New Ford Bronco aimed at the Jeep Gladiator

[BehindBlueI's]

Curious what you thought about access to the “trunk” with the soft top?

Around 1:31 here

The salesman showed us that. I guess if you routinely load tall things back there it's handy? We'll wait for the hard top, so didn't pay a lot of attention. I don't want plastic windows. The lack of a defroster and lack of a wiper blade vetoes the soft top for us. I do like they sell a vault lid sort of thing that does create secure storage with the tailgate closed regardless of the top, though. $640 option.

[BehindBlueI's]

...and can give my "living with" impressions of both, and the Ranger, on which the Bronco is based...

I think a lot of people would be interested in that. I really liked the cloth seats in the Bronco.

Side question: Any word if the PHEV Ranger is coming to the US?

[rob_s]

The salesman showed us that. I guess if you routinely load tall things back there it's handy? We'll wait for the hard top, so didn't pay a lot of attention. I don't want plastic windows. The lack of a defroster and lack of a wiper blade vetoes the soft top for us. I do like they sell a vault lid sort of thing that does create secure storage with the tailgate closed regardless of the top, though. $640 option.

I was thinking the opposite, in both cases.

I would *want* a soft top because I’d want the “family convertible” aspect.

But, I find that means of access to the rear cargo area to be so stupidly obnoxious that I wouldn’t consider a soft top Bronco.

Which, combined with all the issues, recalls, delays, availability problems… makes this one of the most disappointing rollouts in history for me personally.

But, I keep hoping someone with a lot of hands-on with the soft top trunk access comes back and explains why it doesn’t suck. I so want to be wrong about that…

[BehindBlueI's]

I was thinking the opposite, in both cases.

I would *want* a soft top because I’d want the “family convertible” aspect.

But, I find that means of access to the rear cargo area to be so stupidly obnoxious that I wouldn’t consider a soft top Bronco.

Which, combined with all the issues, recalls, delays, availability problems… makes this one of the most disappointing rollouts in history for me personally.

But, I keep hoping someone with a lot of hands-on with the soft top trunk access comes back and explains why it doesn’t suck. I so want to be wrong about that…

If I didn't live where winter was a thing, I probably wouldn't care about the hard top as much but I can't say for sure until I hear how loud it is at freeway speeds. The hard top is still convertible, and modular. I suspect I would prefer the ability to go either "sunroof" mode or full topless, based on my history with t-tops, convertibles, and removable roofs over the years. My wife for sure prefers the ability to configure it quickly with one person, and the modular roof panels would let her do that.

I don't care about loading large things back there because I won't be loading large things back there. If it were an only vehicle, that would be more of a concern, I'm sure.

[BehindBlueI's]

We drove two Gladiators, an Overland and a Willy's. The Overland was more our speed, but we both preferred the Bronco to either.

[bruceride]

Curious what you thought about access to the “trunk” with the soft top?

It's as good as the Jeep system, I think. And you don't actually have to move the plastic rear window like you do in the Jeep to use it. I do like the rear vault, and will install one when my Bronco comes in. I prioritized a bunch of customers' Broncos before mine, so I still have some waiting to do, I think.

I think a lot of people would be interested in that. I really liked the cloth seats in the Bronco.

Side question: Any word if the PHEV Ranger is coming to the US?

So, one man's opinions, in no particular order.

• The Ranger/Bronco are wider than the Wrangler/Gladiator. Only an inch or two, but it is noticable.
• The steering wheel on the Wrangler/Gladiator is closer and more vertical than the Bronco/Ranger
• The soft top Bronco is quieter than either soft top Jeep. Dunno about the hard top compairison because we haven't got a hard top Bronco...
• The new soft top in the JL Jeeps and the Bronco are both easier to use the the old JK Jeeps
• Bronco/Ranger with the 2.3 EcoBoost is peppier than the Wrangler/Gladiator with the 3.6l V6. The Wranger wiith the 2.0L Turbo is there, tho

Currently in a Willys Gladiator with 2" MOPAR lift and 34" Toyo Open Country tires. This replaced a Ranger Lariat with leveling kit and the same tires. Multiple Wranglers over the last 15 years... Maybe the proper summation is the Bronco feels more refined, but I haven't got to play with a Sasquatch yet either

Glad to answer specific questions if I can

[BehindBlueI's]

Glad to answer specific questions if I can

Any word on the hybrid version? Rumor was a 3.0 combined with an electric motor for a PHEV version of both the Ranger and Bronco would be coming out maybe next year, but with the pandemic and supply issues maybe that's been pushed back?

[Balisong]

Trailrecon is one of my favorite offroading YouTube channels. They dropped this video a few days ago from the SEMA show going over some of the aftermarket parts and mods already being done to Broncos. Pretty cool stuff



ETA: they also have a video from SEMA about Jeep parts/mods that I'm sure is interesting, I'll get around to watching that one tonight or tomorrow.

[bruceride]

Any word on the hybrid version? Rumor was a 3.0 combined with an electric motor for a PHEV version of both the Ranger and Bronco would be coming out maybe next year, but with the pandemic and supply issues maybe that's been pushed back?

I don’t have any specifics. These are both planned but Ford never tells dealers details until they are imminent, because we’ll blab!

[rob_s]

It's as good as the Jeep system, I think. And you don't actually have to move the plastic rear window like you do in the Jeep to use it. I do like the rear vault, and will install one when my Bronco comes in. I prioritized a bunch of customers' Broncos before mine, so I still have some waiting to do, I think.



So, one man's opinions, in no particular order.

• The Ranger/Bronco are wider than the Wrangler/Gladiator. Only an inch or two, but it is noticable.
• The steering wheel on the Wrangler/Gladiator is closer and more vertical than the Bronco/Ranger
• The soft top Bronco is quieter than either soft top Jeep. Dunno about the hard top compairison because we haven't got a hard top Bronco...
• The new soft top in the JL Jeeps and the Bronco are both easier to use the the old JK Jeeps
• Bronco/Ranger with the 2.3 EcoBoost is peppier than the Wrangler/Gladiator with the 3.6l V6. The Wranger wiith the 2.0L Turbo is there, tho

Currently in a Willys Gladiator with 2" MOPAR lift and 34" Toyo Open Country tires. This replaced a Ranger Lariat with leveling kit and the same tires. Multiple Wranglers over the last 15 years... Maybe the proper summation is the Bronco feels more refined, but I haven't got to play with a Sasquatch yet either

Glad to answer specific questions if I can

That’s interesting feedback, thanks!

I’ve been researching getting a small Class C RV and a Jeep 2-door as a toad. It would likely wind up also being someone’s daily driver (mine). I was hoping the Bronco 2-door might be a more interesting option and a more enjoyable daily for me.