continue rearward, they also give the driver a very good indication of where the vehicle's corners are in relation to obstacles.

The interior continues the rugged theme with a broad dash that's as distinctive as the grille. Many switches and buttons are sealed from the elements so you can hose out a properly equipped Bronco at the end of a dirty day, and the drain plugs in the floor and waterproof marine-grade vinyl upholstery will make it even easier. Sturdy handholds ensure passengers will feel secure when things get bumpy, and they're replaceable and customizable. Other thoughtful additions include a grid-like mesh on the seat backs so you could attach Molle-type bags and accessories. A heated steering wheel is available but not standard.

The interior materials aren't as soft or refined as the typical SUV. They're designed more for durability than luxury, and all elements have a reassuring heft to them. Some creaking can be heard when driving over bumps, but it's still noticeably quieter than an equivalent Jeep Wrangler.

The Bronco is available with the choice of three engines. The entry-level is a 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. It's offered with either a seven-speed manual transmission (with a dedicated low-range crawl gear) or a 10-speed automatic. An optional twin-turbo 2.7-litre V6 engine increases power output to power specs of 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque and is available only with the automatic transmission. The top-of-the-line Ford Bronco Raptor gets a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 that cranks out 418 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. All Broncos come with a four-wheel drive (4WD) drivetrain and a two-speed transfer case.

We're confident that most drivers will find the base four-cylinder engine more than adequate for both on- and off-road adventures. It gets the two-door Bronco up to highway speeds with ease and it sounds pretty good in the process, too. The 2.7-litre V6 may be a better choice for the heavier four-door model, but it doesn't fundamentally change our impression of performance. The Raptor's EcoBoost engine, much like the rest of the vehicle, is a glorious exercise in excess. You certainly don't need that kind of power, but gosh, it sure does feel good having it.

Broncos are intended for off-roading, but that doesn't mean you'll have to sacrifice on-road manners as a result. The ride quality is bouncier than your average family SUV, but it's not nearly as unsettling as the Jeep Wrangler. The Bronco also tracks straight down the highway, while the Wrangler requires constant driver input to keep it in its lane. If that wasn't enough, the Bronco's interior is noticeably quieter than a Wrangler with a comparable fabric or hardtop roof.

As good as the Bronco is, it does have its limitations. The high-riding dimensions and big all-terrain tires can't escape basic physics, so you'll have to use a bit more care on a curving mountain road than you would in a more mass-market SUV. That said, the Bronco will likely feel more confident than you expect. Maneuvering the bigger four-door model is also less stressful than you might think, especially with several cameras to keep you from bumping into things. The much more expensive Land Rover Defender is the only off-road-capable SUV that is more comfortable.

The Ford Bronco's boxy shape not only ties it into its heritage but also pays huge dividends when it comes to interior space. There's an abundance of room in front and back, but if you're planning on regularly shuttling more than one passenger, you may want to step up to the four-door model. Accessing the rear seats in the two-door requires some inelegant crawling and shimmying while you can just climb up into the four-door.

Up front, there are plenty of places to store your personal items as well as unique options for other equipment. Netted door pockets won't trap mud, water, or dirt, and a rubberized tray between the front seats keeps your phone secure and charged. There are also options for accessory rails atop the dash for action cameras or GPS trackers, plus there's a handy USB jack there to keep them charged.

Behind the rear seats, the two-door Bronco has up to 634 litres of cargo space and 1,481 litres with those seats folded. The four-door can hold up to 1,008 litres and 2,197 litres, respectively. Unfortunately, those rear seats don’t fold flat with the cargo floor, leaving a sizable step-up between them that keeps you from easily sliding longer cargo past. It also prevents you from comfortably sleeping back there, but Ford is quick to point out that the mounting points on the roof can easily hold an overlanding platform and tent.

More hardcore off-roaders will appreciate how easily the fenders and doors can be removed. The fenders don't require tools to remove and can be taken off in seconds, not minutes. The Raptor's oversized fenders are not intended to be taken off, though. The doors can be detached with a single bolt and convenient handholds are provided for easier stowing in the back of the Bronco.

