Bronco newbie must have mods for mpg and wind sound

[ThunderFlash]

Sounds like you might have been happier with an Exploder.

We have a 2015 Explorer Sport (3.5L twin turbo Ecoboost) with 110K on it. It is quieter inside, but it's getting 12-13 mpg these days. My '02 Triton 6.8L V-10 F-250...8 mpg (thank God I don't drive it much or far with $6/gal gas). Both make our Broncos seem fuel miserly at 16 to 19 mpgs! It's all about perspective and expectations. If refined luxury sedan quiet and hybrid level mpgs are your priorities....you are probably NOT going to have your Bronco very long. It ain't about that. So enjoy what it is all about and have some fun!

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[Desmolicious]

Nice! Here in California, I5 between the Bay Area and LA, the unofficial speed limit is about 85mph (actual is 65). I5 going north from the Bay Area, average speeds drop a lot. Going 85 would likely result in a ticket (they patrol by airplane).

It's officially 70mph on a lot of places on that stretch of the I5

 

[ThunderFlash]

Gah damn y'all tore me to bits!

Naw, I don't think that's the case. If you want to pursue making the quietest, highest mileage Bronco on the face of the planet, that is VERY cool and everyone here will appreciate your efforts to that end.

Just realized it won't ever be M-B S-class kind of quiet inside and if you get 20 mpgs mixed driving from the V-6 with SAS...you'd be doing pretty dang well. Don't feel frustrated and throw hate at the Bronco because many thousands of hours and dollars were spent on that goal, and the end results still kind of suck.

By design, the Bronco does not lend itself well to those particular attributes.

 

[Desmolicious]

Just feel glad you didn't get a new gen 4Runner. I was about to. People are averaging about 17mpgs from it and it has a noisy 2.4 liter four cylinder turbo motor. Plus it is slow.

So it could be worse! At least you get to drive an awesome Bronco!

 

[MEDISN]

Take the top off and drive it like you stole it. You'll get 28 smiles per gallon

 

[heavyD]

I don’t understand how people don’t get +20-ish. I’ve got a loaded up Badlands SAS, Hoss 3.0, 2.3L 2DR, with a couple aftermarket skids, stock 35s. I just did a 1450mi roadtrip, through the mountains, a few trails, only about 75% highway. Still got +21 MPG.

I have a 25 2-Door Badlands Automatic and the very best mileage I have got is 18.8 mpg with 93 octane and I haven't exactly been driving it hard. I assume the people getting into the 20's are doing a lot of highway and non-city driving as per your example of 75% highway.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

I have a 25 2-Door Badlands Automatic and the very best mileage I have got is 18.8 mpg with 93 octane and I haven't exactly been driving it hard. I assume the people getting into the 20's are doing a lot of highway and non-city driving as per your example of 75% highway.

Curious. I’m same spec as you. I’m SAS as well. I do zero city, as I live in a small town, and I don’t do much highway either. That trip (the 75%) was just an example where I tracked it over a considerable distance. I’m consistently around 20 at 91 octane. Maybe elevation makes a difference? I’m at +6000’

 

[not on the rug]

Buys large, heavy, lifted, brick-shaped truck on 35" AT tires, with a cardboard removable roof. Immediately complains about wind noise and MPG. THIS. Hands-down, this is the most annoying thing about owning a Bronco. I need to paste this reply into that other thread.

My advice. Drive it. Smile. Take your roof and doors off as much as possible. Smile. Hammer the throttle. Smile. Get it covered in mud and dirt. Smile. Pack it with bikini-clad hotties on a hot summer day. Smile. Put it in Sport mode and switch it back to 2wd. Smile.

I love the 16mpg I get in my Wildtrak. Much better than the 13-14mpg I get in my X5M. I'd complain but I can't hear myself think over the exhaust note and I'd care but I'm too busy smiling when I drive it anyway.

 

[MilesTeg]

Take the top off. Then you won't be worried about the wind noise

 

[MilesTeg]

I have a 25 2-Door Badlands Automatic and the very best mileage I have got is 18.8 mpg with 93 octane and I haven't exactly been driving it hard. I assume the people getting into the 20's are doing a lot of highway and non-city driving as per your example of 75% highway.

I have a 24 2-Door Badlands (non-SAS) manual/2.3L. If I keep it 65 or under, I can get 24mpg with 91/93. At interstate speeds, it drops to 21mpg. Around town with AS/S going and driving like a sane person, it'll get 19-20

 

[Valhalla]

Welcome to the shredder!!!!!!!does your top have the factory liner?

 

[heavyD]

Curious. I’m same spec as you. I’m SAS as well. I do zero city, as I live in a small town, and I don’t do much highway either. That trip (the 75%) was just an example where I tracked it over a considerable distance. I’m consistently around 20 at 91 octane. Maybe elevation makes a difference? I’m at +6000’

City driving is always going to be worst case scenario for these vehicles and for me it's been mostly exclusive. Also Canadian winter gas is likely contributing some to reduced mpg at the present time.

 

[KreeHBronco]

I just picked up a 2025 badlands, I’m extremely stoked on this vehicle. I like to tinker and have been diving thru the forum but can get lost in all the info. I have a painted hard top with the white interior, what are the best thing to do to help with wind noise?

I know this isn’t a hybrid but I want to do what I can to get better mpg. I’ve seen pedal mods, air filters etc. any of these actually worth a damn? I’m a realtor and do a mix of intown and short freeway driving with maybe 4 7hr roadtrips a year.
Open to any other most have upgrades for interior comfort etc

Another thing to consider is how far you drive. Most cars take a while to warm up and during that process, their mileage sucks. Then once warm, things improve a lot. So if you take lots of short trips, your mileage is going to be degraded. Lots of long trips, your mileage will improve. There really is no way to correct this, but it might help explain why some folks with the same vehicles can get drastically different mpg (also having a lead foot).

 

[Desmolicious]

.. Pack it with bikini-clad hotties on a hot summer day. Smile. ..

Feverishly taking notes...

 

[not on the rug]

Feverishly taking notes...

I'll take you under my wing grasshopper

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