Badlands vs OBX

[JinKat]

Looking at a bronco for the hubby. He does mostly city driving with some hwy but he can get a '23 Badlands fully loaded 4k less than a semi loaded '23 OBX (dealer is non-negotiable about the price). Thoughts? Don't mind the gas mileage difference, just wondering if badlands is ok for city driving. Heard OBX Is more geared towards that.

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[PROBvictory]

I have a stock MY22 BL non SAS, 2.3L auto Lux package w/full infotainment system and all acc loaded, and happily use it as my daily driver. Drives great, the front camera is useful in tight parking situations. And the eco mode gets me about 18mpg


Fair warning though: if you give a mouse a cookie.....


I originally was looking for a midlife crisis convertable mall crawler with a great sound system, (and ability to tow behind an RV and fit the wif, kids and dogs)

But found a deal on the Badlands, and every opportunity to try it out was like...i mean..i have it...why not?

now I am looking at ways to lift it and bigger tires, because once you go off roading you crave more...

Love it, and glad I did it. Go BL!

 

[MNBigfoot]

What are the specs? Curious of why the Badlands is that much cheaper than the OBX.

 

[stampede1]

I cannot speak to the OBX, but I originally had a BL Sasq and now have a Raptor. I loved the BL and the Raptor is a hoot. And my driving it yields about 17.9 mpg. I would caution about buying less than more and then wanting to compensate with aftermarket kit. Bottom line: there are no bad broncos; call me a kid at heart but I literally get excited when I see any bronco whether Base or Raptor, Gen one, two, etc, etc.

 

[JinKat]

What are the specs? Curious of why the Badlands is that much cheaper than the OBX.

Different dealership, shopping around.

OBX has lux package and dual top v6 and the badlands has sas package, lux, and fully loaded. OBX dealer is just incredibly firm for whatever reason and is only taking $1500 dealer price off + $5,000 off from fords current promos for ‘23s. Badlands is just marked down 10k im assuming for quick sell off. I’m seeing more of the higher end trims with larger discounts for whatever reason.

 

[MNBigfoot]

Different dealership, shopping around.

OBX has lux package and dual top v6 and the badlands has sas package, lux, and fully loaded. OBX dealer is just incredibly firm for whatever reason and is only taking $1500 dealer price off + $5,000 off from fords current promos for ‘23s. Badlands is just marked down 10k im assuming for quick sell off. I’m seeing more of the higher end trims with larger discounts for whatever reason.

If this is a non-sas OBX for $4k more, the BLs is the obvious choice.

 

[JinKat]

Correction: after looking at the badlands again-- it doesn't have SAS. It's a 4 cylinder with lux package (no sas) but a bunch of add-ons.

 

[Sgt Badlands]

I have a BL. It’s my daily driver. I love it. He will love it more than the OBX, trust me.

 

[CalvinT]

I have a 2023 MT BL non SAS with the high package. It's like driving a Cadillac compared with my 2002 Subaru.

 

[SeptuagenerianSasquatch]

If the Badlands is a 4 cylinder, then it's a manual transmission. MTs have a loyal following, but that makes a big difference in city driving, so you want to talk this through with your husband. You're in rural Iowa, or city? My daughter bought a manual Subaru in rural California and loved it, but now she's in the urban east and all that shifting isn't quite as much fun. But if you're country folks...

For the record: I have a 4 door Badlands Sas/Lux automatic, drive mostly urban and suburban, and love it. It's a great city daily drive, cruises smoothly on the interstate, and handles everything offroad with aplomb. Consider if your husband does, or will in the future, go for offroading. I imagine there's not a heck of a lot of serious trails in Iowa but the Ozarks, norther Minnesota, Colorado would be worth the trip. If that's the case, go Sasquatch, a well engineered package. Oh yes--you get heavy snow in Iowa. Sasquatch!

 

[CalvinT]

If the Badlands is a 4 cylinder, then it's a manual transmission.

That's not necessarily true. The 4 cylinder Badlands came with both automatic and manual transmissions. She said it was loaded which implies an automatic transmission.

 

[CalvinT]

it's a manual transmission, but that makes a big difference in city driving,

It all depends on who's driving it and their background. If someone started with an automatic and that's all they've driven, then driving a manual in city traffic might be a burden.

I live in Phoenix and drive in city traffic, including stop and go traffic. For me, manual or automatic makes no difference. But then I've been driving a manual for the past 30 years. Shifting and knowing when to shift is completely reflexive. I don't have to think about it and I don't find the clutch pedal to be a burden. I didn't even bother with Hill Start Assist for the first six months. I would just heel/toe the brake and gas when starting on hills. The Bronco pedal hights make it easy.

I might feel differently if my Bronco had been my first vehicle with a manual.

The OBX is slightly more oriented toward city driving though. It doesn't have the skid plates, the tires aren't as aggressive and the fender flares match body paint. The OBX normally isn't prewired for the AUX switches. I think the OBX is intended to be more of a fashion statement than the other models.

You need to think about the dual tops the OBX has. Will you be changing them? It can be a hassle to swap them. And you need to have a place to store the top you're not using.

 

[CalvinT]

Thinking some more. The Badlands comes with full time 4X4. The OBX comes standard with part time 4X4. Full time has to be ordered as an extra option. The OP needs to check that.

 

[Lowcountry Bronco]

Is this going to be a surprise for your husband? If not then let him decide which one, if either, he wants. My wife would know to get me a manual and a 2 door whether it was a Bronco or a Porsche but don't see either happening so remind him how lucky he is!

As for BL and off topic, it's not manual only and is not locked down to an automatic with the higher packages.

 

[Onestepmore]

Looking at a bronco for the hubby. He does mostly city driving with some hwy but he can get a '23 Badlands fully loaded 4k less than a semi loaded '23 OBX (dealer is non-negotiable about the price). Thoughts? Don't mind the gas mileage difference, just wondering if badlands is ok for city driving. Heard OBX Is more geared towards that.

I've got a 2023 Badlands Sasquatch 2 door 2.7 auto and daily drive it...it's Great!!! I can do 80mph on the highway and stop and go is not a problem either...plus driving in ECO mode I'm getting pretty consistently 20.3 MPG on 87 octane...I hope this helps

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