We’re all kind of rental car reviewers. Meaning – every time we rent a car, we immediately turn into Jeremy Clarkson. But – rental cars are like the rescue dogs of car reviews honestly. No perfect-spec vehicles, and no carefully curated experiences. Just the real deal – bumps, bruises, baggage, stains, and all. So with that being said, when I recently rented a pretty basic unchaperoned Ford Bronco… I had to write about it.

 

Why I Don’t Fully Trust Most Reviews…

Before we get into the Bronco, I’ve gotta say, one of my biggest gripes with a lot of modern car reviews is who’s writing them. Not all – but a good portion – are written by people who don’t turn wrenches. They don’t design parts. Heck a majority of them can’t even drive stick these days (not kidding). It’s like a food critic who can’t cook. I mean yeah – you have taste buds… but you don’t know your way around a kitchen. And that’s why most new car reviews don’t discuss intangibles & emotions… they just zero-in on specs, screen size, and range. 

In the age of oversaturated media, ‘automotive journalists’ aren’t always vetted. And the downside of oversaturated media, is that’s you don’t always get to choose what you watch & read. You used to subscribe to a magazine, actually subscribe not just click a screen. And those journalists were professionals in their field. Now media is force-fed to you at every idle opportunity.

So… the Problem That Isn’t One

Ford Bronco’s window and mirror controls. I’ve actually seen people complain about the window controls being on the center console… instead of the doors. Brother… yes in most vehicles, the switches typically reside in the driver’s door panel. But the Bronco isn’t most vehicles. This is a vehicle where the doors come off. So having the switches in the center console is definitely the move. There’s no drama. And no extra wiring running through removable panels just waiting to fail. Same same goes for the mirror controls. Being that the side mirrors of the Ford Bronco are mounted to the body (and not the doors), you need to be able to adjust them when the doors are off. 

Sure – having the switches on the center console can be a little clunky… but that’s the lifestyle. Don’t nitpick a rugged 4×4 for actually being rugged lol. That’s how we end up with a landscape of indistinguishably bland, uninspiring crossovers. It’d be like moving next to a racetrack and then complaining about the noise. 

The Bronco I Got – No Babysitter Included…

This is a 2025 Bronco Big Bend… straight out of a rental lot. From the streets lol. Basically feral. Who knows how many previous drivers – and I can promise you – none of them were concerned about proper break-in procedures. And that makes this the perfect test drive. Because this isn’t a press car. This is the version you get when life has already happened to it.

First Impressions – Still Looks Like It Means Business

Walk up to it, and in a sea of applianced new vehicles… the Ford Bronco still has soul & spirit. It doesn’t look like it was designed in a wind tunnel by a committee arguing over drag coefficients and cupholder placement. It looks like a 4×4 that’s ready to do 4×4 things. And the Big Bend trim keeps it honest. No running upmarket, no “performance package” nonsense… just Bronco.

Driving the Ford Bronco. Wait… Why Is It Doing That?

A Bronco shouldn’t handle this good. It’s tall & boxy. It has the aerodynamic profile of a refrigerator… it should wobble. And yet, you throw it into a corner – and it sticks! It sticks in a way that boggles my mind. This isn’t the Bronco I grew up with. It feels light. And dare I say – agile – with a very manageable body roll. Even when you push it, it doesn’t complain. It makes absolutely no sense… but I’m definitely not mad about it. Instead of numbing new vehicles, THIS is what modern tech should be doing… making them better! While still preserving the character!

This particular model was powered by Ford’s smaller 300hp 2.3L EcoBoost. I’ve heard the complaints. “It doesn’t sound good.” But I mean… what were you expecting here? A naturally aspirated V8 behind an 80s hair metal soundtrack? (laughs in 392 Wrangler) This is just where the modern auto industry is unfortunately – smaller displacement & forced induction – even in SUVs & 4x4s. At least it’s not a hybrid lol. Yet there’s no denying – when you get into the throttle, the turbo does its job. There’s an unexpected shove forward. Enough to make you grin like you just got away with something.

