Experiencing the Ford Bronco where it should be experienced, OFF-ROAD!

I would be lying if I said that I’m no good off-road, having participated and placing second in the 2022 Philippine Rallycross Series, frequently going off the beaten path with 4×4 media units from different brands, and trying to push vehicles to allowable limits during off-road media activities.

That’s why I said yes with no hesitation when Ford Philippines invited me to a drive experience for the recently launched Bronco off-road SUV. This was held in conjunction with a track experience of the all-new Ford Mustang. You can also read about our experience on that here on our website once it’s available.

Held on the lahar beds of the Sacobia River in my home base of Clark, Pampanga, Ford Philippines set up an off-road course where we would be tackling different types of terrain and conditions, basically the vehicle’s natural habitat.

And just to get it out of the way, powering the local-spec Ford Bronco is a 2.7-liter Inline 4-cylinder EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 engine. This produces 335 horsepower and 555 Nm of torque, mated to a 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission.

Back to off-roading, the first part of the course was testing the Bronco’s 292 mm ground clearance and 850 mm water wading capacity. We would go down to a river crossing which was fairly deep and had steep banks. This was then followed by a steep incline on loose sand which would test both the power and . These were basic for this off-roader.

Next we went through a narrow trail which had a deep drop right next to it. This would simulate an off-road mountain trail that is usually difficult to navigate, especially with larger vehicles. With the Bronco measuring (LWH), this would’ve been more difficult than it should be. Thanks to the vehicle’s 360-degree camera system, this was no challenge.

The first half of the course ended with a steep descent which I would say is around 45° steep. Most off-road vehicles (and even normal crossovers) have hill-descent control for assistance but the Bronco takes it further with Trail Control which is like adaptive cruise control but for off-roading. Set your preferred speed (3 to 6 kph for us), and all you need to do is to focus on your surroundings.

Now here’s the exciting part—driving at higher speeds both on sand and on water. 

I love high speed off-roading and we were allowed to take the Bronco up to 60 kph from a stop on the dirt course. Not as fast as I’d like to go but at least we know that the Bronco is capable of taking a beating. We did the same on the river itself and all I can say is that it.is.fun.

The last part of the off-road course was testing out the Bronco’s Trail Turn Assist. This feature allows you to make tighter turns even without a rear-wheel steering feature. You’ll simply have to unlock the vehicle’s rear differential, turn the steering wheel fully towards the direction you’d like to go, and give the throttle light inputs. No difficulty at all.

Later on, we were given the chance to do the course again thanks to some extra time. Of course, I took the opportunity again but things didn’t go exactly as planned.

After completing most of the course, and back at the high speed portion, we ended up getting stuck on the river as the vehicle that took it before us did a very slow dig on the mud, making the sediments under the water quite loose thus making it difficult for us.

It’s not the Ford Bronco’s fault, and so is it not mine. I’ll pin all the blame on the person before me (haha) but this is all part of the off-road experience. We got out in no time with the help of a recovery team, and of course, the Bronco’s power.

Admittedly, most Ford Bronco buyers will keep their vehicles on paved roads, especially with its price tag of Php 4,998,000 for the lone Outer Banks variant with the Sasquatch Package. That’s what gives it the 17-inch Black high gloss painted alloy wheels wrapped in 35-inch Mud Terrain Tires, with Bead Lock capability, Positive-Sensitive Bilstein Shock Absorbers, High Clearance Suspension, and High Clearance Fender Flares.

The Ford Bronco is in no doubt an extremely capable vehicle and it’s capability deserves to be experienced.

It’s perfect for those looking for a similarly-priced, larger, and better-equipped alternative to the Jeep Wrangler. And for those ballin’ buyers who are looking at going on the extremes with this, it’s a good, fun, and easy-to-handle choice. The Ford Bronco gives you capability, and makes it more simple for those who wish to go off the beaten path. Now to test it on road…