Not too long ago, the folks at Donut Media took an otherwise insignificant Ford Ranger and breathed new life into the pickup, turning into a certifiable off-road-ready racer. Now, they’re borrowing another Ford nameplate and putting it to the test. The Ford Bronco is up on deck, and the Donut crew checks out an example of the off-road SUV from every single generation.
Of course, first up is the first-gen Bronco. They’ve gotten their hands on a 1968 Bronco, which is commended for its simplicity. It doesn’t ride the best, but it was “made for the person that owns the farm,” and represented Ford’s first foray into off-road racing. It has “gnarly” steering, but man, does it just look cool. Justin gives it a 9.3/10, and Zach a 10/10.
Next, they test out a second-gen Bronco, which is basically a reskinned Ford F-150. It’s heavier and longer than the first-gen, and harnesses a 5.0 V8 engine, but it’s a lot more comfortable inside. It handles like a boat – “a very strong boat” – which can make it challenging to drive. Either way, it’s one of the more comfortable rides, earning a 9/10 from Justin and an 8/10 from Zach.
The third-gen Ford Bronco represented a major shift in the off-road SUV’s trajectory. More options became available, like transmissions, graphics packages, and other mechanical and aesthetic improvements. It feels more “modern” than the previous generations, and it handles well. However, they comment that they feel it’s “lost its character,” becoming more of a daily driver than a sporty off-road SUV. It gets a 6.4/10 from Justin and a 7/10 from Zach.
The fourth-generation Ford Bronco wasn’t really anything special. It feels more put-together, but beyond that, it’s nothing to write home about, and both Justin and Zach rate it at 4.5/10. The fifth-gen is only marginally better. It’s capable but sluggish and just isn’t that exciting, all things considered, earning a 5.4/10 and a 4.5/10 respectively. The Ford Bronco was killed off for a while after the fifth gen wrapped up, and wouldn’t return until 2021 with the advent of the sixth generation model.
It’s luxurious. It’s technologically advanced. Now, the Ford Bronco can do everything. The Donut guys argue that the modern Bronco is a great vehicle, but it’s just not deserving of the Bronco nameplate. It’s just so different than Broncos past that Justin refuses to rate it on the same scale, while Zach gives it a 9.5/10.
There’s plenty to love about the modern Bronco, but overall, the older generations seem to be the most appealing, and not just to Donut. Vintage Bronco values are on the rise across the board, proving that sometimes, classic is best.
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