Ford Bronco as a Daily Driver? (vs. Wrangler + Best Bronco) – RIDE + DRIVE (2024)

Aside from the impressive off-road credentials, Ford Broncos are capable all-around daily drivers for singles and families, providing a safe and comfortable ride with broad-ranging utility.

Crucially, the Ford Bronco offers greater confidence-inspiring steering than most off-road capable SUVs – including the Wrangler and 4Runner – making long-distance driving less stressful.

Still, it comes with a couple of drawbacks would-be shoppers should be aware of.

Ford Bronco’s Positives as a Daily Driver

#1 Pleasant On-Road Comfort

The new Ford Bronco that debuted in 2021 is a midsize SUV available in two and four-door configurations that comfortably seat four to five adults.

Still, the Bronco’s cabin is slightly more spacious than a Jeep Wrangler, with plenty of headroom in the front and back seats.

That said, accessing the rear seat of a two-door Bronco can be a squeeze for larger passengers.

Ride comfort on the pavement is commendable for an SUV with off-road-focused suspension, albeit a little firmer than other SUVs, but the seats provide good support and enough adjustments to make the occupants comfortable even on long drives.

The cabin is pleasantly quiet at low speeds, but the wind and road noise increase as speed rises.

The body remains well controlled with minimal lateral rocking motions on the road, although handling agility isn’t a Bronco forte.

#2 Extraordinary Off-Road Ability

Although the Bronco has qualities that make it easy to live with day-to-day, its superior off-road prowess is indisputable.

These features aid the Bronco’s all-terrain capability and enjoyment:

• Four-wheel-drive (standard on all Broncos, with an optional advanced 4×4 system).
• Generous suspension travel and ground clearance (11.6 inches).
• Excellent fording depth (33.5 inches; even more in the Everglades).
• Short front and rear overhangs (easier to judge the four corners).
• Front trail camera (helps you point the front tires and clear obstacles cleanly).
• Removable roof and doors (for extra sunshine in pleasant weather).

Many hardware add-ons are available to keep you moving over challenging terrain in more extreme adventures.

Topping off the reasons to drive a Ford Bronco daily is its rugged design that looks cool without trying too hard.

Other off-road-capable SUVs worth considering include:

1. Toyota 4Runner
2. Jeep Wrangler
3. Land Rover Defender

#3 Good Visibility

The ease of seeing out is a crucial component of an excellent daily driver, and the Bronco SUV performs reasonably well without major issues.

The relatively thick but upright windshield pillars, squarish body, and commanding seating position aid outward visibility.

Seeing over the tall, wide, and flat hood and judging the corners of the vehicle are pretty straightforward.

Further, the Bronco’s standard LED headlights provide a high level of intensity for good illumination of the road straight ahead, allowing the driver to see and react safely.

Sideward visibility is similarly good, which also helps when navigating corners.

Ford Bronco’s Negatives as a Daily Driver

#4 Underwhelming Fuel Economy

Broncos accelerate swiftly despite their bulk, powered by a 300-horsepower turbo four-cylinder powertrain, except for the Wildtrak with its turbo V6.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, fuel efficiency isn’t one of Bronco’s strong suits.

Among the trims equipped with the four-cylinder engine, the base Bronco, Big Bend, and Outer Banks can achieve an EPA-rated 20 mpg in mixed driving.

The Wildtrak is the least efficient at 17 mpg combined, while the Black Diamond and Badlands are middle performers.

The standard four-wheel-drive system inevitably contributes to high fuel consumption.

Still, it’s a minor drawback most Bronco owners can accept, given the SUV’s superior performance and utility.

#5 Heavy with Poor Braking Performance

The Bronco has a burly body-on-frame construction and suspension designed with an apparent focus on off-roading.

Unless you need an all-terrain vehicle, the Bronco is a heavy daily driver, which is a drawback in efficiency terms, and its long stopping distances can attest to it.

Weighing at approx. 4,500 lbs, a four-door Bronco is heavier than the Toyota 4Runner and Jeep Wrangler.

Although jumping on the brakes causes plenty of nosedives, crucially, it needs close to 150 feet to stop from 60 mph on dry pavement and an additional twenty feet in the wet.

These poor stopping distances are typically seen in heavy-duty pickup trucks.

Best Bronco for Daily Driving: Trims Compared

Table Guide:

• Engine: T=turbo; +drivetrain.
• Fuel Economy: mpg combined.
• Fuel Type: Prem=premium; ReQ=required; ReC=recommended.

The Ford Bronco is available in several trim levels.

Although most of them share the same 2.3L turbo four-cylinder engine, except for the Wildtrak, which has a turbo V6, all trims are available as a two-door or a four-door with a long list of appearance and hardware options.

Value-wise, the 4dr Big Bend with the optional hardtop is the best Ford Bronco for daily driving because it gains some interior space and quiet plus the multi-mode terrain management system without sacrificing fuel economy.

