For the 2023 model year, the Ford Bronco is celebrating its origins with the launch of special edition Heritage and Heritage Limited models, which pay specific homage to the 1966 Bronco that's now cemented in history as a legendary vehicle.
Classic design elements, unique graphics, and exclusive paint colors will transport you back to the golden era of the automotive industry while the Bronco's modern engineering offers a rugged style and excellent off-road capabilities.
Let's see what else is in store for adventure-loving trail riders with a closer look at the 2023 Ford Bronco SUV.
2023 Ford Bronco Models
A total of 10 Bronco models are available for 2023, and include the debut of the Heritage and Heritage Limited special editions.
- Base
- Big Bend
- Black Diamond
- Outer Banks
- Badlands
- Wildtrak
- Everglades
- Raptor
- Heritage
- Heritage Limited
The Heritage and Heritage Limited models stand out as additions to the lineup thanks to two-tone visuals, an exclusive palette of nostalgic paint colors, a bodyside stripe, red "FORD" lettering on the grille, and 17-inch heritage-style wheels. These vehicles are destined to be instant collector's items, and offer a wonderful commemoration of the original Bronco.
For the main Bronco lineup, each model builds upon the previous one, and adds more off-road and performance capabilities, extra styling details, and enhanced convenience features. The Bronco Raptor sits at the top of the hill as the ultimate variant, offering the most horsepower, best suspension, and largest all-terrain tires.
2023 Ford Bronco Exterior
Everything about the Bronco was built so that you make the most out of your adventures. Available in two-door and four-door configurations, the 2023 Bronco features removable doors and tops which can be swapped with different styles to match your lifestyle.
The two-door Bronco presents its iconic square shape alongside short approach and departure angles. Its wide stance provides driving stability, and the extra long doors offer easy access to the rear seats. For a more family-friendly approach, the four-door Bronco has a longer wheelbase to comfortably seat five passengers, and includes the ability to store all four doors in the cargo area.
For coverage from the sun and rain, a segmented hard-top roof allows for partially open, half open, and fully removed configurations, while the soft-top roof (standard for four-door models) offers the same flexibility with the added option to remove only the back panel when the roof is on.
This flexibility is also offered with wheel designs as there are 13 unique styles to choose from - perfect for building a personalized expression of Bronco with the 13 available exterior paint colors, including three new heritage-inspired options: Azure Gray, Yellowstone, and Robin's Egg Blue.
With the Bronco Raptor, you'll get the longest and widest wheelbase, as well as the tallest dimensions, all in the name of conquering every terrain. Additional exterior highlights for Bronco include rock rails, steel bash plates, snorkel system, and winch kit.
2023 Ford Bronco Interior
To be prepared for any type of adventure, the Bronco's interior can be configured with a variety of durable materials as well as luxury amenities - it really depends on how messy you like to get while playing, and how much gear you'll be bringing along.
Material options for the passenger area come in multiple colorways, and can be simple cloth-based or a more durable marine-grade vinyl. Of course, leather-trimmed surfaces are always available for an extra touch of style. And there are 13 unique combinations to choose from so you can have both style and ease of maintenance.
Bronco also goes the extra mile by integrating rubberized floor mats with drain plugs and sealed switches so you can effortlessly wash out dirt and debris with any hose. In addition, the marine-grade vinyl seats are resistant to mildew and are non-porous for simple cleaning.
Usable space is generous as well, with the two-door Bronco offering up to 99 cu. ft. of passenger volume, and the four-door Bronco providing up to 108.2 cu. ft. with the soft top. To put that into perspective, the larger Bronco can easily accommodate two adults for an overnight sleep.
For connectivity and entertainment, the SYNC 4 system offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, voice recognition, real-time traffic, and more through an intuitive interface. Plus, you can naturally ask for support from SYNC 4, like "How much fuel is left?" or "Recommend BBQ restaurants nearby." These conversational voice commands really enhance the Bronco experience, leaving the research to SYNC 4 while you focus on having fun.
2023 Ford Bronco Performance
Off-roading is the Bronco's strong point as it's "Ford tough and built wild." There's a lot of innovative design and technology at work behind the scenes to ensure this SUV is not only capable, but extremely durable.
For starters, the 2023 Bronco is powered by a 2.3-liter EcoBoost I-4 engine or 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, depending on model selection, and the extreme performance Bronco Raptor boasts a 418-horsepower 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 engine that churns out 440 lb ft of rock-climbing torque.
You can control this power yourself through a 7-speed manual transmission, or let the Bronco optimize its powerband with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Every Bronco also comes standard with a robust and intelligent 4x4 system, which can be further enhanced with one of four HOSS (High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension) packages. These setups add more strength and custom tuning for higher-speed trail running, and include exclusive components like twin forged alloy A-arms with long-travel coil-over springs, heavy-duty dampers, steel bash plates and bumpers, and Live Valve technology with position-sensitive damping.
Available electronic front- and rear-locking differentials further enhance the Bronco's off-road capabilities. Featuring a Dana 44 AdvanTEK M220 solid rear differential and/or Dana AdvanTEK M210 independent front suspension, you can engage these lockers with the flip of a dash switch to increase traction power to every wheel. And keeping with this theme of "easy", the front stabilizer bar can also be disconnected via dash switch, instantly allowing for more articulation.
And managing all of this robust hardware is the Bronco's G.O.A.T. Modes (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain), which features up to 10 specific driver-selectable settings tailored for the most common scenarios. Accelerator response, handling, traction, stability, differential lock and more are optimized for wet roads, mud and ruts, rock crawling, towing, or all-out off-road.
Additional trail technologies that help lessen the degree of off-road difficulty include Trail Turn Assist, Ford Trail Control, and Trail 1-Pedal Drive. These features automatically manage braking and/or throttle control so you can relax and take in the scenery.
2023 Ford Bronco Safety
All Bronco models for 2023 come standard with Ford Co-Pilot360 Technology, and include advanced driver assistance features like pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping system, and more.
Other helpful safety features worth highlighting are a 360-degree camera with off-road views, hill descent control, rear view camera with backup assist, and auto high-beam headlamps.
2023 Ford Bronco Overall
The 2023 Bronco is an awesome and modern interpretation of the legacy and performance that came with the original nameplate, and Ford has done an excellent job of staying true to its off-road roots while lathering on the nostalgia with the new Heritage and Heritage Limited edition models.
Whether you're looking to rekindle your original passion for Bronco or introduce a new generation to an American icon, the best way to do both is to take one for a test drive at your local AutoNation Ford dealership.
Andrew Chen | March 10, 2023
