Are Ford Bronco Interior Noise Levels REALLY That Much Louder Than F-150 and Expedition?

Some have complained about the noisy Ford Bronco interior, but is it really that much louder than its fixed-roof counterparts?

Even before its release, it was quite clear to most that the sixth-generation Ford Bronco was going to be a bit louder inside the cabin than the typical new vehicle, for a very good reason – it has a roof that can be removed in sections, giving customers a very appealing, open-air experience. Problem is, as Jeep Wrangler owners were already well aware, this also means that interior noise levels are going to be higher than fixed-roof models, whether they go with a soft top or a hard top. The question of just how much louder it is inside the Ford Bronco than other Blue Oval models was also answered in this very interesting video from Tomball Ford in Harris County, Texas.

The premise behind this particular test is quite simple – measure the noise levels inside both a soft and hard top equipped Ford Bronco with a sound meter, and compare those numbers with an F-150 and Expedition. Decibel readings were taken at speeds of both 20 and 60 miles-per-hour, starting with idle decibel readings that came in at 54.3 for the Expedition, 61.0 in the F-150, 53.8 in the soft top-equipped Bronco Badlands, 61.8 in the Wildtrak with the top off, and 69.6 with the MIC top on.

The Expedition registers 57.9 decibels at 20 mph, 67.3 at 60 mph, and 68.5 at 70 mph. The F-150 finishes with noise levels of 56.9 decibels at 20 mph, 63.6 at 60 mph, and 65.9 at 70 mph, while the soft top Bronco came in at 60.3/71.9/74.4, followed by 58.5/72.1/73.7 in the Wildtrak with the MIC top and sound deadening material, and finally, 64.5/75.0/77.7 for the Wildtrak with no top.

It isn’t surprising to see that the hardtop-equipped Bronco is the quietest of that trio, but interestingly, it isn’t noticeably quieter than the soft top version. The Bronco is quite a bit louder than its fixed-roof counterparts, however, which isn’t terribly surprising, though certainly notable. After all, those taking longer road trips or spending a lot of time on the highway driving faster speeds may find this to be quite annoying after a while, though they also get the added benefit of open-air cruising when the weather is nice.

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.