Comfortable for longer road trips? Thinking of buying.

[SeaJay]

IMHO, The interior is much roomier than the more carlike CRV or RAV4 if you are looking at comparable vehicles. If that is as important as sound to you.

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[Bronco III]

I had a ‘22 OBX and bought a ‘25 BL last July. My wife and I both find these cars to be very comfortable on long trips. Our longest drive so far has been 7 hours with a stop for gas and a snack. When we got home, we both felt we could jump right back in and go further.

I also put Falken Wildpeak A/T’s on both cars with no noticeable road noise, loss in MPG, handling issues, etc.

I know everyone’s feelings and comfort standards are different, but the BS suits us well with no modifications, cushions, etc.

 

[Arcee]

I am 6'4" and my girlfriend is 5'2". We both find my Bronco Sport to be comfortable on road trips. Would I want to go more than 3-4 hours without stopping and stretching my legs? No. 10 hours in a Bronco Sport would be brutal without a few breaks along the way (more than just a 10 minute fuel stop.)

It also has some wind noise (especially with strong crosswinds) and road noise. It isn't going to be as soft riding and quiet as a modern full-size pickup. But the Bronco Sport is a fun and easy to drive highway cruiser and the cruise control tech makes it very easy to drive on the highway.

The only way to know for sure is to test drive one and see if it meets your needs.

 

[Shadow Bronc]

Hi
My wife likes the look of the broncos but is concerned about how comfortable they might be for a 10 hour road trip. We live in Alberta and drive to Saskatchewan occasionally (as infrequently as I can help it).
It would be a badlands trim. Unlikely Sasquatch, but if we found a great deal it could happen. She drives a Ram 1500 right now and finds it comfortable so she’s not Lexus fussy or anything. She likes the open feeling of the cab - she has some claustrophobia and she’s a bit taller, 5 10” so she likes to stretch out her legs. She also does not like any wind noise - not that this should be an issue - would it?
Thanks for the help.

Hi
My wife likes the look of the broncos but is concerned about how comfortable they might be for a 10 hour road trip. We live in Alberta and drive to Saskatchewan occasionally (as infrequently as I can help it).
It would be a badlands trim. Unlikely Sasquatch, but if we found a great deal it could happen. She drives a Ram 1500 right now and finds it comfortable so she’s not Lexus fussy or anything. She likes the open feeling of the cab - she has some claustrophobia and she’s a bit taller, 5 10” so she likes to stretch out her legs. She also does not like any wind noise - not that this should be an issue - would it?
Thanks for the help.

Been driving for 60yrs now, 11 cars over all. Seats are number 1 and noise is #2 of concerns. So I responded to the thread. This butt has sat in them all, Mercedes, Lincoln Continentals, Cadillac, and surprisingly, a 2014 Ford Taurus limited edition seats were one of the most comfortable seats for trips. I traded a 2019 Ford mustang California special, not good for long haul or sometimes even medium trips, and my Taurus with dream seats in for a retirement long haul and go anywhere type of vehicle for kicks. A 2024 Ford Bronco sport badlands. Why? The seats, head room and the mfg sound proof(dampening) glass. After 3k for procaution miles, went on a 5,000 mile trip, wa - WI and back. Thumbs up on all three concerns, I'm happy, wife happy, dog happy.

 

[Nick72]

Hi
My wife likes the look of the broncos but is concerned about how comfortable they might be for a 10 hour road trip. We live in Alberta and drive to Saskatchewan occasionally (as infrequently as I can help it).
It would be a badlands trim. Unlikely Sasquatch, but if we found a great deal it could happen. She drives a Ram 1500 right now and finds it comfortable so she’s not Lexus fussy or anything. She likes the open feeling of the cab - she has some claustrophobia and she’s a bit taller, 5 10” so she likes to stretch out her legs. She also does not like any wind noise - not that this should be an issue - would it?
Thanks for the help.

If she is comfortable in the Ram, she most likely will not be comfortable in the BS.
Everyone is different, but I had a Ram 1500 and could make a 10 hour trip with minimal to little fatigue. In my wife's BSBB I am in pain and discomfort after about one hour. I now have a regular Bronco Outer Banks and comfort is great for long distances (just completed a 9 hour trip).
In my experience, the Ram 1500, F150, and 6th gen Bronco have been the most comfortable vehicles I have owned.