The Stuff Ford Absolutely Nailed…

Close the door on the Ford Bronco, and it’s solid. No rattles, no ropes, no echos, and no “this will probably buzz at 70 mph” feeling. The frameless doors are a game-changer. It opens the cabin up in a way that makes it feel bigger than it actually is. Environment & interior become one. Plus, when removing the doors, they are half the size/bulk of a Jeep Wrangler. 

The grab handles? Perfect placement. Not just an added marketing gimmick like all the orange accents on Subarus. These feel like they were put there by someone who’s actually slipped on the rock-sliders of their lifted 4×4 before.

And the dash? Finally someone said, “Hey what if we just didn’t overdo it?” You get a clean driver display that gives you what you need. And a large all-weather infotainment screen that sits in the dash… not glued on top like an iPad. Revolutionary concept apparently.

Ford even gave you mounting points for accessories. On the dash, on the roof, in the front & back. The Bronco is accessory ready, because they know exactly who their audience is. And those little raised sections on the hood? They’re not decorations. They’re points to attach cables for clearing branches… and/or mounting other accessories. They also work as a guide for tire placement when on the trails.

Interior – Basic but Not Cheap

There’s a difference between basic & cheap. Yes, this particular Bronco is entry-level. But honestly – good! With an open-top 4×4 like the Bronco, you feel like you can actually choose basic without sacrificing. You can justify & rationalize basic, even in a world oversaturated with tech, gimmicks, and gizmos. A Bronco should be basic… that’s the plot. Plus, at 6’2”, I can sit comfortably & still fit my son’s car-seat behind me. Do you know how rare that is in anything other than a full-size SUV or truck? That alone deserves a round of applause.

It feels roomier than a Wrangler in my opinion (although maybe a little less lean), and even better than another popular off-roader that never sees dirt, a G-Wagon. Which is essentially a Jeep that went to private school. Everything inside the Bronco feels durable & designed for weather. Like you could get in with muddy boots and not feel guilty about it. The Bronco is one of this vehicle that get better with a little dirt on it. 

SYNC 4 works like it should, unlike previous iterations of SYNC. Wireless CarPlay connects without you needing to perform a ritual. And the factory sound system?? Look – I’ve built systems… this isn’t that. But it’s good enough to get by (even with the top off)… and that says enough. 

Something I find strange is the key fob. Depending on trim/options – you get global window control. That is: The ability to unlock & open all the windows (or lock & close them). But remote start isn’t on the key fob. ??? Rather, there’s an option to activate it within the settings of the infotainment. That means – you’ll be using the Ford app. And the app works, but let’s just say, it gets the job done with the enthusiasm of someone who’s already clocked out for the day.

Where the Bronco Falls Short…

Wind noise? Yeah maybe. But again – removable roof, pillar-less doors… you signed up for that. It’s part of the lifestyle. 10-speed transmission? It’s mostly great, but occasionally it has an identity crisis and tries three different gears before committing to one. Interior lighting? It’s good across the dash, not so much on the center console. At least in this particular model, it could use ambient lighting in that area. And/or possibly an additional set of dome lights.

You Know you’re Not Leaving It Stock, right??

This Big Bend is running factory tires somewhere around 30–31 inches. And that’s fine. But it also feels like showing up to a cookout with store-bought potato salad. I’d suggest either buying it (or building it) with upgraded suspension & larger tires. I’d also plan to eventually beef-up the weak points of the independent front suspension (IFS)… giving it the Black Bear Off-Road makeover. With a vehicle like a the Ford Bronco, you don’t just ‘buy & drive’… you ‘buy & accessorize’. It’s more of a journey… a story with chapters. Part of the ownership experience is to make it your own.

But back to the rental at hand… 

This Ford Bronco was far from a perfect example. And yet, it still felt right. like a favorite sweatshirt. You want to keep driving it. And that’s the part that matters. Not how perfect it is… but rather, how it makes you feel. And how it handles scenarios when they aren’t perfect. If a vehicle can survive the rental lot and still make you want it – that’s the real deal.

Article by David S. Windsor