Until recently, it was the last generation Bronco. The fifth generation was produced from ’91 to ’96 and only in ’21, the legendary name, after a long break, was resurrected. In the 90’s, the era of crossovers had not yet arrived, but SUVs were gradually evolving and becoming more practical. Chrysler produced the five-door Jeep Cherokee, and then the Grand Cherokee. In ’95, GM released a five-door Chevrolet Tahoe, and Ford by that time was already producing a five-door Explorer. It was becoming obvious that the market demanded a full-size SUV with five doors.
The fifth-generation Bronco was Ford’s last SUV built on the original concept, a versatile truck that was comfortable not only for leisure, but also for work. The Expedition, which replaced it, was more of a large, family car and tractor-trailer. But the Expedition lacked that spirit of adventure which was so intrinsic to the Bronco from the outset. And maybe that’s why Ford resuscitated the Bronco in ’21. They have tried to offer the consumer a stylish car for adventure, in addition – bearing the iconic name.
1994 Ford Bronco was based on the F150 pickup truck. It was a proven solution, which was used in previous generations. Due to this unification, many parts of the pickup and SUV were interchangeable. Despite the fact that the 5th generation was a three-door only, it was the most comfortable and easy-to-drive Bronco ever. As before, the car was equipped with a frame body and a four-wheel drive system with a transfer case. This system allowed to ride in reverse or all-wheel drive. It could be useful in sand, loose soil, or snow. The SUV equipped with a trailer hitch could pull a 7,000-pound trailer.
According to some owners, the bottom edge of the third door can rust on these SUVs. Also when buying it is desirable to make sure that the window lift mechanism in the trunk door is working. The thing is that without opening window you can not open the door.
Sale and Price 1994 Ford Bronco.
A new Bronco could be bought for $22,000 to $27,000. Today for a car in good condition asking a comparable amount. Of course, there are many options in not so good condition that you can buy for a couple thousand dollars. The new car came with a 3 year warranty, or 60000 miles.
Appearance and photos.
The 1994 Ford Bronco was produced in an era when bumpers were not yet part of the body. Even on the first generation Expedition, which came just after the Bronco, the bumpers are an integral part of the design and they are harmonized with the fenders and the front of the car. The Bronco was an old-school SUV and although its bumpers are covered in chrome, they are primarily for protection, not for design. From the photo, you can notice the plastic overlay on the rear bumper – it could serve as a footrest.
The roof over the second row of seats and over the luggage compartment is made of fiberglass. It weighs 120 pounds and if you unscrew the mounting bolts in the cabin, the roof can be removed, and the SUV will turn into a pickup truck. Originally the roof bolts were regular bolts, but later they got a Torx head. From ’94 to ’96 the Eddie Bauer trucks were equipped with running boards. For the Bronco XLT the running boards were available as an option.
The 5th generation Bronco had two-tone body painting. The body’s length was 4660 mm (183.6d), wheelbase was 2660 mm. The Bronco of all generations was notable for its width. Although the length of this car by American standards is not great at all, but because of the width in 2010mm, behind the wheel of Bronco you can feel like a truck driver. This car is so wide that you can lie across the body in its trunk. Height – 1890mm, curb weight – 2150kg, ground clearance – 231mm, and coefficient of drag – 0.60.
The base Bronco was equipped with 235/75 R15 tires. As an option, tires were 265/75 R15. As an option the Bronco was equipped with lockable front hubs. Until ’93 the hubcaps were painted red, after that – black.
Bronco lettering can be seen on the front fenders. There is also a radio antenna on the right fender. The rear brake light on the third door was introduced in ’92, and this is due to the new, American safety requirements. A spare tire wicket was an option, but is found on many Bronco’s. The stock spare tire was in the trunk. The exhaust pipe was behind the rear, right wheel, and this also lent a truck-like appearance.
All in all, looking at the 1994 Ford Bronco, we can say that it is an evolution of the 3rd and 4th generation. The looks are the strong point of this car and it is part of the cult that the Bronco is surrounded by.
Interior and equipment.