 

[Dannyp56]

I had a 2015 ram Cummins 4X4 Laramie that was more comfortable than my 2024 Outer banks and quieter even with the mud tires.

 

[jkernitzki]

I've done sea to shining sea (San Diego-VA Beach) round trip a few times. Once in a '76 Chevy LUV (with a three-speed automatic, no less). Then in an '81 Dodge base work truck with a 318 and four-speed where first was unusable unless you needed to climb a tree. Neither had AC, cruise, power anything, or an "entertainment system" (unless you count AM radio). They did have vinyl bench seats, extra sticky.

The BS is positively luxurious by comparison. No complaints from me. My need to stop frequently has nothing to do with the car, but solely my failing body and endurance as I age.

Now if I could find a way to do 12-plus hour flights without needing 48 hours to recover.

 

[incavulator]

Not the most comfortable seats. I really miss the ones in my Chevy. The power seats had two more points of articulation so you could raise the front and back of the bottom (i.e. tilt). I know some people have found aftermarket fixed-tilt solutions but that's not a substitute. I've also sat in way worse seats. I'd probably rate them about a 7/10. The base Badlands have some kind of neoprene covering that I might go half a point higher because they have a cooling, solid feel. There are at least 5 different seats depending on the year and trim, so you'll really have to try the exact ones you are shopping.

The vehicle isn't built for comfort. There are quieter rides and better low-geared ones out there. I have AT tires so its possible the regular road tires are smoother and quieter although brick-in-the-wind is still an issue for noise. But the A/C blows really cold and I don't need the window down, If you're a person that wants windows down, the buffering is pretty bad in this car and so you'll want 2 down at least. Honestly don't know how you would get "no" wind noise in a car unless you get to a high end luxury model designed to mitigate it. If you end up with a sunroof, it's not too bad open and doesn't do the wind buffering with only roof open.

That said, I could do 10 hour drives. There is a lot of legroom and side room and headroom. Even in the rear seat, the safari roof gives a lot of clearance. The adaptive cruise makes it really relaxing to drive long, steady paces. Overall, there's no way the Sport is less comfortable than my Chevy truck. I would guess it is similar if you came from a RAM 1500. You might appreciate the enclosed cargo space to carry gear or a cooler and the more practical size and mileage of a compact SUV. Trucks aren't for road trips, they're for trucking stuff around.

Having spent considerable time in several modern RAM1500's, I have to say I don't think it's even close. If you want a comfortable, quiet cabin for long drives, the RAM is a better choice by far (speaking of my experience with a 2021 BS BL and comparing it to DS and DT model RAM1500s).

Maybe Ford worked some magic on the 25 BS. If so, I can't speak to that.

However, that being said, I don't find the BS cabin objectionable. It's just in a different class. Think louder, cheaper feeling, and overall less comfortable. Just enough to make you want to stop more frequently on long trips.

I'm usually willing to drive 20+ hours with only gas, food and bathroom breaks. I don't think I'd try that in my BS BL.

 

[Stircrazy]

Hi
My wife likes the look of the broncos but is concerned about how comfortable they might be for a 10 hour road trip. We live in Alberta and drive to Saskatchewan occasionally (as infrequently as I can help it).
It would be a badlands trim. Unlikely Sasquatch, but if we found a great deal it could happen. She drives a Ram 1500 right now and finds it comfortable so she’s not Lexus fussy or anything. She likes the open feeling of the cab - she has some claustrophobia and she’s a bit taller, 5 10” so she likes to stretch out her legs. She also does not like any wind noise - not that this should be an issue - would it?
Thanks for the help.

I have the Outterbanks, so it has better seats, so my wife says I don't notice to much of a difference. but I drive from kamloops to leduc quite often and have no issue with the trip. at 5'10" myself there is still about 6" or more headroom and I don't have the seat nearly as far back as it will go. the shape of the roof line and such makes it feel like your driving a pickup almost, not small car like in anyways.

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