Most vehicles lean into technology features for safety, entertainment, and convenience. The Ford Bronco does too, but it also uses it to enhance its already impressive off-road abilities. The G.O.A.T. (for "goes over any terrain") drive modes give the driver several terrain types to choose from and automatically optimize engine and suspension settings to match conditions. That makes it significantly easier for off-road novices to conquer terrain without having to know the ins and outs of features such as transfer case gearing, sway-bar disconnects, and the appropriate amount of throttle to apply. For more seasoned off-roaders, all of these features are still satisfyingly manually selectable through myriad buttons.

The numerous camera views are also indispensable in tight confines, too. You'll be able to see just how close you are to a cliff's edge on the side or what's on the other side of a steep peak climb. Predictive lines also show exactly where the tires will end up, so you can confidently crawl over a big rock without sustaining damage or having to get out of the vehicle at all. Our favourite may be the Trail Turn Assist feature which brakes the inside rear wheel in a turn to allow the Bronco to turn ridiculously sharply as it pivots around that wheel.

In addition to the many off-road-specific tech features, the Bronco doesn't forget about the usual infotainment system, either. Wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with Ford’s SYNC 4 and FordPass Connect are standard, and a wireless charging pad is available as an option. Most Broncos come with a fairly small eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, but we recommend stepping up to the available 12-inch display for ease of use.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has published only partial results of its Bronco crash tests, with the four-door receiving four out of five stars for frontal crash protection and three stars for rollover protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the four-door Bronco its best score of “Good” in all crashworthiness tests except for head restraints and seats, where it received the second-best score of "Acceptable".

All Bronco models come standard with forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, hill-start assist, hill-descent control, trailer-sway assist, and Trail Turn Assist. The Mid package is an option on supporting trims (but not the Base model) and adds enhanced driver assistance features such as a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assist, rear parking proximity sensors, and automatic high beams.

Rear parking sensors and automatic high beams are available on all but the base trim as part of the optional Mid package. The High package adds front parking sensors and a 360-degree camera system while the Luxe package adds adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist.

Compared to more conventional SUVs, the Bronco comes up short in regard to test scores and availability of features. Most non-off-road family SUVs come with most or all of these features as standard, but at least in our experiences with the Bronco, these driver assistance systems function without any annoying false alarms.

The 2023 Ford Bronco has a deep stable of nine models to choose from. The Base trim starts in Canada at a new vehicle price of $47,360 (not including a $2,195 destination fee). At the other end of the spectrum, the range-topping Bronco Raptor starts at $108,565 before fees. The Raptor is overkill for the vast majority of shoppers and drivers, but for the few that can justify such a capable rig, it's worth noting that all of its upgrades are covered by a factory warranty. Adding these modifications to lesser vehicles would almost certainly void their coverage.

Choosing between a Bronco, whether it's a two- or four-door model and which trim level depends mostly on how you plan on using it. The lower trim levels aren't as off-road capable as the more expensive variants, but they're also more comfortable on pavement. The Black Diamond trim represents a good middle ground between the two and we'd consider adding the Sasquatch package for its off-road upgrades.

Not surprisingly, the Bronco isn't as fuel efficient as the typical family SUV. Natural Resources Canada estimates the four-cylinder engine will return as little as 11.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined city and highway driving, but depending on optional equipment, that can go as high as 14.3 L/100 km. The 2.7-litre V6 is rated between 12.0-14.1 L/100 km while the high-performance Raptor is estimated at 15.3 L/100 km. Compared to other off-roaders, these figures aren't nearly as bad. The Jeep Wrangler is estimated at 10.3 L/100 km for the four-cylinder powertrain, in the mid-11s for the six-cylinder, and a 16.5 L/100 km for the brawny V8 model. The Jeep does also have a sub-10s diesel and a plug-in hybrid, though.

Other rivals include the outdated Toyota 4Runner and the more luxurious Land Rover Defender that starts well above $60,000. For the money, the Ford Bronco is our pick amongst any of these automotive alternatives. It delivers epically good all-terrain capabilities while also remaining very desirable and comfortable.

Note: Images show a US model.