Yahoo Autos 2022 Ford Bronco Everglades First Drive | Half Bronco, half boat
DRUMMOND ISLAND, Mich. – Popping big money for a brand-new, super-capable off-roader and then instantly modifying it isn’t for everybody. For some, though, that might be in your plans, and those folks are exactly who the 2022 Ford Bronco Everglades is for. It’s essentially a Bronco that’s been modified from the factory, but better. You get a lot of extra parts that can be found in some form on the aftermarket, but in this case, they’re integrated with the vehicle in a way that only Ford can offer.
Considering the vast majority of Bronco versions already available that offer massive amounts of customization or options, the straightforward nature of the Bronco Everglades is an attractive alternative if you were already thinking of hitting the aftermarket post-purchase. And if you’ve already ordered a Bronco and are worried you should’ve checked the box labeled “Everglades” instead, don’t worry. It’s not too late to change your mind, but read on to see if it would be a good idea.
The single configuration available for the Everglades is a Bronco 4-Door with the 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and 10-speed automatic transmission. Those who want a manual need not apply, and the same applies for anyone hoping for the boosted V6. Ford tells us that it’s offering the Everglades exclusively with the four-cylinder because it offers a higher payload rating, and it’s ironically expecting the Everglades to be popular for overlanding where you want as much payload capacity as possible — that’s also why it’s 4-Door-only.
Every Everglades is effectively based upon the Black Diamond trim, which puts it squarely in the middle tier of Bronco variants when it comes to equipment and ultimate off-road capability/usability. Ford ups the Everglade’s cred by making the Sasquatch package standard. As a quick reminder, this includes position-sensitive Bilstein shocks, a higher ride height, locking axles front and rear, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels wrapped in 35-inch mud-terrain tires, a shorter final drive ratio, Trail-Turn Assist and higher-mounted fender flares for more clearance. Plus, because it builds upon the Black Diamond trim, you get heavy-duty bumpers, full underbody bash plates, rubberized washout flooring, vinyl (washable) seats and the Terrain Management system with seven G.O.A.T. modes. Beyond the Black Diamond goodies and the Sasquatch package, you get a color hardtop, roof rack with safari bars, and the gray grille with glossy black Bronco lettering. Before adding anything specific from the Everglades trim, you’re starting out with an incredibly capable base.
Once you tack on the Everglades bits, this Bronco gets even more enticing. The most obvious extra is a unique intake snorkel designed and engineered by Ford. You can change the direction in which it pulls air — forward-facing or rear-facing — to suit the environment, whether that be sand, water or snow. To further improve water fording, the vents for the front and rear axles, transfer case and transmission are raised by 3.4 inches. The snorkel and raised vents increase your maximum wading depth to an impressive 36.4 inches. That’s more than the non-Everglades Bronco’s max of 33.5 inches, and it even bests the Wrangler Xtreme Recon’s max of 33.6 inches. If deep water is your obstacle, the Everglades is the best solution in this class.
Ford also adds a Zeon 10-S Warn winch on the Ford Performance steel bumper, but it’s not just any winch. Instead of pulling it straight off the shelf, Ford modified the winch to make it better and meet its exacting standards. For example, it gets a special powder coating finish for longevity/durability, uses new-and-improved fasteners and features a different hook. It features a synthetic line and has a 10,000-pound weight capability, so you have more than enough power to pull yourself out of any predicament. We got to see the winch in action on multiple occasions, and can confirm that it does its job.
To account for the extra 100-plus pounds hanging out in front of the bumper — this is where the factory benefits really come into play — Ford has re-tuned the suspension with modified spring rates to ensure it rides and behaves properly. Ford even crash-tested the Everglades with the steel bumper and winch to make sure it still crashed to its satisfaction. And lastly, Ford tuned and dialed in the sensors for driver assistance features to function as intended. So, you can have your fancy winch, steel bumper and snorkel, but don’t have to compromise other features that aftermarket parts could affect.
The Everglades has its own appearance package to go along with its capability enhancements. Its front quarter fenders get an Everglades graphic that features a map topography from the actual Florida Everglades. Five colors are available, including one Everglades-exclusive paint option called Desert Sand (cause when you think of the Everglades, you’d naturally think “Desert Sand”). Every option but the vibrant Eruption Green is a rather muted, murky tone of paint to fit the Everglades theme. The interior is just like a normal Bronco, except for a number of green accents on the grab handles, air vents and seat stitching. Plus, it gets the big 12-inch touchscreen running Sync 4 as standard alongside the other niceties found in the “mid” package.
