2023 Ford Bronco

The 2023 Ford Bronco undergoes some changes to its features for the model year, including two new trims of Heritage Edition and Heritage Limited Edition. These add a two-tone paint job, heritage-style white grille, squared-off fender flares, powder-coated front bumper, and fog lamps. The Heritage includes white wheels, plaid cloth seats, and white interior trim accents. The Heritage Limited has gloss-black wheels with white lip and “dog-dish” centres, metal exterior badges, and leather-trimmed vinyl plaid seats with red stitching.

A white modular hard top is unique to the Heritage editions, where it’s standard equipment; and an optional dual-top package of hard and soft top can only be ordered with a white hard top on those editions. Across the lineup, new paint colours are Azure Grey Metallic Tri-Coat and Robin’s Egg Blue; while Desert Sand and Cyber Orange Metallic Tri-Coat are discontinued.

Performance

The Bronco uses a turbocharged (which Ford calls “EcoBoost”) 2.3L four-cylinder engine making 275 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque, with a seven-speed manual transmission or ten-speed automatic; or a 2.7L EcoBoost four-cylinder that makes 315 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, exclusively with the ten-speed automatic. Both engines will make more horsepower and torque on premium-grade fuel, with the 2.3L rising to 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft; and the 2.7L going up to 330 horsepower and 415 lb-ft. Engine availability will depend on the trim, with lower trims offering both engine sizes, and higher trims one or the other.

Two 4x4 systems are offered, starting with a base part-time two-speed unit with electronic shift-on-the-fly and 2.72:1 low ratio; or an advanced system with 4Auto mode and a 3.06:1 low ratio. The standard undercarriage is a Dana AdvanTEK independent front suspension and Dana 44 AdvanTEK solid rear differential. The system can be optioned with front and rear Spicer Performa-TraK electronic lockers.

The Bronco Raptor comes exclusively with a 3.0L EcoBoost V6 that makes 418 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque, and uses a ten-speed automatic transmission and two-speed transfer case with 4Auto. It includes Fox internal-bypass shocks with remote rear reservoirs, 4.70 rear axle with electronic locking differential, full steel underbody protection, and 37-inch all-terrain tires.

Practicality

Most trims come in two- or four-door configuration, except for the Everglades and Raptor that are four-door only. It’s the closest competitor to the Jeep Wrangler but offers a few benefits over it – it’s easier to remove the roof, the removable doors fit inside the vehicle, and the side mirrors are attached to the body and stay on when the doors come off. Both can get you to the ends of the earth and back, but while the Jeep’s solid front axle can have an advantage on the toughest trails, the Bronco’s independent front suspension makes it far more pleasant to drive on pavement.

Canadian Pricing

The Bronco comes in ten trim levels. The Base trim starts at $46,210 in two-door, and at $50,990 in four-door. At the other end of the “regular Bronco” scale, the priciest is the new Heritage Limited Edition, starting at $86,830 in two-door and $90,155 in four-door. The Bronco Raptor, in four-door only, starts at $108,565. All trims can then be further upgraded with options and accessories.