A bit of trivia: I almost ended up working for Ford as a product planner sometime in the 2000s. Though I passed all the interviews and even got an offer, the Blue Oval’s then marketing guy decided I’d be better off continuing my career as a motoring journalist, and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for close to 30 years now. Now, I write about cars for a living, I still can’t help but look at the presence of products and its features the way a product planner would. Does it make sense? Does it contribute to the brand’s overall image? Is it priced right?
From that perspective, the mere presence of the Bronco is one of the most inspired decisions to come from Ford Philippines in a long time. And after spending close to a week with the solitary variant available in the country, the Bronco Outer Banks with the Sasquatch Package, that opinion was just emphasized even more. With personality and capability baked in equal amounts, it’s hard not to get a kick out of it.
First, lets’ talk specs. It may look nothing like it, but underneath the Bronco shares its basic platform with the Ranger. Connecting the wheels to the body is what Ford calls “High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension” or HOSS. Since the Sasquatch package is standard issue here, that means it’s using the HOSS 2.0. The ingredients include front independent double wishbones and a rear five-link solid axle with a Panhard rod. At each corner are position-sensitive Bilstein shocks with three varying damping rates.
As far as off-roading capabilities go, there’s no need to question the Bronco: It towers above any obstacle with 292 mm of ground clearance and 850 mm of water fording capability. Hardware-wise, it’s got front and rear lockers, 35-inch mud-terrain tires, and even a complex seven-mode terrain management system dubbed the Goes Over Any Type of Terrain or GOAT (GOATT?).
What is surprising is just how civilized this behemoth is on the pavement. There’s still no mistaking it for a Land Cruiser or a Patrol, but it can tackle daily drives well, all things considered. Because of the tire’s aggressive pattern, a constant thrum will accompany you whatever the speed. At around 80 km/h, this fades into the background, replaced by wind noise from the mirrors and the constant shimmying from the removable roof panels. If you’re used to a luxury SUV, this thing is a ruckus. At the same time, given the off-road-centric hardware, the steering tracks straight and true without any need for constant corrections. Meanwhile, the suspension remains glued enough to the pavement to make you feel confident enough to do quick overtaking (or evasive) maneuvers. It also exhibits a surprisingly pliant high-speed ride too.
At city speeds, the Bronco behaves a bit differently. The proportions make it look intimidating to drive on local roads, but if you’re comfortable with an Everest’s size, it’s no different. The high, squared-off hood with the tiedowns at the leading edges make it easy to place, while the expansive greenhouse reduce blind spots to a minimum. There’s even a multitude of sensors and cameras to help you out too. True to its namesake, it rides like a bucking wild horse at times. The ride is stiff and busy, especially when traversing small, sharp, bumps. Run over a deep pothole, however, and the position-sensitive shocks prove their worth by smoothening things out. Plus, the brakes have excellent bite. Posh condo dwellers too will love the fact that despite the big boy tires and high clearance suspension, at 1,854 mm in height, it’ll fit in most underground parking garages with no issue.
Packing a 2.7-liter V6 with two snails, it puts out 335 horsepower and 555 Nm of torque. Although acceleration isn’t exactly the point of a Bronco, you’d be surprised it does the century mark in less than 7 seconds. Even better, there’s no need to wring the heck out of it to get good pace going. With peak torque arriving at just 3,000 rpm, a light effort of the right foot is enough for it to overcome its two-ton curb weight. Plus, it’ll go like a bat out of hell, only losing steam at the upper end of the rev range.
As with most newer Fords, the Bronco comes with a 10-speed automatic. It’s a decent performer, for as long as you don’t ask much of it. It prefers to stay relaxed and lumber in gear rather than be commanded to do a quick up- or downshift. There’s a manual shift override, but its responses are delayed. Plus, they’re done by an awkward switch on the side of the shifter. Ford also doesn’t make great claims about fuel economy and at 7.35 km/L at a relatively brisk 23 km/h average speed, you’ll need a large enough weekly gas budget to keep this SUV happily chugging along.
The way the Bronco looks is more of function over form as engineers wanted to give it as generous approach and departure angles straight from the factory as possible. Of course, designers couldn’t help but give it some retro cues and you’ll find that in the squared off body, round headlights, and simplified taillights. The white BRONCO lettering is icing on the cake. The resulting SUV is charmingly old school, yet fresher and more modern than any version of the Jeep Wrangler.
