The idea of getting where you want to go, even if that doesn’t involve roads, is a hot trend right now. The Ford Bronco is a machine that both evokes nostalgia and actually delivers on off-road capabilities.

The original Bronco began production in 1966 as direct competition against the Jeep CJ-5 and the International Scout. Both were very popular off-road models at the time. This new, sixth-generation Bronco harkens back to those 1966 roots in both design and capability focus. There is no question as to whether or not the 2023 Ford Bronco is designed to go off the pavement and into the hinterlands.

For those looking for adventure and needing the capability to go beyond dirt roads and really get out and about, the Bronco is a great choice. The Bronco goes beyond just looking the part and has the capability to get the job done.

The daily drive quality of the Ford Bronco is better than some in this category, but low fuel economy and a tall ride and climb-in height may not be for everyone. This is a truck-based SUV. As with most of the vehicles it is competing with, the Bronco sacrifices many day-to-day comforts in order to deliver its extreme capability on those weekend excursions into the hills.

If none of that deters you, then the 2023 Bronco should be on your short list of contenders for purchase.

The Wrangler is the most direct competitor to the Bronco in terms of capabilities. Ford made it clear, in fact, that the Bronco was meant to give the Wrangler a run for its money. Comparably, the Bronco has more daily comforts and a better interior than the Wrangler overall. The Ford Bronco also has features such as removable front roof panels, a fully-removable top, and removable doors. So does the Jeep, but the Bronco allows most of those removed items to be stowed in the rear cargo area with integrated bags and tie-downs. The Jeep does not.

In terms of capability, the two are very close. When similarly equipped for off-road use, the Wrangler has some advantage in wheel reach and clearances. But these are small. By contrast, the Bronco has a roomier interior and better on-road ride quality.

Off the shelf, the Ford Bronco is a more capable off-road machine than the Toyota 4Runner, but when equipment packages are added, the 4Runner can offer a lot of what the Bronco does. What it lacks, however, are the fun items such as a removable roof, removable doors, and the nostalgia of the Bronco’s design. The 4Runner can add another row of seating (to total 7). But its aging design and lack of “fun factor” make it less appealing in comparison.

The Land Rover Defender has a storied history that’s as interesting and iconic as that of the Bronco. Unlike the Bronco, the Defender was never considered a “toy” in the sense that it had removable panels (doors, roof) or a fun party persona. The Defender, instead, has always been a serious off-road machine with strong capabilities and a very British demeanor. The current generation of the Land Rover Defender is more expensive and luxury focused than is the Ford Bronco and is not as off-road-ready in terms of off-the-shelf capability. It seats eight, however, and has much better fuel economy by comparison.

Pricing for the 2023 Ford Bronco begins at $35,890 and can run to over $78,000 for the powerful Raptor model. Most buyers can expect to be in the $45,000 range for their purchase of a Bronco.

Ford has added two new limited trim points for the Bronco for the 2023 model year. These are both nostalgic throwback packages that are limited to 1,966 units per package. 1966 being the Bronco’s debut year as a model.

The Heritage and Heritage Limited Editions are add-ons to the Big Bend and Badlands models (respectively). These add nostalgic touches like plaid cloth upholstery, unique bumpers and fenders, unique two-tone paint via a white hardtop and grille, heritage graphics, and throwback Bronco badges. The Heritage Limited also adds the 2.7-liter turbocharged V6.

The 2023 Ford Bronco has three engine options: a turbocharged four-cylinder, a turbocharged six-cylinder, and a souped up turbo-six. All three are mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with four-wheel drive. In all three cases, this is a winning combination of power output and smooth delivery with transmission tuning utilizing all ten gears to give the most bang for the buck from each engine.

On the road, the 2023 Bronco is much smoother than most other off-road-oriented rigs. Its independent front suspension and positive braking power give the Bronco a confident appeal when driving around town or on the highway. Like most off-pavement SUVs, however, the Bronco does suffer from a fair amount of body roll in turns and when stopping quickly.

Off the road and in the wilderness, the Ford Bronco has several drive modes to choose from to suit the terrain. Whether it be rocks, mud, sand, or just a marginally maintained Jeep road, the Bronco can handle it with confidence. And while we enjoyed the 418-horsepower Raptor model, we found the standard turbocharged-six to be plenty for getting up to off-road shenanigans.

The Ford Bronco has received safety ratings that aren’t as good as many crossover-style SUVs, but better than some of its similarly-designed truck-based competitors.

Most reliability metrics for the Ford Bronco are at least average, while some are above average. The J.D. Power & Associates consumer reliability survey results show that the current-generation Bronco is above average with an 80/100 score. Consumer Reports similarly gives the Bronco a slightly better than average reliability expectation score.

Most reliability issues with the Bronco are going to come down to maintenance and use case. A Bronco driven primarily on the road versus one that routinely goes off-road will have better reliability by comparison. While the Bronco is made to go off the pavement, doing so does have inherent risks for the vehicle and will affect potential reliability.

We think that the Ford Bronco will be reliable for most of its owners most of the time.

The base model of the Ford Bronco is pretty well equipped, but we think that the next step up, the Big Bend, is worth the added costs. This package adds better all-terrain tires, a nicer-looking grille, leather wrap for the steering wheel and shift knob, and more terrain choices for the driver-controlled 4WD system.

The Heritage Edition upgrade is also worth getting, if possible, for its added skid plates, side-step rails, and throwback design elements.

Buyers looking for extreme off-road capability, however, may want to look towards the Wildtrak or Everglades models with their added equipment. These include a lifted suspension, larger tires, etc. Your specific off-road expectations will determine which of these packages is your best fit.

Ford includes a 3-year, 36,000-mile basic warranty with every new Bronco as well as a 5-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. This is about average for the class.

• Basic: 3 years / 36k miles
• PowerTrain: 5 years / 60k miles
• Ford offers extended warranties for certified pre-owned cars
• If buying used look at our best extended warranties

Because the Bronco is new, having only been reintroduced in 2021 for its current generation, finding a used model may be a challenge. Until it is more established, we’d suggest shopping new or slightly used for now. It may be some time before used models are readily available in enough quantity that the markdown for buying used will make the higher risk of a used purchase worth it.

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