One of the most popular vehicles in recent years is the Ford Bronco. The 2022 model brings exciting, nostalgic designs, a fun character, and fully capable prowess off the pavement. But as industry reviews progressed, there were apparently some hiccups about this rugged SUV.
Before you explore your Bronco buying options, read on. Here are three reasons why you might want to avoid buying the 2022 Ford Bronco. While there seems to be a lot to love about, there are a few notable distinctions that might make you think twice.
2022 Ford Bronco Specs
Fans were excited to see the return of the iconic Ford Bronco, and for good reason. It’s a worthy contender, packed with options and available extras. What edmunds Contours, you can choose from seven base trim levels: Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Badlands, Wildtrak and Everglades.
You can also choose a version with two or four doors. And the customization options seem endless, making it a great choice for comfort, luxury, and off-road preferences.
Entry-level versions come with the still-impressive 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with output benchmarks of 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. The optional engine in the 2022 Ford Bronco, which is a notable favorite, is the 2.7-liter V6, making 330 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque.
New owners can also expect decent tech, including digital instrument clusters, push-button start, satellite radio, Wi-Fi hotspots, and five Drive Mode terrain management selections, all as standard equipment.
Depending on how you outfit your 2022 Ford Bronco, you can expect to pay between $31,300 and $68,500, which also offers great affordability flexibility for consumers. But despite all these advantages, there are some disadvantages to consider before buying.
1. Poor build quality
motor trend spent some quality time with the 2022 Ford Bronco. And while reviewers gave the Bronco plenty of pats on the hood, one of the most significant disappointments came in build quality.
Reviewers cited that the later Bronco “struggled” in engineering excellence. The overall feel of quality is “raw”, suggesting that the Bronco simply doesn’t measure up for today’s car-buying consumers.
To be fair, this is an area where it’s hard to make a judgment without a few more years of evidence. Time will tell how well the 2022 Bronco holds up, but it’s not a good sign, this is an area that critics already mention.
2. Poor ride quality
Here’s another caveat to consider that could influence your Bronco buying decision. It’s noisy. In fact, it’s noisier at higher speeds than even the notoriously windy Jeep Wrangler.
The MotorTrend team says the Bronco’s ride quality is even more flawed with its faulty roof panels. There’s little about this rugged, playful off-roader that inspires confidence in ride quality. And it certainly doesn’t feel “Ford Tough” under hard driving.
3. No manual transmission available on ‘big’ engine 2022 Ford Bronco
One of the biggest advantages of the 2022 Ford Bronco that the MotorTrend team shared was how fun and responsive the manual transmission was to drive on the lower-tier trims. So you can imagine the disappointment when they found out they couldn’t have that shifting fun with the bigger engine.
Ford’s 2.7-liter engine only comes with the 10-speed automatic transmission, which is a huge disappointment considering how well the manual transmission works with the base engine configuration.
There have been a few other downsides on the various “pros and cons” lists for the 2022 Ford Bronco. Fuel economy isn’t nearly as impressive, wind noise can be distracting, and some of the interior materials feel a bit cheap, at the same time. less so according to some industry critics.
But the three negative aspects described above seem to be most prominent among all of them. And in the end, you may be discouraged from buying the 2022 Ford Bronco as a result.
Fortunately, driving noise and manual transmission issues are two potential problems you can see for yourself before you buy.
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