These are additional benefits on top of the everyday-car qualities of the base trim, such as excellent utility and pleasant ride quality.

Plus, the Big Bend trim is eligible for the optional Mid and Sasquatch packages.

Features of the Mid package include:

• Heated front seats.
• Dual-zone climate control.
• Ambient interior lighting.
• Rear parking sensors.
• Blind-spot monitoring.
• Lane-keep assist.

Meanwhile, the Sasquatch package comes with:

• All-terrain tires with 17-inch beadlock-capable alloy wheels (to help maintain tire pressure at low-pressure settings).
• Front and rear-locking differentials.
• Lifted suspension (for additional ground clearance).
• High-clearance fender flares.

Alternatively, opt for a four-door Outer Banks as it is also one of the more on-road-friendly Broncos with a spacious interior and the handy features of the Mid package.

What About Daily Driving the Bronco Everglades and Bronco Raptor?

The standard Bronco accelerates strongly and has impressive off-road capabilities.

Still, Ford wasn’t content; hence the Bronco Raptor and Everglades took shape.

The Bronco Raptor received hardware upgrades that include strengthened rear axle and front axle half shafts, improved suspension, increased ground clearance, and widened tracks for greater stability, making it a robust daily driver capable of high-speed and serious off-road duties.

Plus, it carries a more potent turbocharged V6 that pumps out 400-plus horsepower.

At about twice the price of a base Bronco, the added capability isn’t worth the investment if you don’t need it though.

Meanwhile, the Bronco Everglades comes with the Sasquatch package (summarize earlier) as standard but took on a protective bar to the front bumper, steel underside plates, unique rock rails, and a roof rack.

Crucially, it has an increased wading depth (about 3 inches up from the std Bronco) and a snorkel that delivers cleaner air to the engine in dusty or muddy conditions. However, these enhancements make the Bronco Everglades a good choice for daily driving only if you could utilize the added features for your weekend adventures.

The Everglades is considerably pricier than the standard Bronco.

What About Daily Driving the Ford Bronco Sport?

Ford introduced the Bronco Sport alongside the larger body-on-frame Bronco in 2021.

The Ford Bronco Sport is a reasonable daily driver (at best) due to its subpar steering and braking performances, mediocre fuel economy, and poor ride quality relative to class rivals, despite its higher all-terrain capabilities than typical SUVs.

Still, the standard Ford Bronco offers higher overall value with better ride comfort and on-road demeanor at a marginally higher price than the Bronco Sport.

Specific Bronco Years:

1996 Ford Bronco as a Daily Driver

The older generation Ford Bronco (up to 1996) is less suitable for daily driving due to its sheer bulk and abysmal fuel economy, below 15 mpg combined.

That said, it is reliable and has a massive interior for maximum utility.

2021 Ford Bronco as a Daily Driver

The sixth-generation Ford Bronco represented a revival of the accomplished off-roader.

The 2021-gen Ford Bronco boasts enhanced daily-driver capabilities with improved on-road ride quality, fuel efficiency, extensive customization options, and modern tech features.

Its rugged character and rock-crawling skills remain despite those improvements.

Ford Bronco Comparison with Similar Vehicles

Ford Bronco vs. Jeep Wrangler as a Daily Driver

Table Guide:

• Engine: base trim; T=turbo; +drivetrain.
• Fuel Economy: mpg combined (base trim).
• Fuel Type: Prem=premium; ReQ=required; ReC=recommended.
• Maintenance Costs: per year avg. (RepairPal).
• Visibility: excellent, good, average, poor.
• Ride Comfort: excellent, good, average, poor (base trim).

The Ford Bronco exceeds the Jeep Wrangler’s daily-driver competence due to its lower maintenance cost, greater ride comfort, and more stable steering at highway speeds, which is crucial for highway driving.

But if you need an everyday vehicle with decent towing capacity, skip both, and go with a Toyota 4Runner or Honda Passport instead.

Ford Bronco vs. Toyota 4Runner as a Daily Driver

Table Guide:

• Engine: base trim; T=turbo; +drivetrain.
• Fuel Economy: mpg combined (base trim).
• Fuel Type: Prem=premium; ReQ=required; ReC=recommended.
• Maintenance Costs: per year avg. (RepairPal).
• Visibility: excellent, good, average, poor.
• Ride Comfort: excellent, good, average, poor (base trim).

The sixth-gen Bronco has a newer and more efficient engine than the fifth-gen 4 Runner.

The Ford Bronco is a more suitable everyday car than the 4 Runner because its engine produces more power yet consumes less fuel, while it also rides better on the road.

Its higher fuel efficiency somewhat offsets the higher cost of premium fuel.

References:

https://www.ford.com/suvs/bronco/

https://www.ford.com/suvs/bronco-sport/

https://corporate.ford.com/articles/history/the-ford-bronco.html

https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2022/FORD/BRONCO%252520SPORT/SUV/4WD

https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/ford/bronco-4-door-suv/2021