2024 Ford Bronco Wildtrak test drive review

It was a long time coming, but we finally drove the 2024 Ford Bronco. Ever since the official tease in 2018, we’ve been waiting, at times impatiently, to get behind the wheel. We even considered ordering one, based 100% on looks alone. But it wasn’t so easy. 

Since the return of the Bronco in 2021, they’ve been hard to come by — especially in the upper level Wildtrak trim. Some people we know waited years for theirs. But now it finally happened. We drove one, and it wasn’t what we were expecting. There were a few things we loved and some surprises. 

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Photo credit: Ford Newsroom

On-road driving 

Broncos are everywhere these days. Ford has finally caught up with demand and pretty much everyone that wants one either has one or can get one. With so many on the road, we assumed they were great to daily drive, kind of the ultimate do-it-all vehicle.

With great looks, robust off-road capabilities and what appeared to be enjoyable driving dynamics, surely the Bronco was the answer to all our problems, right? It would check all the boxes for our next vehicle … right? 

We like off-road-oriented vehicles. A lot. We’ve owned two TRD Pro 4Runners and two Jeep Wranglers, and have spent plenty of time behind the wheel of other respected rigs like the Wrangler Rubicon 392, Ford F-150 Raptor and the Ram TRX. We’re especially fans of Bronco’s direct competitor, the Wrangler Rubicon — especially in 392 form (RIP) — which only increased our interest in the Bronco Wildtrak and all of its off-road goodies.

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Photo credit: Ford Newsroom

During our testing of the Bronco, we did not take it off-road, but we did drive it on-road a fair amount. And you know what? It’s OK at the daily driving thing, but not great. It’s big, loud and fairly crude in its driving demeanor. Worse yet, the engine was surprisingly coarse and unrefined, which was amplified by a flat exhaust note that belied its muscular appearance. Upon first acceleration and hearing the sound my wife and I looked at each other and both said, “Seriously?” 

In short, we’re a bit surprised to see so many Broncos used as daily drivers, never setting foot off-road. We wonder if some buyers realized, once the honeymoon phase was over, that this rig was not what they expected it to be — or even want. 

Performance and off-road prowess

Lackluster on-road driving aside, the Bronco is no slouch when it comes to performance. The engine, a 2.7-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder, produces 330 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque; a smaller, turbocharged 4-cylinder is available on lower trims. While unrefined in its sound, it delivered surprisingly raucous power under load.

The 10-speed automatic transmission, the only one available on the Wildtrak, seemed well-matched to the motor and provided natural feeling shift points. The fuel economy was pretty poor, as we experienced only lower teens around town.

Photo credit: Ford Newsroom

Where the power turns hilarious is when it's paired with the Fox shocks as part of the Wildtrak’s HOSS 3.0 suspension setup. These shocks are incredible and pillowy soft, especially when combined with the thick 35-inch tires standard on the Wildtrak. This suspension off-road would be incredible and would surely soak up bumps and rocks like they were my kids Cocoa Krispies.

On-road it does much the same, but it’s exceptionally rolly polly around corners and rears up on its haunches under acceleration. Nose dive is likewise hilarious and considerable under hard braking. 

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Of course, as you probably already know, the Bronco Wildtrak is full of awesome off-road performance enhancing features, including several G.O.A.T. modes, an on-demand four-wheel drive system, a rear locking differential and more. This is a serious off-road tool and it would be a shame not to use it as such.

Photo credit: Ford Newsroom

Interior comfort 

For this test, we took our family along. My wife was comfortable up front, and our two kids had a decent amount of room in the rear. Unfortunately, rear seat occupants have to deal with an oddly upright seat back and the absence of center console mounted air vents. Fun fact: The four-door version only has an inch more legroom than the two-door. There’s plenty of cargo room, even enough to accommodate all four doors when removed.

If you want this to be a family vehicle, it totally could be, and you’d definitely be one of the cooler parents in the carpool pickup line. As a bonus, most of the interior is covered in hard plastic and rubber, which makes cleaning very easy.

Final thoughts 

The 2024 Ford Bronco, especially in Wildtrak form, is undeniably cool. It looks rugged, is capable off-road and is boldly different from nearly all SUVs on the market today. Ford has nailed the delicate mix of nostalgia, modern technology and comfort to a very appealing degree. 

However, if you’re expecting an SUV that is the perfect do-it-all vehicle, you’re probably going to be let down. It’s a bit of a chore to drive around town, but once the pavement ends, hoo boy — you’re going to have a lot of fun, and you’ll look darn good while you’re at it. 

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Highs:

• Excellent, rugged, attractive styling 

• Top-tier off-road capabilities

• Top-off versatility and fun

• Peppy turbocharged V6

• Has the “cool” factor

Lows:

• Much better off-road than on

• Surprisingly pricey

• Coarse, uninspiring engine sounds and exhaust note

Photo credit: Ford Newsroom

FAQs 

Is the Bronco Wildtrak fun to drive? 

Yes and no. Does it have the cool factor? Yes. Is it awesome having the top off? Yes. Is it enjoyable to drive around town? Not really. Is it comfortable? Kind of. Will it absolutely crush it off-road? 100%. 

Photo credit: Ford Newsroom

Is it good for families? 

Yes and no. Kids can fit fine in the back, but they may not be comfortable given how upright the seatback is. There are also no rear air vents, so they may get warm. The interior is largely comprised of plastic and rubber, which will make for easy cleanup when the inevitable spills happen.

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.

About the author: Having owned everything from a DeLorean to an E46 BMW M3 and a Toyota Land Cruiser, Jason Bell is a lifelong car enthusiast who loves sharing his passions as a teacher, automotive journalist and social media manager. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press where he serves on the Board of Directors. Contact him at jasonbellcars@gmail.com.