Anyone who knows me knows that I love going off-road. Crank some Liquid Metal, shift into 4WD, and get bouncy. That’s my jam.
Hence I immediately have a basic love of anything capable of doing that. Thus my automotive love affair with things that say Raptor, Rubicon, and TRD on them. And now things that say Everglades get added to that list.
It helps that the new Bronco Everglades is a more affordable version of off-road goodness than those other names might be.
The Ford Bronco is, in whatever format, a clear and direct attack at Jeep’s Wrangler model. Its doors and roof are removable, its basic four-by-four capability is pretty solid, and it’s ripe for modification and customization. Ford basically took everything Jeep has perfected and then added some nostalgia and a lot of modern upgrades. Unlike the Wrangler, the Bronco is also pretty livable as a daily driver.
These facts would explain why Jeep sales are down and Ford sales are up.
In my mind, the only mistake Ford has made was in naming that totally unrelated little crossover thing a Bronco Sport. That’s a great vehicle, but for completely different reasons. It’s confusing.
The 2024 model year for the Bronco brings a new, more “everyman” and affordable off-road option in the Everglades edition. It stays with the Bronco’s basic engine and powertrain, but adds a bunch of the stuff that makes the Raptor model so visually appealing and capable. Heavy-duty fenders and bumpers are unique to the Everglades, but similar in design to those on the Raptor. A Warn winch and air snorkel are also added. The snorkel is interesting in that it can be easily changed to draw air from front or back, depending on whether it’s dust or ice you’re avoiding.
The 2024 Ford Bronco Everglades keeps with the 2.3-liter four-cylinder turbo and 10-speed automatic transmission that’s on most Bronco models. But its tires are from the Sasquatch package (35-inch on 17s). Both front and rear axles are electronically locking and the suspension is slightly higher and its wheels are wider (hence the fender flares). A bunch of the convenience items from the Mid package, like remote starting and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alerts are also included.
This stuff all adds up to better off-road capability in the Bronco Everglades at a $57,500-ish price point. That’s a whole lot cheaper than the $92,000 Raptor model. And way cheaper than the (admittedly really cool) Heritage model.
Plus it’s just really cool. I mean look at the photos. I climbed this around the dirt and terrain in the Cheyenne area for fun and hopped the curb a few times while parking (#Jeepthing HA!) for giggles.
Vehicles like this are just fun. That’s the point.
