Aside from the delivery issues, the new Ford Bronco seems to be doing well. It has caught the attention of the media and is doing a great job of giving the Wrangler a good competitor. The most off-road-worthy package so far was the Sasquatch and Badlands combination; however, Ford recently released a new package, and we reckon that this may be the one to get.
The Ford Bronco Everglades is One of the Most Unique SUVs Available
In today’s market, most SUVs are very similar in their abilities but feature different designs and upgrades depending on how much you are willing to spend. Other than the Wrangler and the new Bronco, nothing is unique or old -school.
With the Bronco Everglades, Ford has made a vehicle that reminds us of older generation Land Rover Defenders or even 70 series Land Cruisers. The Everglades is more focused on long-distance travel rather than hard-core off-roading and the features it is offered with are here to prove it.
Loads of Additional Equipment
Firstly, it is equipped with a winch. This makes this model a great choice for people who are planning on tackling adventures in a single vehicle. Of course, the winch also helps when wheeling in a group, but it provides peace of mind when alone. The winch comes from Warn and is rated at 10,000 pounds. It also features a synthetic rope which is much lighter, easier to unwind, and much safer if it breaks as it won't recoil as much as a steel rope will. For this application, Ford has given the winch a different coating and mounting points. This was done to meet the company’s durability and rust-resistance standards. Credit must be given to Ford as this is one of the very few vehicles that come equipped with a winch from the factory. To achieve this, the vehicle needed to be re-certified for crash testing which is insanely expensive.
Another cool feature of the Everglades is the snorkel. Again, this is a feature that we don’t see nowadays. The fit and finish are great, and owners have the option to choose where the vehicle will be breathing air from. The front side of the snorkel will act as an air ram intake but has the potential to ingest mud or water when driving through puddles fast. The rear side of the snorkel provides safety from water ingress but loses the air ram effect; however, this doesn’t make much of a difference in power.
Unlike the normal Bronco, the Everglades is only offered with the 2.3-liter engine. As this is a vehicle that is meant to cover long distances, the 2.3-liter mill will provide more fuel range. Also, it is lighter, which makes up for the weight added by the winch. With 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, the 2.3 still has plenty of grunt to get the Bronco moving even at an elevation. Some may argue that it is simpler than the other more complicated twin-turbo engines, but it must be said that a 2.3-liter with an output of 300 horsepower is stressed. We are curious to know how these engines are going to cope with age and higher mileage.
Buyers will also get roof bars. This is a great addition as due to the removable roof design of the vehicle the aftermarket was struggling to come up with a decent solution.
Design Changes
The Everglades Bronco has also undergone some exterior changes one would not expect as they once again increase production costs. The first one is the unique fender flare design. The ones on the Everglades Bronco are more squared which gives the vehicle a slightly more old-school and rugged look. For the different shape flares to fit, the fenders were also altered to follow the correct lines.
To complement the fenders, the Bronco Everglades was equipped with some unique and very pretty wheels that look like they are steel but are alloy. The wheels are wrapped in a set of 35-inch Goodyear Territory tires. Some cool decals and a unique desert sand color - that looks great, by the way - further differentiate the Everglades from the rest of the line-up.
Off-Road Features of the Bronco Everglades
The Bronco Everglades comes equipped with two differential lockers, skid plates, off-road bumpers, and large tires; however, it doesn’t offer the sway bar disconnect which is a bit disappointing. The lack of sway bar disconnects further backs up our belief that this is a vehicle oriented more towards overlanding and long-distance touring. We believe that the Everglades will suit the needs of most people who want to go off-roading with their families. The winch provides peace of mind that in case anything goes wrong you will be able to self-recover and the roof rack enables customers to kit out the Bronco with a rooftop tent or roof rack for additional storage.
The lack of sway bar disconnects simplifies the user experience as people who aren’t interested in hardcore off-roading may feel intimidated by all the trail features included. Granted, if you want to use the Bronco for rock crawling or tough trails, the sway bar disconnects will be useful. However, one would argue that the Jeep Wrangler provides a better base for such a build. The Bronco is more of a hardcore 4Runner rather than a full-on Jeep Wrangler rival.