Hey y'all,

I am new to the forum and look forward to communicate issues or ruminations and hopefully happy happy. But, I do have a issue and wonder if anyone else has any thoughts. I hemmed and hawed looking for a new vehicle after selling my '17 TRD Pro 4runner. Don't miss it at all. So looking at smaller better gas mileage with 4 wheel drive was daunting. Don't want no stinking "soccer mom" rides and there is a plethora of "tranny vehicles" out there, pretending to be something they are not. Real 4 wheel drive is not negotiable. So finally decided on 2023 "Bronco Sport Badlands" with most options. Jesus, it was expensive. So when I took possession, I failed to do what I usually do when buying a new car, I check for quality interior, not flimsy plastic, fit and finnish ect. Well, shiver me timbers. I was happy how it drove, handling is very good, turn ratio is exceptional and the stereo is pretty good. B&O is not too bad, over rated yes, but way better than the '17 Pro that cost a ***** pot full (I thought), of cabbage and you get a cheap "Kraco" sounding stereo. Sad really. But I digress, where was I? Ah yes, the bronco bitching segment. So, I really did not take the time to check the interior, paw, pull, shake the console, door panels, dash shroud ect. to see how well it was designed and the quality therein. If the interior is "flimsy and cheaply made, what else is cheaply made one cannot see? What a huge disappointment! Let me start with the glove box, especially the pull ****. I have seen water bottle caps with thicker plastic. Gee whiz what the hell? The door pocket are about as well made and the door panels are crap designed and cheap *** as well. The console? Oh Hell, Bad bad! Put a bottle, cup whatever and wiggle it side to side, YIKES! It's very noticeably poorly made and drives me up the wall. Yes, I must say I do have a medium case of buyers remorse as I have a huge problem with auto companies that still subscribe to such a *****ty business model. Gotta love those bean counters, the bottom line is the most important thing, as they must make the stockholders happy happy. News flash, Americans care about the quality. Build a good-great (hopefully), vehicle and guess what? They'll start coming back to buy American! This is the first American made vehicle I have ever purchased (because of quality issues in the past), new and it reinforces that stereotype exponentially. What HUGE disappointment this is! Truly. So Ford apparently has throughtfully hired the "Son" of the "Pinto interior designer"! Wow, great move Fordo! What the hell are they thinking?! Sadly, a damned Hundai has a better interior fit and finish, even on the cheaper models! Can anybody dissuade my angst and disappointment? Any suggestions for Ford Therapy? The damnable thing is I "want to love it", but it is really distressing to do so and not choose to sell the darned thing. I can't help but think of how I let myself get "hosed" buying American. Dayum. I have all of 600 miles. Ugh.

 

I guess I'm a pushover. I really like the sport bronco. We've had ours since February 14th. I think it has 700 miles on it.
I also have a 2022 f250 xlt I just don't buy high end vehicles so I'm not accustomed to fancy stuff

 

Hey no, I get it. I just want America to build something worth 47K. Hell, my '17 TRD pro was 44k and that was in '17. I'm weird, just wish "we" (American auto manufactures), would do the right thing. Thank you though, you are right, I really like mine. I am hoping they're will be a "after market" venue that will sell "add on's" that cover said cheap plastic with girth appliqués. I'd buy it in a heart beat if it was good quality. Thanks Bro for the kind words. "Wa-do"! (thank you).

 

My daughter bought a very gently used 2022 Bronco Sport a year ago and I'm pretty disappointed. It's assembled in Mexico so the Hyundai that you so kindly slam is far more American made than the Sport. The MPG's aren't great, the ride isn't great and the comfort level isn't great. She should have bought an Escape and had slightly more cargo room with better road manners and a much lower price tag.

For 47K, a well appointed Subaru Forester could have been had with money left over. All time all wheel drive and standard safety features that Ford likes to use as optional equipment.
The Rav4 with all wheel drive.......
Hyundai Tucson.....KIA Sportage
Honda CRV

These are all far better offerings than Ford's entry level SUV's and cost less. Not sure which engine you got but the three cylinder ecoboost is not Ford's crown jewel.

 

IIRR, the Bronco is just a re-bodied Ford Edge.

 

The Bronco Sport is built on the Escape platform and uses common drive trains which are the 1.5L and 2.0L ecoboost engines. The new full size Bronco is a body on frame truck which uses the 2.3L and the 2.7L ecoboosts. The Bronco Raptor may use something else.

 

Ahhhh.... I stand corrected! Its a rebodied Escape.

 

Yes sir and now you understand my frustration.

Before buying the Explorer, we tested an Escape Titanium AWD with the 2.0L engine. We liked it but the body panels were not well aligned and the dealer didn't seem real motivated to work on a brand new car just to make me happy. So then I cut a sweetheart deal on my Explorer that was being sold as a demo, the owner's grandma drove it for 4000 miles. $11K off isn't a bad days work and the 2.3L ecoboost has a steel timing set and is turning out to be Ford's most reliable small engine. Glad I did my homework.

 

These are all far better offerings than Ford's entry level SUV's and cost less. Not sure which engine you got but the three cylinder ecoboost is not Ford's crown jewel.[/QUOTE]

The 1.0 is an incredible 3cyl engine- but shouldn’t be in any vehicle over 2500lbs.

The new Bronco is ****, as well as most new products. But vehicles are tools, have fun, use it up

 

I'm right there with you on that. Over 10 years ago I bought a 2003 F150 and I was overjoyed to own something with factory cup holders. At the time I was driving a 1987 F150 that had a tendency to leave me stranded. Even so, the '03 is still a 5 speed. I didn't care at the time but I'm getting to a point in my life that I'm beginning to not want to throw gears all the time anymore.

We bought a brand new Bronco Sport Badlands off the lot for my mother this summer. She had a 2014 Explorer that she never did like. To be fair, I wasn't a fan of it either. Due to medical reasons she needed something that she could get in and out of easier. The Sport was the thing we needed. I was fairly impressed with the quality of the Sport but given my personal history of vehicular ownership, the bar is pretty low for me, I suppose.

One hang up she had about it is that it didn't have the lane management option and the Explorer did. Her concern is that she'll actually have to look to check her blind spot when she's driving. I politely reminded my mother that physically driving a vehicle comes with certain responsibilities and this really is a non-issue. She was a little disappointed that it didn't have navigation either but she never used it in the Explorer anyway because she always thought her phone was easier to use. Again, small potatoes. There were a number of other small bells and whistles that the Sport didn't have and the Explorer did but at the end of the day, they were all gratuitous things that didn't matter.

Anyway, after several months of driving it, she is happy and overall satisfied with the Sport. I know that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". It's a vehicle that I personally would not own but that's because it doesn't fit my needs. I still think it is a nice SUV, though. I think it was good for her to lose some of those bells and whistles because it is fewer things to go wrong and it's few distractions while going down the road.

I guess I'm something of a minimalist but in my mind, where does it all end? How many bells, whistles, and other toys do we really need? I think too many of those can cause quality to suffer. Just my 2 cents.

~Kenny