Forbes Wheels SUV Of The Year: 2022 Ford Bronco

Among the few SUV nameplates resurrected by automakers over the past five years, Ford’s Bronco fulfills the challenging task of living up to the hype surrounding its return to the U.S. market after a more than 25-year absence. The original Bronco, which was sold for three decades, was a staple on and off U.S. highways and coveted among enthusiasts, off-roaders and everyday consumers. What the new Bronco does that other throwbacks do not, is connect the past with the present without fundamentally changing the DNA of what made the boxy SUV so special: body-on-frame construction, true off-roading capability and seemingly endless opportunities for customization.

Ford confirmed its intent to make a new Bronco at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. After circumventing myriad roadblocks, including supplier issues, a global pandemic and the semiconductor chip shortage, the first new Bronco rolled off the line in 2021. It picked up where it left off, re-entering the market as the sixth-generation iteration. Ford doubled down on the nameplate to spin-off a smaller version, the Bronco Sport crossover, which adequately balances urban utility and trailblazing aptitude, and shares its platform with the Escape.

As the new Broncos are spotted more frequently in the wild, it earns the SUV of the year accolade for its impressive and modern interpretation of the iconic original. The first-generation Bronco debuted for the 1965 model year. The new Bronco, which comes in two- or four-door form, carries forward a similar appearance to the original. The larger four-door measures 189 inches, stretching 6 inches longer than the final, fifth-generation 1996 version. The two-door is almost 174 inches long.

In addition to dual body styles, the 2022 Bronco offers buyers a hard or soft rooftop and removable doors. These characteristics coupled with standard four-wheel drive and G.O.A.T. (Go Over Any Terrain) control knob that offers 2-High, 4-High and 4-Low transfer case settings as well as optional trail speed control, puts it in direct competition with the Jeep Wrangler. However, the Bronco provides drivers with smoother on-pavement driving behavior as it uses an independent front suspension. Though some view a solid axle as the only option for genuine off-road ability, its configuration enables the Bronco to deliver poise on daily commutes and over unforgiving terrain.

The Bronco is offered with two powertrains choices: a turbocharged 2.3-liter inline four-cylinder with 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque or a turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 rated at 310 horsepower and a stout 400 pound-feet of torque. Both are paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission and a seven-speed manual is available with a smaller engine.

The Bronco is highly customizable and comes in six trims—Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Badlands, Wildtrak—and four content packages—Mid, High, Lux and Sasquatch—that offer varying levels of appearance tweaks and off-roading equipment. A First Edition Bronco was offered in a limited run of 7,000 units that quickly sold out. The Bronco also offers an exterior paint palette of 11 colors and a menu of more than 200 accessories that can be installed by a dealer.

The 2022 Ford Bronco has an active life in store as it will undoubtedly serve as a fun excursion vehicle that will undergo serious use off-road and serve as a stylish carrier for kids, pets and groceries as well as an effective hauler of bulky (and dirty) gear to and from the summit and sea.