Getting into the Bronco requires strong legs and arms since you need to hoist yourself up (there’s a grab handle by the dash, but it’s weirdly-placed). Once you do, you’re treated to a cabin that’s solidly built. The quality of the plastics itself isn’t special, but the way they’re put together is. The switchgear’s rubberized, and that’s on purpose because it can be hosed down when need be. The mirror and window switches are by the transmission tunnel, and that’s because the doors can be removed.
Upfront, the seats are comfortable and offer a lot of adjustments. The rear accommodations are roomy enough for three adults too, although for its exterior size, the knee room is merely okay. Also, take note that while there are both USB Type A and Type C charging ports and even a 120-volt inverter, there are no AC vents at the back whatsoever. The cargo hold, meanwhile, is large and square-shaped sized to fit large suitcases, boxes, or even its front doors and front roof panels.
Despite being an off-road vehicle, when it comes to on-board tech, the large center touchscreen is crisp and easy enough to navigate. Plus, unlike previous experiences in the Ranger, Everest, and the Mustang, the corded smartphone connection remained reliable (I never trust wireless connections). The standard B&O speaker system also sounded great. If anything, it’s the instruments that need some work. The traditional analog speedometer’s alright, but everything else displayed in the LCD screen isn’t as legible. For example, the revs are displayed as an incomprehensible thermometer-style bar. All other gauges, including optional off-road centric ones are crammed in a narrow column on the right side. Thankfully, these can also be displayed as a split-screen on the infotainment system.
Priced at P 4,998,000, the Bronco isn’t cheap. It also comes in a segment with just a handful of rivals with the Jeep Wrangler being the most direct one. With that, the Bronco won’t exactly fly off the showroom floors the same way a Ranger Raptor will ever do. But that’s not the point. Ultimately, the Bronco’s arrival here is Ford’s way of telling everyone that they’re not just a one-trick car company when it comes to 4x4s. Despite its issues and shortcomings, the Bronco simply oozes with character. It’s a capable machine, but one that also looks fantastic. Sure, it’s not the most cultured choice out there, but it’s the one that’s the most fun.
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2025 Ford Bronco Outer Banks Sasquatch |
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| Bottom Line | |
| Pros | Easier to drive than you think, charming design, complete off-road hardware. |
| Cons | Noisy on the highway, busy ride in the city. |
| TL;DR | Forget the shortcomings, this SUV oozes charm and capability in equal measure. |
| Ownership | |
| Year Introduced | 2024 |
| Warranty | 3 years / 100,000 kilometers |
| The Basics | |
| Body Type | Mid-sized SUV |
| Seating | 5 |
| Engine / Drive | F/4WD, Auto, Low, Locking (Front & Rear) |
| Under the Hood | |
| Displacement (liters) | 2.7 |
| Aspiration | Twin Turbo |
| Fuel Delivery | Direct Injection |
| Layout / # of Cylinders | V6 |
| Maximum Output (PS @ rpm) | 335 @ 5,750 |
| Maximum Torque (Nm @ rpm) | 555 @ 3,000 |
| Fuel / Min. Octane | Gasoline / ~91 |
| Transmission | 10 AT |
| Cruise Control | Yes, Adaptive |
| Fuel Economy (km/L) @ Ave. Speed (km/h) | 7.35 @ 23 |
| Fuel Tank Size (L) | 78 |
| Dimensions and Weights | |
| Length (mm) | 4,811 |
| Width (mm) | 1,928 |
| Height (mm) | 1,854 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,950 |
| Curb Weight (kg) | 2,146 |
| Suspension and Tires | |
| Front Suspension | Independent, Double Wishbone, Bilstein |
| Rear Suspension | 5-Link, Coil Spring, Bilstein |
| Front Brakes | Vented Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Disc |
| Parking Brake | Electronic, w/ Auto Hold |
| Tires |
Goodyear Territory MT LT 315/70 R 17 S (f & r) |
| Recommended Tire Pressure (PSI) | 39 all |
| Wheels | Alloy |
| Safety Features | |
| Airbags | 6 |
| Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) | Yes, with EBD |
| Traction / Stability Control | Yes |
| Parking Sensors | Yes, Front & Rear |
| Parking Camera | Yes, 360-degree |
| Front Seatbelts | 3-pt ELR w/ pre-tensioners x 2 |
| Rear Seatbelts | 3-pt ELR x 3 |
| ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor | Yes |
| Advanced Driver Assist System |
Pre-Collision Assist Automatic Emergency Braking Dynamic Brake Support Lane-Keeping System Lane-Keeping Alert Driver Alert Evasive Steer Assist |
