2026 Bronco Badlands - First Impressions (and Changes vs. 2023 Badlands)

[Broncolander]

I rewired my side mirror zone lights to an aux switch and use them a lot when night wheeling or on the HWY in animal-cross zones. Definitely something I would miss. Thanks for posting this!

Sponsored

 

[UncleBrad]

I know, I held on as long as I could. Just need a little more space these days and Im ok with that

Awww, man. I'm tempted to extend forgiveness. What do you say guys?

 

[Twister22]

Never liked the SAS flares. I changed mine to the standard flares!

 

[jehines3]

Have a 26 BL coming in a week and did not know homelink was gone. Shucks! What did you buy? A new visor or do they sell some other kind of device?

We have Homelink in all four of our cars and garage park two. When I had my placeholder beater waiting on my OG Covid Bronco Build, I upgraded my 20 year old Genie garage door openers with a Wireless add on kit for less than $200 which has a phone app.

The new Bronco has Homelink and I use it all the time, but in second place is the Genie App on my phone to perform this function. It also lets me know if one of the kids left the door open at night and lets me know when the get home form school.

Homelink will become an option that goes the way of the flip phone. There are newer options over mine that will integrate with Carplay. As someone said, those of us that use this stuff will miss it, but we are few. Same with the door keypads.

 

[FoCoBronc]

We have Homelink in all four of our cars and garage park two. When I had my placeholder beater waiting on my OG Covid Bronco Build, I upgraded my 20 year old Genie garage door openers with a Wireless add on kit for less than $200 which has a phone app.

The new Bronco has Homelink and I use it all the time, but in second place is the Genie App on my phone to perform this function. It also lets me know if one of the kids left the door open at night and lets me know when the get home form school.

Homelink will become an option that goes the way of the flip phone. There are newer options over mine that will integrate with Carplay. As someone said, those of us that use this stuff will miss it, but we are few. Same with the door keypads.

Thanks for the info. Probably why Ford is eliminating this feature. My son said his bmw homelink is not as effective or have the distance as the actual door opener fob. Guess I need to explore more options like you have.

 

[tbone4253]

Wow, I had a ‘26 on order, but found a ‘25 on the lot. So glad!

 

[Reese]

Looks like zone lighting is gone too? or is that an option?

mirror spot light buttons on my 23.

Yeah it’s gone on the 26. That’s the 23. On the 26 there’s a total of 12 items so far changed or deleted. I also added to the original OPs post you can find it on page 8 of the thread.

 

[Reese]

Homelink is still noted as a feature on 334a lux package in the 2026 build site. If they in fact deleted it, thats blatant false advertising.

It’s not on the order guide. The build site has some errors. No home link.

 

[Reese]

The color is shifty for sure! "New new" because I can spec it out just so (or so I thought lol...)




Yes, this is the new Non-squatch Badlands wheel/tire combo. I just checked the order guide too, and sure enough no mirror lights or Homelink listed.



Still available, just no mirror lights on the front edge and associated physical button. I'll have to try out the bottom mirror lights later.

Good to know. That is spendy, but honestly, the devil is in the details


Homelink and Zone lighting not listed but nor were they on the '23. It lists "lux" and calls out some specifics like B&O, ACC, 360 camera.

Thanks all for the info and congratulations! Now if I could only get a full nights sleep ‍

If you look back at the ‘23 guide, under Lux, it was listed as “universal garage door opener.” It was also on the ‘24 and ‘25 guide.

 

[michelle227]

We have Homelink in all four of our cars and garage park two. When I had my placeholder beater waiting on my OG Covid Bronco Build, I upgraded my 20 year old Genie garage door openers with a Wireless add on kit for less than $200 which has a phone app.

The new Bronco has Homelink and I use it all the time, but in second place is the Genie App on my phone to perform this function. It also lets me know if one of the kids left the door open at night and lets me know when the get home form school.

Homelink will become an option that goes the way of the flip phone. There are newer options over mine that will integrate with Carplay. As someone said, those of us that use this stuff will miss it, but we are few. Same with the door keypads.

Fortunately there will continue to be sources of parts for those of us who prefer older, non-connected stuff. Two of the openers are 20 years old and the only reason one isn't older is that the garage expansion didn't occur earlier.

But hell, I still enjoy audio in the house that includes CD's instead of an app.

 

[crzyhawk]

Not sure about the reason behind the sway bar disconnect change. I believe the Wildtrack didn't have this and Badlands is now sort of a mix of Badlands and Wildtrack. By taking it off and making it an optional add-on, it allowed them to drop the price of the Badlands. I went ahead and added it to my non-SAS Badlands that I just picked up yesterday. Also my roof is painted and it's white inside with black sound deading pads. The MIC roof is black inside.

There are some folks who don't like the integrated e-disconnect due to issues that it causes when it fails. From what I have seen folks say, adding it in AFTER being built is a better solution because it doesn't go into nanny mode in case of failure.

 

[crzyhawk]

Awww, man. I'm tempted to extend forgiveness. What do you say guys?

As someone who got stuffed in the backseat of a Pinto as a kid, your application is denied.

 

[Reese]

Fortunately there will continue to be sources of parts for those of us who prefer older, non-connected stuff. Two of the openers are 20 years old and the only reason one isn't older is that the garage expansion didn't occur earlier.

But hell, I still enjoy audio in the house that includes CD's instead of an app.

I agree. Old school is great for a lot of circumstances. I think what is being pointed out here, is they are charging more for the Badlands Lux, for options that aren’t even available for purchase. From tires to Lux options. And it is “the Lux package” but it has essentially been stripped of the Lux items. So why offer it as Lux if the options have been removed and add $20k more to the price. (CDN)

 

[Felix808]

It’s not on the order guide. The build site has some errors.

Who would have thought that after 6 years Ford still can't get it right

Just about anyone who was there for the launch and saw all the misinformation & mistakes passed around by Ford

 

[michelle227]

$

I agree. Old school is great for a lot of circumstances. I think what is being pointed out here, is they are charging more for the Badlands Lux, for options that aren’t even available for purchase. From tires to Lux options. And it is “the Lux package” but it has essentially been stripped of the Lux items. So why offer it as Lux if the options have been removed and add $20k more to the price. (CDN)

20K CDN is what, $6.50 US

But yes, as someone awaiting delivery of an ordered '26 Badlands, I'm aware of some of the discussion. And yes, I with the Order Guide people were required to meet with the Build&Price people.

But I also fundamentally despise decontenting because of some belief that many won't benefit from HomeLink because the kiddies want everything on a phone.

Sponsored