All right, Mr Mars got a chance to review the new Ford Bronco.
We're waiting to hear what you got to say, Mike.
I have to say right up front I got the most comments on this vehicle than any vehicle.
I've ever driven including the Hellcats and stuff.
I mean, it's just, people recognize this vehicle.
It is so well done with this heritage model.
Now, this is the 2023 Ford Bronco.
It is the Heritage Edition.
This is the two-door model.
It is a truck-based SUV.
You can get seven different models of the Bronco.
This is the sixth generation of it.
It's part of it, but this version they've got two different levels of the heritage and it is a four-pasture vehicle, two-door, just like you remember them, and they've just done it extremely well to make it look the same.
But it is obviously much bigger.
The one I had came with a race red, so it had the white removable top, had the white grille, the white 17-inch wheels on it and it's just really well done.
It had LED headlamps up front that are automatic high beams.
The wheels are a 17-inch Oxford white aluminum wheel that's made to look like the old steel wheels.
Just really nice looking.
Now, when you get to the inside of this vehicle, again, this is a four-pasture model.
They don't even try to make it a five.
We had the plaid cloth seats.
They're very supportive.
The front buckets are heated.
The split rear seats that fold are also folded in the plaid cloth.
We had the eight-inch center stack in the front and it's always nice to have a little bit bigger, but this one was very good.
And the dash on it we had the white dash all the way across.
Almost looks like it's plastic.
It's not, but that's part of that heritage, look that goes with it.
We also had the eight-inch digital screen for the driver to have all the controls and all the information that the driver needs there Locking glove box on it.
We had the grab handles.
One thing I wanted to note the grab handle coming in off the passenger side, because it is set up.
It is a lifted-type vehicle.
It's up on the console close to the center stack.
It's a reach.
It's not up on the pillar where you would think it would be like in a lot of Ford vehicles.
So it's.
My wife found it a little inconvenient.
It worked, but it would have been so much easier and better if it had been up there on the pillar.
Now, up under the hood, we had the 2.3-liter
EcoBoost 300 horsepower, 325 pound-feet of torque.
It is a V6 option that will get you the 330 horsepower.
Main thing about the V6 is the 415 pound-feet of torque.
Now I drove this.
We were backed by a seven-speed manual transmission.
I think it's got more than enough power to go any place.
You want A manual transmission.
It took first.
When I first got in it was dark and I wasn't looking and I went down there and I pushed on the brake and I hit the start button and it wouldn't start.
I realized it was a manual so I had to have the clutch, everything in, so it was very unusual to get into one that's new from the factory.
So the EPA says you should be looking for 16 in the city, 18 on the highway, with combined about 17.
I happened to get across 301.5
miles, 19.2
miles for the guy in this thing and I was very impressed with that and, like I say, it has more than enough power.
I don't really know why you would want that.
Did you rev it up to like 7,000 RPM?
before you shifted it.
Nah, nah, no point.
I mean, this is not what that vehicle is made for, so, but I wish there was some place around where we could do a little rock crawling or something.
The other thing we got is a little mud and a little sand.
And again, I don't know why you would want a V6 in this vehicle.
I think the inline four has got plenty of power.
Now, driving this vehicle out on the road, it's got a little bit of noise.
It's got a removable hard top on it, the doors are where you can take them all off, so there's a little more road noise.
But it's a little bit heavier and it's bigger, I think, than a lot of its competitors.
So it rides surprisingly well with those 17-inch of those big tall tires on it.
That part of that is because it's got an independent front suspension which helps with the steering and everything.
Now the pricing on it.
Now, this is based.
The heritage model that we had is based on a mid-trim level.
There is another one that's based on the upper Top of the line model.
It will cost you another 20-25 grand, but the base model for a Bronco, according to the press kit, because the Mineroni doesn't have any pricing on this vehicle pre-production type vehicle but from the press kit, 34245 is where you can start on a Bronco.
Now the one-wheel drive, the Heritage model, starts at $44,305, which really surprised me for what I was driving.
The best I can tell the Heritage model is going to start at about $49,000, trying to figure out what all was on it and what wasn't on it and put it in there.
So sub 50 is what I would think.
If you want the top of the line model, it's 66.5
, but that's based up there with the Raptor.
The only real competitor I thought was applicable was the Jeep Wrangler and I found a Sahara for $45,925, so about in that same range of $49.50,000
.
And I think if you're looking, you really need to go look at this particularly.
Like I say, if you like the old school Bronco.
This is definitely something to look at.
Well, I'll tell you that Ford loaned me one of those.
It was a yellow with the white wheels and white top it was.
I loved it and I was very thankful that I got a chance to drive it from Chicago up to Wisconsin and back, and it was great, and I've already reviewed that and I said the same thing it was great.
Now, mine didn't have the manual transmission, it was automatic, but whatever, yeah, I probably wouldn't go for the manual just because if I was rock crawling or something in the sand, you know the manual is a little bit tougher than the automatic.
But again, and surprisingly, most of the comments I got were from women.
I could hear it.
You know wind is down.
I'd be going by like left the grocery store.
Oh, I like that, Mike.
Oh, look at that.
Bronco oh Mike, oh hi Mike.
No, they were saying.
isn't that Bronco Billy?
Hey, this program is available 24-7 on iHeart Radio.
Just look for In Wheel Time Car Talk, Maybe also.
About this episode
The 2023 Ford Bronco Heritage Edition is turning heads with its nostalgic design and modern features. Reviewers highlight its striking aesthetics, including the race red exterior and plaid cloth seats. The two-door SUV offers a powerful 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, with options for a V6, and a manual transmission that adds to the driving experience. Despite some road noise and a slightly inconvenient grab handle, the Bronco impresses with its off-road capabilities and comfort. Pricing starts around $44,305, making it competitive against the Jeep Wrangler.
Eager to know how the 2023 Ford Bronco Heritage Edition stacks up against the legends of the road? Mike Marrs takes a look at this nostalgic beast with a modern twist. In an episode packed with hands-on experience, Mike breaks down the Bronco's standout features—from its eye-catching race red exterior with a white removable top to the cozy heated plaid seats. He shares the nuances of the two-door model's design that pays tribute to the iconic original, right down to the blast-from-the-past manual transmission.
Fasten your seatbelts for a test drive that goes beyond the aesthetics, examining the Bronco's 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine and contemplating if the optional V6 can really enhance the adventure. Mike's feedback on the real-world fuel efficiency and his musings about its off-road prowess in mud and sand will inform your opinion on whether this SUV is more than just a pretty face. Let's not merely daydream about rocky terrains; join us on this journey to discover if the Bronco lives up to its robust and rugged heritage.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
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