| Other Safety Features |
Hill Start Assist Blind Spot Information System Cross Traffic Alert Post-Impact Braking Tire Pressure Monitoring System |
| Exterior Features | |
| Headlights | LED, w/ Auto High Beam |
| Fog Lamps | Yes, Front (LED) |
| Light Operation | Automatic |
| Wiper Operation | Variable Intermittent |
| Tailgate | Manual, 2-Piece |
| Interior Features | |
| Steering Wheel Adjust | Tilt/Telescopic |
| Steering Wheel Material | Leather |
| Seating Adjustment (driver) | Electric, 8-way, Heated |
| Seating Adjustment (front passenger) | Electric, 6-way, Heated |
| Seating Surface | Leather |
| 2nd Row | 60/40 Split-Fold |
| 3rd Row | None |
| Sunroof | None (Removable Roof) |
| Multi-Information Display / Size | Yes, 8-inch |
| Convenience Features | |
| Power Steering | Yes |
| Power Door Locks | Yes |
| Power Windows | Yes |
| Power Mirrors | Yes |
| Rear View Mirror | Auto-dimming |
| Proximity Key | Yes |
| Climate Control | Dual Zone |
| Audio System |
Stereo USB Type A USB Type C Bluetooth |
| Wireless Charger | Front |
| Infotainment Display / Size | 12-inch |
| Smartphone Connectivity |
Apple CarPlay (Wireless) Android Auto (Wireless) |
| # of Speakers | 10, B&O |
| Steering Controls | Yes |
Good job, Ford.
ReplyDeleteI was seriously contemplating one but the price is about a million more than what I was willing to pay for something I'm going to use for a 1,000 kms or less per year. I still want one but there's so many other good cars to choose from in the 5M range.
ReplyDeleteI guess it depends sa tao.
DeletePero personally, for under 5 million, I would rather get a Mazda CX9 (at 2.999M + cash discount incentive) or a Mazda CX90 (3.7 Million)
The Bronco's main market is North America, so it suggests that the former has the Southeast Asian market not being its priority.
DeleteBronco is legendary, and so you are becoming among motoring journalist👍
ReplyDeleteHonestly, the Bronco is for people who don't want to own or drive a Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Kicks? Mazda CX-5 etc..
DeleteI've been daily driving an FJ Cruiser since 2017, it's the Bronco's price i cannot justify to myself. Those vehicles you mentioned? You can buy 2 of those for the price of a Bronco so it's not really an apples to apples comparison.
DeleteBronco and FJ Cruiser are rear-wheel drive while they have 4WD as an option, whereas the RAV4, CR-V, Kicks, CX-5 and others are front-wheel drive.
Deleteisn't this the car that RG hates?
ReplyDeleteyes rg is a japanese car loyalist not european car fan and oh ford also has europe developed cars like fiesta and focus
DeleteNot only this dude, but any ecobomb-engined Ford models.
DeleteThat's why its hard to inform that Ford is no longer available in the Japanese market.
DeleteRG, the guy who never tried Ford.
DeleteHi Sir Uly curiously, when you got an offer for product planner did they retracted it later, or did you negotiate and then they refused?
ReplyDeleteThe Outer Banks is too large, do you think Ford PH would bring in the smaller Sport variant?
A bit of both, I guess. They made an offer, but I also didn't negotiate. Later on, when I met with my would-be boss during his retirement party, he told me that he thought that I'd do better as a motoring journalist so they quietly retracted the offer. In the end, I was thankful too as that position was made redundant when Ford closed their plant here. I would have had to move to BKK if ever. I almost did get an offer from Chevrolet to work in regional too...thank goodness I dodged a bullet there!
DeleteRight now, the Sport variant doesn't make much sense for the Ford line-up. They could try entering the compact SUV space once again with it as opposed to the Escape, but unless it's priced and speced competitively, it won't fly. Plus, it might just dilute the Bronco branding. Right now, they'd be better off launching their planned electrified vehicles first.
DeleteThanks for sharing your experience Sir.
DeleteDuring the early to mid 2000s, Ford PH was starting to become strong locally and were exporting cars too. Probably can be considered an ideal workplace. But sudden turn of events towards the end of that decade (aka. 2008 world crisis) eventually changed everything, particularly in the long-term. Perhaps a blessing in disguise Sir Uly as this website and your youtube channel are a success.
Since Ford PH has directed its sales to Pick-ups and SUVs (ditching sedans/hatchbacks), the Bronco Sport could be pricey, but the Territory and Ecosport doesn't cut it (personal opinion).
Delete