Ford Bronco Overview

The Ford Bronco is in the same category as Chevrolet's big Blazer and the GMC Yukon-somewhat aged but still selling to fans of the big, brawny V8powered four-wheelers. It's our impression that Ford has done a little more upgrading on the Bronco than either Chevrolet or GMC has done with its offerings. We tested an Eddie Bauer Edition and felt as though we just put on an old favorite pair of hunting boots. A word of caution: If you're looking for a 4WD sport utility to complement your suburban gentility, this probably isn't your vehicle. Bronco is a big, powerful off-roader that you have to clamber into. Although its road manners are tame enough, this vehicle is built for more than an occasional trip off the pavement. It also looks good.

The sticker price on our test vehicle was $28,765, so the older Bronco format, with some outdated features, is almost up there with the more sophisticated Ford Explorer Limited and Jeep's Grand Cherokee Limited. Yet the people who buy Broncos, Blazers and Yukons usually understand all this and are on their second or third vehicle. They want that size and power-and a few knickknacks be damned.