Walking through a military installation parking lot is like peeking into the lives of the people who work there. That red-hot sports car has single twentysomething written all over it. The jacked-up truck with camo seat covers belongs to a good old boy who's logged more miles on dirt than pavement. The boxy SUV with a bucking horse badge is one of the best purchasing decisions on the lot, but which Ford Bronco is best for military life?
When Ford announced the Bronco’s return in 2020, it did so with two vehicles: the Bronco and Bronco Sport. The Sport moniker doesn't refer to a trim level; it's a completely different platform that serves a separate audience from that of the larger Bronco. I've enjoyed considerable driving time in both, and I can assure you that you need to research more than Ford's marketing photos to decide which one is for you before signing on the dotted line to the tune of an NCO's annual salary.
Why People Love the Ford Bronco
It was easy to forget how much people loved the Bronco during its hiatus, but the model was a massive cultural icon during its heyday. That popularity was partly because there was nothing quite like it on (or off) the road.
According to Ford, designers went to the drawing board to develop an off-road-capable vehicle in 1963 after getting feedback from Jeep and Scout owners who complained about "poor comfort, ride, noise, and vibration qualities" (some of those may be true today; ask someone who owns a Jeep Wrangler).
When Ford pulled the curtain back on the Bronco in 1965, the company heralded the Bronco as "neither a conventional car nor a truck, but as a vehicle which combines the best of both worlds,” as company executive Don Frey put it at the time “It can serve as a family sedan, as sports roadster, as snow plow, or as a farm or civil defense vehicle. It has been designed to go nearly anywhere and do nearly anything."
The formula was a success. The original Bronco was versatile, practical and fun, but it still didn't shake passengers around like a work truck would. For the next 31 years, car buyers enjoyed driving one of the original SUVs off-road, around town, away from the police, and everywhere in between. The company eventually replaced the Bronco with the Expedition in 1996. By that time, consumers wanted four doors and a plusher interior, but the Bronco's rugged reputation and 1.1 million vehicles sold had cemented its legendary status.
Today, classic Broncos can fetch a pretty penny. While you might still find '80s- and '90s-era Broncos for less than $20,000, restored Broncos from the '60s can cost more than $250,000. Prices like that make a brand-new Bronco with a warranty look like the bargain of the century.
The Ford Bronco: It Can Do (Almost) Anything
Ford announced the Bronco's return in 2020 for the 2021 model year, and it made a massive splash. Buyers put down deposits and waited for months to get an SUV that revived decades of heritage, promised immense off-road capability and looked nothing short of phenomenal. At one point, more than 125,000 customers were waiting for Ford to deliver their 2021 Broncos.
This sixth-generation Bronco aims its sights directly at the Jeep Wrangler. It comes with two or four doors, a removable hard or soft top, body-on-frame construction, four-wheel drive and an options list chock-full of hard-core, off-road upgrades, such as locking differentials and an electronically disconnecting sway bar.
The Bronco's off-road ambition was clear from the first press release, and early reviews confirmed its prowess. The most challenging off-road driving I've ever done was at Ford's Bronco Off-Roadeo facility in Nevada, and I came away thoroughly impressed. Anyone who looks down on independent front suspension (my past self included) can just cool their jets.
Some of you are wondering what terms like "locking diff" and "disconnecting sway bar" mean. Those are awesome pieces of technology, but there are very few places where you'll need them and none of those places are involved in your commute or next PCS move. Simply put, they aren't necessary for life in the military (hence why you probably haven't heard of them).
The Bronco is an awesome truck, but don't get your wallet out just yet: the things that make it so impressive off-road can be a detriment on the pavement. Air whistling across a removable roof, giant tires dragging down your fuel economy, and long-travel suspension making your truck float through corners like a double-decker bus get old when you aren't able to reap the benefits on the trails.
That said, if you're stationed somewhere like the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in California or Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and want to partake in serious off-grid adventures, the Bronco's rock-crawling credentials will be right at home. I suspect the shine will wear off at your next assignment, though.
The Ford Bronco Sport: Less Is More
The Bronco will roll right over terrain where I wouldn't dare to venture in a Bronco Sport. The Bronco Sport lacks the ground clearance and articulation to tackle advanced obstacles.
But that doesn't make it a lesser vehicle. Those compromises make the Bronco Sport a far better vehicle to drive everywhere but the trails. It rides smoother, burns less gas and provides a more pleasant interior for daily driving and highway road trips.
The cabin is comfortable but still tough enough that you don't have to stress about throwing dirty gear inside after a field exercise. The infotainment system has all the creature comforts of a modern car, and Ford's clever off-road GOAT modes can get you through a surprising amount of snow, sand, rocks and mud. No, it doesn't have conventional four-wheel drive or true locking differentials, but the computer can manipulate power delivery, all-wheel-drive clutches and individual brakes to achieve similar results.
When the time comes to make a PCS move, travel for a temporary additional duty or temporary duty assignment, or just have a little adventure over a long weekend, the Bronco Sport is everything you need it to be. The SUV has seating for five, plus up to 32.5 cubic feet of cargo room, or you can fold down the second row to get more than 60 cubic feet of cargo room. Don't forget that you can add a rooftop carrier on a roof rack, too. Fuel economy is rated at up to 28 miles per gallon on the highway. Once you factor in the Bronco Sport's all-wheel drive, you have a vehicle that can haul you and your personal effects from coast to coast in any weather.
The 2.0-liter engine (which is the one to buy) probably isn't going to tow all your household goods in a moving trailer, but the cabin has more than enough space for uniform items and essentials to hold you over until anything you ship arrives. A single service member could probably make an entire PCS move without a trailer. You'll probably be able to pocket a nice chunk of change from a personally procured move (formerly a do-it-yourself, or DITY, move).
Finally, there's a significant price jump from the Bronco Sport to the Bronco. Ford's website lists a starting MSRP of $31,230 for the Bronco Sport and $39,130 for the Bronco. That means you can buy a range-topping Bronco Sport Badlands ($38,390 starting MSRP) with all kinds of bells and whistles for less than a base Bronco with two doors.
Maintenance and upkeep are also more affordable with the Bronco Sport. For example, a set of four Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires that come with the Bronco's Sasquatch package cost about $890. Four Falken Wildpeak A/T3W tires (which are as aggressive as you need on the Bronco Sport) should only cost $680. Whichever tires you buy, remember that Discount Tire has a 5% military discount and an excellent repair-or-replace policy.
Buy Your Bronco with Confidence
The Ford Bronco is more capable and fun than ever, but the Bronco Sport will do a far better job of fitting into military life. The sacrifices you'll make in terms of peak performance will be outweighed by gains in ride quality, comfort and cost that you'll appreciate every day.
The Ford Bronco Sport fits in the car market somewhere between a Subaru Outback and a Toyota 4Runner, both of which have earned a very loyal following. It's easy to live with as a daily driver, but can tackle terrain that would stop most crossover SUVs in their tracks.
If you take advantage of Ford's military discount or shop the used market for a Bronco Sport, avoid the 1.5-liter engine. Budget for the 2.0-liter engine and invest in a Bronco Sport Badlands if you can. Then drive confidently, knowing that you wisely spent your money on a fantastic SUV that's ready for whatever military life throws at you.
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