Steep Hills, Dusty Thrills: My Experience in the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport at the Off-Roadeo
Sun, mud ruts, and lessons in off-road capability are just a few of the things we experienced in the smaller yet just as capable Ford Bronco Sport at the Bronco Off-Roadeo in Moab. We also had a ton of unbridled fun.
The Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo Is the Best Place for You to Get Acquainted with Your New Vehicle
Moab, Utah. A beautiful desert location that is home to an incredible landscape unlike any other in the country. It offers easy access to Arches and Canyonland National Parks, and activities like hiking, white water rafting, and rock climbing abound… and then there is the Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo, an unmatched off-roading experience for new Bronco and Bronco Sport owners, where you can learn just how capably you can handle your vehicle.
I had the incredible opportunity to share the customer experience in a 2023 Bronco Sport Badlands, and I must say, if you purchase a Bronco or Bronco Sport, you’d be remiss to skip this (for many of us) once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Related: Thrills on the Hills at the Rebelle Rally
My Ford Bronco Sport Off-Roadeo Adventure Begins
The day started at 10:30 AM. It was only mid-morning, but in the desert, the heat was already palpable. The sun beat down on the sand without a cloud in the sky, but, despite the heat, I was excited to spend a day outside in the Utah backcountry.
The Bronco Off-Roadeo experience begins in the gift shop, full of Bronco gear for the new rendition, as well as t-shirts and other paraphernalia, harkening back to the original Bronco. After signing a quick waiver, we were handed our Bronco-branded Yeti bottles and encouraged to fill them up (and grab some extra water bottles if needed). Repeat customers may not get a new Yeti, but a refillable water bottle is necessary!
In the heat, water is a must. The staff recommended carrying at least one gallon of water per person for an off-road day trip or two gallons of water per person for a multi-day trip. Don’t worry about packing your own gallon, though – the tour will have ample water for everyone, as well as first-aid kits and bathroom supplies. Just bring yourself some sunscreen, sunglasses, and hiking boots.
After a quick introduction in the gift shop, we were led down a hallway. The right wall of the hallway was adorned with classic Bronco hoods, salvaged from vintage Broncos and restored in one of many original paint colors, and on the left wall were prints of old ads and posters for the original Bronco. The hallway opened up into a large meeting room with views of the red cliffs behind the Moab Off-Roadeo headquarters. A Bronco sat in the middle of the room with an assortment of available off-road accessories displayed behind it. At the front of the room, a large map showcased Bronco Nation with pins in the US and Canada, marking the location of each visitor.
Related: I Took My Son to the Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo to Learn About Himself and Off-Roading
Bronco Nation and Sustainable Off-Roading
Our guides for the day, Jamie and Mandy, introduced themselves and had each of the participants give a brief introduction of themself as well. Before being introduced to our Bronco Sports, the team of guides told us about Bronco Nation — an online community of Bronco owners across the country. The group allows owners to connect with fellow Bronco enthusiasts for technical questions or to organize trail rides, among other things.
Jamie and Mandy also explained the Bronco Wild Fund, Ford’s initiative to help preserve the beautiful landscapes on which we drive. With off-roading trails being shut down nationwide, knowing how to off-road respectfully and sustainably is more important than ever to preserve the sport.
After a quick bathroom break (the Off-Roadeo is wild…take this break! It’s nothing but bushes until the end of the day!), we headed outside and were introduced to our Bronco Sports. All the Sports we drove were Badlands Editions.
Related: Even More Insight into the Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo
Ford Bronco Sport Badlands Edition Bells and Whistles
The Badlands Edition has a few extra off-road-specific elements unavailable on the lower-trim models. These include two extra G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any type of Terrain) modes (Mud/Ruts and Sand), a front-facing trail camera that automatically comes on when in off-road modes to help you see the terrain in front of your tires, and a manually locking rear differential (a feature that helps in situations of low traction. If one tire is spinning, the computer can lock the differential and transfer the power solely to the rear wheel with traction). Each vehicle was also equipped with a handheld radio so the convoy could keep in touch during the drive.
We pulled out of the Moab Off-Roadeo headquarters and drove along the floor of a gorgeous canyon of the Colorado River for a few miles before jotting off to the left onto the dirt trails. During the drive, Jamie, our lead guide who gave himself the trail name “Blue Jay,” provided information about the landscape, terrain, and Bronco Sport.
G.O.A.T. Guidance at the Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo
While driving on pavement, he encouraged us to experiment with the road-surface G.O.A.T. modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, and Slippery. Eco mode slows down throttle response and keeps RPMs lower in order to conserve fuel economy, while Sport does the opposite, downshifting, holding RPMs high, and really making the car feel significantly peppier. Normal mode was an excellent medium between the two. We did not have the opportunity to really test Slippery mode, a setting designed for inclement weather like ice, snow, or heavy rain.
Once we slipped off the asphalt and onto the sand, we were instructed to switch to Sand mode, which automatically turns on the center differential locker, locking us into four-wheel drive. In the street drive modes, without four-wheel drive locked, the computer determines when the car operates in two- or four-wheel drive.
