Badlands vs. Outer Banks w/Sasquatch

[Farmundeh]

Hi everyone:

I’m close to pulling the trigger on a 2026 Bronco and stuck between ordering an Outer Banks w/ the Sasquatch package built exactly as my wife and I want and a Badlands off the lot (possibly with or without the Sasquatch). I was ready to get the Badlands with the stock wheels but the road noise and ride threw me off a bit. I had previously driven one months ago with the Sasquatch package and am convinced it’s a smoother ride. I test drove an Outer Banks with the Sasquatch earlier this week and it confirmed my belief that they provide a better ride than the stock badlands wheels. A few questions:

- Has anyone recently made a decision between the two trims? What swayed you, apart from the obvious off-roading capabilities of the badlands? As background, this will be a commuter vehicle to and from the train station about 80% of the time. It’s unlikely we will ever take it off roading. I also don’t care much about the power seats and the leather trimmed seats coming standard in the Outer Banks. Pricing works out to be cheaper on the outer banks if I spec them both out similarly, but I could be willing to forego certain options in order to have a badlands immediately.

- Am I crazy in thinking the Sasquatch wheels provide a better ride than the stock badlands wheels? Anyone have experience with the two?

- what are some of the differences between the badlands and outer banks? Bash plates, front bumper, standard gear ratios, option for the manual transmission, anything else in the standard equipment that I’m missing?

- anyone with the 2.3 engine that regrets not going with the 2.7?

All feedback would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

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[Montana Bronco]

Get the 7MT.

Best part of the Bronco experience.

 

[Thor_1]

Get the 7MT.

Best part of the Bronco experience.

Only if it came with the 2.7. A 4 cylinder does NOT belong in a Bronco.

 

[Tfinley]

If you are not going off roading why would you want the Badlands? You will be paying for equipment you won't use. I have a '25 OBX SAS with the V6 and Lux package. I dont need a disconnecting front sway bar or winch capable numbers and all that. And if I do need them I can add later. What I have is more than I need. My son has a 26 OBX with the 2.3. Non Sas. He is going to swap wheels and put on 285s and call it a day. Said it has plenty of power (more than a Wrangler does)He doesn't need lockers and if you are not going off roading, you won't need them either. Get the OBX and if you want a better off road look, find some badlands tire/wheels on marketplace.

 

[Thor_1]

It might have been the air pressure in the tires. When I got my Heritage the tires were at 44 pounds. I have since lowered them to 35 cold and it rides really nice.

The badlands comes stock with 4A and better gears unless you get the MT. I would recommend the 2.7L. Much better engine.

 

[Brian_B]

7MT is nice - the 2.3 hate is not justified

Badlands can also be optioned with the electric swaybar disconnect

But apart from some internal convenience items on the various trims - a SAS is a SAS and there really isn’t any difference in their off road capability.

I’m of the opinion that a Badlands with SAS is just an expensive way to buy 35” tires.

 

[Oldhippie]

if you aren’t off roading you have no need for a badlands or Sasquatch and if ya don't care about the luxury package ya don’t even need an outer banks…just get a big bend and add whatever wheels/tires plus whatever else ya like…I would recommend a painted top on whatever ya get…I do like the 2.7 but if ya are looking at a manual it isn’t an option…good luck

 

[MNBigfoot]

If you are not going off roading why would you want the Badlands? You will be paying for equipment you won't use. I have a '25 OBX SAS with the V6 and Lux package. I dont need a disconnecting front sway bar or winch capable numbers and all that. And if I do need them I can add later. What I have is more than I need. My son has a 26 OBX with the 2.3. Non Sas. He is going to swap wheels and put on 285s and call it a day. Said it has plenty of power (more than a Wrangler does)He doesn't need lockers and if you are not going off roading, you won't need them either. Get the OBX and if you want a better off road look, find some badlands tire/wheels on marketplace.

In Texas not much need for AWD, in NY it may be nice to have (Not available on the OBX without Sas). So for $2300 less (like equiped), the BL's would be the better bargain if AWD is preferred for winter driving.

 

[MNBigfoot]

....Pricing works out to be cheaper on the outer banks if I spec them both out similarly, but I could be willing to forego certain options in order to have a badlands immediately.

What options? Because I just did the price and build, took the Badlands added the auto, hard-top, and Mid and it came out $2300 cheaper than the OBX Sas and painted top.

 

[MilesTeg]

The Badlands is essentially a SAS (with the 7MT). Everything but some trim pieces, smaller tires, and 3/4" of lift from suspension.

With the 10r80 you don't get the 4.7 gears though.

7MT is nice - the 2.3 hate is not justified

Badlands can also be optioned with the electric swaybar disconnect

But apart from some internal convenience items on the various trims - a SAS is a SAS and there really isn’t any difference in their off road capability.

I’m of the opinion that a Badlands with SAS is just an expensive way to buy 35” tires.

Yep, I am ever so glad I didn't drop $6,000 for slightly bigger tires, hah.

 

[CalvinT]

anyone with the 2.3 engine that regrets not going with the 2.7?

Absolutely no regrets. I sometimes get rubber with my 2.3L. Of course I have a manual too. I have no regrets about having the 2.3 instead of the 2.7. Driving to Flagstaff from Phoenix includes long hauls up 6% grades. I still hit 80 on them when I want to.

Also I specifically did not buy a SAS because of price and larger tires. Unlike many on here, I didn't want bigger tires. I'd have been happy with 32". Years ago I got along quite well with even smaller tires, but then I have no interest in the Rubicon or pushing the limits of my Bronco.

 

[MilesTeg]

The Badlands non-SAS is just a tiny bit shy of a SAS of any flavor (for all the core equipment) -- especially in 7MT configuration. There won't be any significant difference (short of some high level off roading tasks) other than the MT tires on the SAS being LOUD and STIFF compared to the Badlands tires. They are both very much off road focused to the determent of on-road quality.

The bottom line is: if you don't offroad seriously, you are throwing money away at SAS or even a Badlands. ~$10-15,000 in optional equipment that will never fulfill any purpose for you and will only be things that can go wrong and cost you MORE money for no purpose. Now, if you got the money to burn and don't mind reducing the quality of your on road experience to have a tuff looking vehicle? Go for it! Otherwise, buy a Big Bend, and if you like bigger tires for a tiny fraction of the upcharge from buying an offroad equipped vehicle.

Your on-road road quality & efficiency will absolutely be better WITHOUT all that off road equipment (ride height, tires, armor, etc.). Your experience with ride quality makes no sense (not saying you are lying, just assuming there was something going on that made the experience weird for you), and I would urge you to test drive a SAS and a non-SAS/non-Badlands back to back.

If you're really never going to go offroad, you want a Bronco with smaller, highway optimized tires and not a bunch of offroad equipment and configuration that can only degrade your on road ride experience.

 

[2CME911]

I think your impressions of the ride quality came pretty close to mine as well, but that also kind of puzzles me because it really should not be so. Agree with the previous comment that perhaps the tires on the
Outer Banks were aired down a bit at the time you drove it. Anyway, for me cost was a major factor and I went with the Outer Banks Sas over the Badlands Sas mainly due to the pricing structure that Ford has on these. But I was all in on the Sasquatch package, so a non Sas Badlands just wasn’t on my radar.

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