Big Bend Grille is Gone

[Blackcat]

Absolutely agree! I do like my Big Bend grille better than the 2025 as well. The biggest letdown on the 2025 Big Bend is the removal of the 2-door configuration. I got my 2024 2-door 7MT Big Bend thinking this may be the last opportunity, and it's turning out I may have been right. With supply problems, sagging economy I'm wondering if the "late year" base Bronco will even materialize. That would mean the only way to get a 2-door manual with open diffs may be gone entirely now??

What’s weird is that the ‘late year’ Base is showing up on dealer lots. Granted, they’re A/T, but they’re being produced…Luckily, I got my 2 door base M/T 2 years ago.

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[CarbonGrayBronco]

I don't understand why Ford doesn't sell more grille designs. Maybe offer a few designs not available as part of any original build. I'd buy a honeycomb grille (like the early DR, or the Raptor but with BRONCO lettering instead of FORD) in a heartbeat if it was available.

 

[broncobase1]

I still like the Base grill with the blackout BRONCO lettering the best.

 

[UncleBrad]

What’s weird is that the ‘late year’ Base is showing up on dealer lots. Granted, they’re A/T, but they’re being produced…Luckily, I got my 2 door base M/T 2 years ago.

I didn't know the 2025 base Broncos were showing up at dealers, but my money is on the guess that they really are all automatics (and nearly all four doors). I may be wrong, but with the synchronizer gear noise problems and the various updates to the Chinese-manufactured manual transmissions (which may or may not address the long-standing problem, and have people with warranties demanding transmission replacements) - and now with the tariffs, I wonder if very many manuals are going out this year at all...

 

[Poppavein]

The manual transmission is not manufactured in China.

 

[RaceRed24]

I’ve kind of grown into liking my Big Bend grill. I liked that each trim had its own unique grill , could always tell just passing by one which trim it was .
Does Outerbanks still have same grill as previous years Big Bend still in gloss black or is that gone to?

 

[Calm horse]

Dang. I know I’m probably the only one on here to think this, but I love the Big Bend grille. Bought this trim specifically for the grille and cloth seats. Got screwed out of the cloth but I got the grille.

I guess I definitely need to start looking for takeoff BB grilles to keep as spares. Deer around here come looking for cars to run in front of.

I'm with you on this! I picked the Big Bend for the grill , cloth, and mid pack to get heated seats. And v6 was available as well...don't think I would settle for big bend now with that 4 cylinder though.

 

[Lowcountry Bronco]

The manual transmission is not manufactured in China.

Pretty sure it is, Getrag is a German company but everything I've ever read here states it's manufactured in China.

 

[Beach_Bum]

I’ve kind of grown into liking my Big Bend grill. I liked that each trim had its own unique grill , could always tell just passing by one which trim it was .
Does Outerbanks still have same grill as previous years Big Bend still in gloss black or is that gone to?

Yes. The OBX grill shares the style as the old BB grill but is painted gloss black.

 

[UncleBrad]

The manual transmission is not manufactured in China.

I was told here on this forum that these Getrag manuals were manufactured in China. Did a quick search and found:

"The Getrag 7-speed manual transmission for the Ford Bronco is assembled in China, specifically at the Getrag Jiangxi facility in Nanchang."

Has something changed, or is this just flat-out wrong?

 

[FilmcoBronci]

I...guess I don't see the BB grill going away as a problem - it looks a LOT like the Bronco Sport grill. Which everyone claims isn't a real Bronco.

Everyone has their own opinion though, and you're entitled to yours.

Agree to some extent.
Personally, Big Bend Grill struck me as a bit of a weak link tied to the sport.
The Big Bend and the Outer Banks Grills didn't match the excellence delivered by the likes of @popo_patty
I am always honest on here and some of the OBX feature envy is part of the equation so there is that. LOL

 

[wjtinfwb]

I was looking at 2025 Broncos and realized that the Big Bend grille is no longer on the 2025s. It seems like to me that the 2025s have a lot of changes that just make things worse, no fog lights, no available rear locker on certain trims as a standalone option, the digital cluster looks worse to me, and the MGV seats and rubber floors are only on certain trims again. This is making me glad I got my 2024 Big Bend instead of waiting for the 2025s. The negatives outweigh the benefits. Link to listing that shows grille on Big Bend: New 2025 Ford Bronco For Sale at Solomon Ford LLC | VIN: 1FMDE7BH9SLA49192

I have a ‘23 Big Bend Sas and generally agree. Except on the grill. I hate the gray BB grill on mine. That will be corrected in due time. Other than the grill, I love my BB, particularly the cloth interior

 

[popo_patty]

Agree to some extent.
Personally, Big Bend Grill struck me as a bit of a weak link tied to the sport.
The Big Bend and the Outer Banks Grills didn't match the excellence delivered by the likes of @popo_patty
I am always honest on here and some of the OBX feature envy is part of the equation so there is that. LOL

Aw thanks.
I for one am fond of the big bend grille. Idk why but when I had the chance to change it, I opted to keep it.

 

[2021FordBronco2]

Aw thanks.
I for one am fond of the big bend grille. Idk why but when I had the chance to change it, I opted to keep it.

I think it's because it breaks up the sea of black on these cars. I love how my grille looks with my black SAS takeoffs.

 

[UncleBrad]

I think it's because it breaks up the sea of black on these cars. I love how my grille looks with my black SAS takeoffs.

I think the (unaltered) Big Bend styling - especially with the 2dr - better suits the simpler pre-2025 Big Bend grille. It makes the vehicle less portly by not drawing attention to its width, as does numerous the "Tylenol" openings in the higher trims. The contrast between the vast expanses of panels vs. the smaller openings are too much of a contrast. Moreover, I think the base plastic-covered bumpers look great, because they better fill the grille contours and they don't leave gaps. These turbo vehicles need to breathe, and the larger grille openings (all else being equal) will work better for cooling.

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