We were in Chicago for the unveiling of the 2022-only Bronco Everglades Special Edition, and over a year later, we finally get to test it on our home turf here in East Texas. Was it worth changing an existing order for another trim? Should you try and scoop one up on the used market? We examine just how good Florida Man’s special edition Bronco really is.
Yes, the Everglades was a one-year-only special edition. As it was unveiled Ford told us the only way to get one brand new was to be an existing order holder for another trim and to switch your order to an Everglades. That makes this a very rare model indeed. More so than the Bronco Raptor that was unveiled at the very same event.
It is more affordable than the Raptor as well, at just $53,000 starting and just over $56,00 as spec’d this is really a lot for the money. The full specs are down below, but the shortlist of upgrades is as follows: steel front bumper with integrated 10,000-pound ZEON 10-S WARN® Winch, Everglades-exclusive reversible intake snorkel, increased water fording depth, Standard Sasquatch package, and unique 17’ wheels that look spectacular wrapped in 315/70R17 Goodyear Territory M/T tires.
The look of this thing is unmistakable. It is clearly a sweet off-road rig, which is exactly where we took it as soon as we could. No, we didn’t have any Florida swamps to slog through, but we did have a lot of fun in the woods of East Texas.
The obvious competition to the Bronco is the Jeep Wrangler, which is a better canvas for building an off-road beast, but the Bronco is a better vehicle to live with day in and day out and this Sasquatch package is still a competent off-roader as well. Thanks to the standard Sasquatch package, we get more ground clearance, improved approach/departure/breakover angles, better tires, and more capability than I would need in a vehicle to be honest.
We tested everything from approach and breakover angles, articulation, its nifty trail turn assist that locks the inner rear brake to reduce turning by 40%, and its ability to jump and turn into a bucking Bronco. It passed all with flying colors.
I wish I had gotten this Everglades with a little more time to live with it off-road as our normal testing grounds were closed while filming our review. It could definitely do more than our battery of tests showed in our video, but that just proves how good vehicles have gotten over the years.
Not only was this fun off-road, but it was pretty good on the road too. We took the doors and front roof panels off almost immediately and enjoyed the relatively cool temps of a Texas Memorial Day weekend. The doors of experience is why many people shop Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco. Despite warnings in all the door openings, many people love just cruising through town, down the beach, or across the field in their rigs sans doors.
Our model had the roof rack which prohibited us from removing the second roof panel over the rear seats as well as the rear shell. It can still be done, but the roof rack must be removed first, so it is more painful than that was worth. (Not to mention that as I type this we are testing a Bronco Raptor with no such hindrance, I assume we will be taking it all off at SOME point, but the 95º+ temps are holding me back.)
Overall this Everglades really impressed me, especially considering it is only available with the smaller 2.3L Ecoboost 4-cylinder engine. Do I wish it had the V6? Yes. Was it a problem while we had it? No. I am always going to want the bigger engine. That is just how my brain is wired. The 275 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque in this (on regular fuel) was more than enough for what I put it through. If you want more, simply fill up with premium fuel and Ford claims 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. Those are Camaro SS power numbers from my youth, so they are good enough for this heavy brick of a vehicle.
Road noise from the removable roof, the addition of the roof rack, and the big, knobby tires was an issue, but you should know that going into the purchase of a vehicle like this. If you cannot deal with a little wind noise, go with the Toyota 4Runner.
Would I buy an Everglades, no. It is not the spec that checks the most boxes for me here in ETX, though I really liked it. A LOT. It is based on the Black Diamond trim, so it really was more on the affordable side of the lineup. Should you buy one? Well, you would have to find a used one that is not overpriced merely for the fact that it was a rare, one-year-only design. It is a competent entry into the ever-expanding off-road offerings of vehicles from many different brands. If you want something special that has a bucking horse on it, the 2022 Bronco Everglades certainly fits the bill.
Ever since the first Bronco that Ford delivered to us for testing here at GT: Garage Talk, it has been the de facto go-to answer to what Holli wants our next vehicle purchase to be. That was a 2021 Outer Banks trim without the Sasquatch package and it clearly left a lasting impression. Maybe it was the fact that it was the first vehicle Holli drove, with any real gusto, off-road. Or maybe not… Today we are testing the 2022-model-year-only Everglades trim that DOES have the off-road-ready Sasquatch package and some other accessories that make life off-road easier, but may compromise what it was she loved about the Outer Banks model so much.
2022 Ford Bronco Everglades Specs:
2.3L Ecoboost I-4 Engine
275 Horsepower (300 on Premium Fuel)
315 lb-ft of Torque (325 on Premium Fuel)
10-speed Automatic Transmission
2-speed Transfer Case 4x4
High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension (HOSS) System
Low-mass Independent Front Suspension
Twin Forged Alloy A-arms with Long-travel Coil-over Springs and HOSS-tuned Heavy-duty Dampers
Five-link Solid Rear Axle with Panhard Rod and Outboard Coil-over Springs
Approach Angle: 37.8º
Breakover Angle: 26.3º
Departure Angle: 37.1º
Ground Clearance: 11.7 inches (11.5 in in other Sasquatch Models)
Maximum Water Fording Depth: 36.4 inches (33.5 in other Sasquatch Models)
Five Steel Underbody Shields
Engine
Transfer Case
Fuel Tank
Shin Guards
Front Bash Plate
Seven G.O.A.T. Modes
Normal
Eco
Sport
Slippery
Mud/Ruts
Sand
Rock Crawl
Trail Control
Trail Turn Assist
Heavy-duty Powder-coated Modular Steel Front Bumper
Integrated 10,000-pound ZEON 10-S WARN® Winch
Washout Vinyl Flooring with Drain Plugs
Four-wheel Disc Brakes
17-inch Carbonized Gray-painted Alloy Wheels
315/70R17 Goodyear Territory M/T Tires
Seating for 5
Heated Front Seats
Vinyl Two-tone Seats
Heated Steering Wheel
Digital Gauge Cluster
12-inch SYNC® 4 Infotainment Screen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control
LED Headlights
LED Taillights
Blind Spot Information System with Cross-traffic Alert
Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking
Lane-Keeping System Includes:
Lane-keeping Alert
Lane-keeping Assist
Driver Alert
Rearview Camera with Backup Assist Grid Lines
35.6 Cubic Feet of Rear Cargo (without optional slide-out tailgate)
77.6 Cubic Feet of Cargo with Rear Seats Folded
Proximity Key with Push Button Start
EPA Fuel Economy 18/17/18 (city/hwy/cmb)
Starting Price: $53,000
Price As Tested: $56,240
Photos by 1 Off Productions.
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