Ford Bronco: Four Years Later, Did It Live Up to the Hype? (2025 Stroppe Edition Review)

Bronco's Return and Sales Success

• 🚀 The Ford Bronco returned in 2021, aiming to offer a Wrangler-like open-top experience with fewer on-road compromises, similar to a 4Runner.
• 📈 From a sales perspective, the Bronco has been a significant success, selling over 470,000 units in just a few years.

Design and Special Editions

• ✨ The Bronco's design is praised for being modern, fresh, and retro-cool, even four years later.
• 🎨 The 2025 Bronco Stroppe Edition features a bold, multi-color design with Oxford white, code orange, and Atlas blue accents, drawing attention on the road.
• 💡 The Stroppe Edition includes unique Easter eggs like a Sasquatch icon and a cactus hint to its desert heritage.

Powertrain and Pricing

• ⚙️ Initially offered with two-door and four-door configurations and four- or six-cylinder engines, the V6 is now exclusive to the Stroppe Edition two-door, making it the most expensive non-Raptor Bronco at $78,000.
• 💨 The four-cylinder engine is considered plenty powerful, especially with an optional $895 tune that mimics V6 performance.
• 💰 The high price of the Stroppe Edition is questioned, with suggestions that a base two-door could be similarly equipped for less.

On-Road and Off-Road Performance

• ⛰️ The Bronco is acknowledged as highly capable off-road, with impressive performance demonstrated in various TFL Off-Road videos.
• 🛣️ On-road, the Bronco offers easy driving dynamics, a smooth ride, and quiet cabin, outperforming the Wrangler and Grenadier in refinement.
• ⚖️ Compared to newer competitors like the 4Runner and Land Cruiser, the Bronco is considered to be in the middle ground for on-road refinement.

Interior and Technology

• 📱 Ford has improved the Bronco's interior over the years, adding features like rear seat AC vents and a fully digital instrument cluster.
• 🎛️ The Stroppe Edition features a more premium feel with enhanced stitching and contrasting dash panels.
• 🔊 While the B&O audio system is noted as a slight letdown, the infotainment system is fast and easy to use, with the retention of physical climate controls being a significant plus.

Reliability and Value

• ✅ Broncos are generally holding up well, benefiting from shared components with other Ford products like the Ranger.
• 💰 While higher trims like the Stroppe are expensive, base models and mid-range trims (Big Bend, Badlands) offer good value for their price, especially compared to the average new car price.
• 🌟 The Bronco is seen as a fun, practical, and usable machine, particularly in its more affordable configurations.