Don't worry---this site is still a politics-free zone. I'm co-opting half of a famous phrase from a 1964 presidential candidate for the headline because of how Ford itself positions the Bronco Badlands.
Unearth a brochure for the original 1966 Bronco---actually, I've done that for you---click here---and you'll find there were three Broncos available back then. One without a roof and doors, another with a roof and doors, but leaving the back open as a pickup bed and a fully-enclosed model. All of them were two-doors.
In 2024 there are nine Bronco models and eight of them can be had as either a two-door or four-door. Six of those models reference off-roading in their descriptions. The Big Bend is for "mainstream off-roading", the Black Diamond for "adventure off-roading", the Outer Banks for "off-roading in style", the Wildtrak for "high-speed off-roading", the Raptor for "elite off-road performance and tech" and the Bronco you see here, the Badlands, for "extreme off-roading."
What does all that mean? Well, according to Ford, any Bronco is a capable off-roader. Some are just more capable than others. Their consumer site says that the Badlands is the "most capable Bronco you can get"---for drivers who want more than either the Big Bend or Black Diamond offer but not the creature comforts of the Outer Banks or the speed capabilities of the Wildtrak or Raptor.
The Badlands comes with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder. 275 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque on regular fuel (it jumps to 300/325 on premium) and a seven-speed manual transmission. Our vehicle had the optional ($2,145) 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, and it's no slug. 315 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque on regular gas (330/415 on premium) and a 10-speed automatic transmission (also optional at $1,495). Sixty happens from a standing start in just under six seconds. The EPA fuel economy is 17 combined city/highway. Usually that means something like 14 city/20 highway, but the EPA says it's 17 city, 17 highway and (naturally) 17 combined. Your mileage may vary. I only got 15.4.
The Badlands comes with its own supsension including Bilstein position-sensitive monotube shocks, front stabilizer bar disconnect, front and rear locking differential, hill-start assist, 33-inch LT285/70R17 all-terrain tires, full-vehicle steel bash plates, and rock rails.
There's 35.6 cubic feet of storage behind the second-row seats. Fold them, and it's 77.6 (two-door Broncos have less--22.4 and 52.3).
Back seat passengers get decent legroom at 36.3 inches.
The base price of the 2024 Ford Bronco Badlands four-door is $53,280 including destination. Standard at that price, in addition to what we've already discussed: Fender tie-down hooks, automatic high-beam LED headlamps, heated powered outside mirrors, tow hooks, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, pre-wiring for auxilary switches, a leather gear knob and steering wheel, tilt/telescoping steering column, a basic active safety suite, a ten-speaker audio system and remote start.
Our test vehicle also included $13,460 worth of extra-cost options: $4,575 for the Badlands Series Mid Package (dual-zone electric climate control, front-row heated seats, a power outlet, Ford's Co-Pilot 360 active safety suite, the high/lux package, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control and a wireless charging pad), $995 for the Azure Gray Metallic tri-coat paint job, the aforementioned optional engine and transmission ($2,145 and $1,495 respectively), $2,195 for leather-trimmed vinyl seats, $1,895 for a removable hardtop with sound-deadening headliner and front panel stowage bag and $160 for all-weather floor liners up front and carpeted floor mats in the second row.
Bottom line on the window sticker: $66,740.
That's actually a pretty solid all-in price, with Jeep having cut its non-hybrid four-door Wrangler Rubicon offerings this year to the $90,000-plus Rubicon 392 and the six-figure Rubicon 392 Final Edition. The Wrangler still outsells the Bronco overall, but in just a few short years, Ford has given Jeep some serious competition.
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