When locked, the vehicle remains in four-wheel drive until the lock is turned off or you switch to a G.O.A.T. mode that is preset not to have four-wheel drive locked. In Sand mode, the differentials and transmission are tuned to provide as much traction as possible in slippery sand, into which the tires naturally just want to dig.
Rock Steady in Rock Crawl Mode
As we continued down the trail, the terrain varied significantly, allowing us to experiment with almost all the off-road G.O.A.T. modes. Unfortunately, as we were driving in the desert, we did not get to truly experiment with the Mud/Ruts mode, but we did have a lot of opportunities to use Rock Crawl mode.
In this mode, the car holds on to gears longer, letting the RPMs run up, and the rear differential lock is turned on for increased rear traction. Over the more technical sections of the trail, Jamie would encourage us to turn on Rock Crawl mode.
What mode to be in when was never a question – both Jamie and Mandy were excellent at instructing us on when to enter what mode or when we could play around with a few different modes to feel how they affect the car differently.
My Education Continues at the Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo
On the most technical portions of the trail, the guides either provided us with navigation tips via the radio, or we would line up, and they would step out of their cars and “spot” us through the technical section, giving easy-to-follow hand signals to ensure we made it through safely. With the varied terrain, we had the opportunity to experience loose sand (even loose sand uphill), rocky shelves and outcroppings, dried ruts from the last downpour, left-to-right dips causing the vehicle to pop a rear tire in the air, and sideways tilts upwards of 17 degrees (it doesn’t sound like a lot, but it certainly feels steep!).
During the drive, Jamie and Mandy taught us about off-roading techniques, including tips on how to operate the pedals and steer, as well as trail-riding etiquette. My favorite part of the instruction, though, was the discussion of how to off-road sustainably. For example, when there are deep ruts in the trail, instead of driving in the ruts, we were encouraged to drive on the raised portions between the ruts. Over time, driving on the high portions will wear these areas down and flatten out the trail again. The guides also taught us a lot about the vegetation and landscape.
After all this education and a thrilling ride, we took a break. The guides packed in a trailside lunch which we ate overlooking the Colorado River valley, Fisher Towers, and the La Sal mountains before hitting the trail again.
A Climactic Conclusion to the Day
The trail ride culminated in a gorgeous overlook over the back side of Arches National Park, where we turned around. From this small cul-de-sac, we could see a portion of the Windows arches and the most famous arch in Utah, Delicate Arch, which is commemorated on the Utah license plate. After this breathtaking view, we hopped on a flatter trail to experience “overlanding,” as opposed to the technical off-roading we did earlier.
In this section, our guides explained the Bronco Sport’s hydraulic bump stops. These allow the suspension to absorb bumps while traveling quickly, giving a surprisingly smooth ride on a rough dirt road while allowing the suspension to flex significantly over rocks and dips at slow speeds.
We returned to the Moab Off-Rodeo headquarters for dinner around 6:30 PM, although I wasn’t looking at my phone, so I can’t say for sure! Tired and sunburnt, I retired to my cabin for the night, reminiscing on an incredible day.
Reflections on the Brand
At the end of the day, Ford brought back the Bronco (and Bronco Sport) as an enthusiast’s car, just as the 60’s Broncos are. The Bronco Sport has seemed to fade into its big brother’s shadow, but I can’t seem to find why. It may look a little less intimidating, but it is more capable than any mid-size SUV I have been in before. I was beyond impressed with the obstacles that we were able to tackle over the day, and I have a whole new respect for the Bronco Sport. It is no wonder that this car has won its class at the Rebelle Rally two years in a row!
What We Thought of the Vehicle, and the Event
For any new Bronco or Bronco Sport owner, I highly recommend the Off-Roadeo. The experience is free with the purchase of a 2023 Bronco or Bronco Sport; just pay for your hotel and travel. While many Bronco owners purchase the full-size Bronco for its offroading capabilities, there are Bronco Sport owners who may not have had the opportunity to experience the joy of off-roading or maybe lack the skill, know-how, or confidence to tackle an off-road trail.
For these owners, the Off-Roadeo can open a whole new world with their new, very versatile vehicle. And there is no better way to learn the capabilities and features of your new car!
Where Can I Experience the Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo?
Bronco Off-Roadeo has four total locations – Utah, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Texas – although only three are open to the Ford Bronco Sport – Utah, New Hampshire and Texas. The Nevada experience is primarily highly-technical rock crawling – slower moving, with each obstacle utilizing a spotter outside the car – and is less suited to the abilities of the Bronco Sport.
No matter which location you choose, or how much experience you have, I think you’ll find that the Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo will give you a whole new love and appreciation for your new Bronco or Bronco Sport, and a whole lot more to think about the next time you want to go out and explore.
Disclosure: I was a guest of Ford for this test drive. Travel and accommodations were provided but all opinions are my own.
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Categorized:Car Culture
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