In ’94, the Bronco received a new four-spoke steering wheel with airbag. This steering wheel could be found on other cars of the brand. The steering wheel spokes are equipped with cruise control and horn buttons. Prior to the driver’s airbag, the steering wheel was a two-spoke steering wheel. The red emergency button is located on the steering column, which is typical of American cars in general. The steering wheel itself got a steering column with a warp zone, which increases safety. Regardless of the steering wheel type, it is angle adjustable.
The transfer case lever is to the left of the transmission tunnel. When all-wheel drive is engaged, the indicator on the front panel lights up – 4*4. Cars with a manual transmission have a floor gearbox lever, SUVs with an automatic were equipped with the typical U.S. – understeer lever. The door trim has soft inserts of leather substitute. But the most interesting are the sliders at the front of the doors. These can be opened manually and turned in such a way that the air can be directed towards itself. The car was equipped with electrically operated mirrors.
The Bronco’s front seats could be equipped with electric lumbar zone adjustment. Not only the front but also the rear seat belts were three-point. Head restraints were integrated into the front seat backs. The more expensive Eddie Bauer versions had the appropriate lettering in the headrest area. The Eddie Bauer version of the Bronco also had a better soundproofing for the headliner. In the base, the front seats were separate. Between them there was only one box for things with two headrests.
This is a noteworthy point, because if you go back to the history of Bronco, the first generation had a one-piece sofa in the front and only for an extra fee the car was equipped with separate seats. There is a socket in the front panel, with which you can connect devices when you are out of town. On the front panel you can find a button for heating and opening / closing the rear window. In the glove compartment in front of the front passenger in a special pouch lay the car manual.
In order to sit in the back seat, it is enough just to move the front seats forward. Ashtrays and cup holders are provided for the rear passengers. These elements function on the principle of a revolving drum – by pushing on the ashtray in the closed position, it scrolls and turns open side.
To open the side of the trunk from the outside, one had to insert and turn the key. The window was lowered and the only thing to do was to put my hand through and pull the lever. In the more expensive versions, the Bronco’s trunk was covered with carpeting. Thanks to it it was pleasant to sit on it. Even without folding the couch of the second row, with the spare wheel taken out behind the back door, the volume of the trunk is 917 liters.
Today, many Bronco fans like the high seating position behind the wheel of this car. It allows you to see the road well not only forward, but also on the sides.
Engine and Specifications 1994 Ford Bronco.
The base engine for the fifth generation Bronco was an inline six with a displacement of 4.9 liters. With a compression ratio of 8.8:1, the engine produced 150 horsepower. With manual transmission Bronco could reach 100 km/h in 14.1 seconds and a top speed of 148 km/h.
The smallest V8 had 262 cubic inches and initially 185 horsepower. In ’96 it was increased to 205 horsepower, and the torque is 373 Nm.
The top end V8 has 5.8L displacement, 210 horsepower and 441 Nm of torque. Here you can see that compared to the late, 5L V8 the power is not much different, but the difference in torque is noticeable. Remember, the 205 horsepower 5 liter V8 was available at the time when the Bronco was discontinued, so not many of these cars were built.
With the 5.8 liter engine, the Bronco, even with an automatic, could reach 100 km/h in 11.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 163 km/h. The Bronco had a five speed manual transmission – Mazda M50D-R2. The Bronco with 5.8 was equipped exclusively with an automatic transmission.
If you look at the engine Ford Bronco, you can see the inscription on the intake manifold – Ford, then specify the volume of a particular engine and symbols EFI. The latter indicate electronic fuel injection. Under the hood, you can see a flashlight. Also on the right fender there is a jack and wrench, which was used in the first generation Bronco.
The Ford Bronco’s transfer case allows for rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, and it also allows for four-wheel drive with a downshift. The front suspension is a hybrid of a continuous-beam and independent suspension, a design that has been in place since the third generation for better handling. The rear suspension was a trailing arm. The front brakes are disc brakes, while the rear are drum brakes.
Bronco became a cult model not only because of good off-road performance. Buyers were attracted to the ideology of this car, which offered a lot of freedom. It was a multi-purpose machine that allowed many problems to be solved. Over time, buyers began to see SUVs as a family car, and the three-door SUV didn’t fit that role so well anymore. The Bronco had to go off the production line for more than 20 years, but the iconic nature of the model helped it return in ’21.
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