Checked out a 2025

[Imaginary Friend]

I saw the new Bronco cluster this weekend and it's WAY better than the pre-'25 unit. No contest there.

That said, I prefer the analog tach and speedo with center display in my JL far more. Less gimmicky, tells you what you need to know simply.

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[Dral97]

I don't particularly care either way. My eyes don't ever look at the analog portion, but then again, I can't think of anything else I would need to be there.

Now if we're talking tech, a heads up display would be great. My Bimmer has one and I use it all the time.

 

[DrewBronc21]

I like the original digital display. Easy to use and read. If I had a manual I would not like it.
I wish we had the ability to change the speedometer to a retro version like the Mustang has. That would be cool.

I don’t love the tach in my 21 manual but I’m used to it now after 3 years. I would have liked round gauges and even “analog looking” digital gauges, Speedo would have been fine. I dislike the “bar” tach and also not having an actual Ebrake handle like other manual cars I’ve had was an adjustment

 

[vrtical]

The analog dash in my 2019 Shelby is one of the last old school gauge dashes that Ford offered. Thank You Ford… I do not plan on selling mt GT350, or my ‘24 Badlands SAS 2 door!

I feel the same way about my archaic manual gauges in my 17 and probably will not ever buy another newer mustang especially post 2023. Now the digital gauge in my braptor is on point only because the off road mode config is next level. Ford screws up all the time, hell they released the SVT overlay and the tach is on the wrong side lol.

 

[Marc L]

Am I alone in the fact that customizing the dash is the least important part of vehicle ownership?
Personally our complaints with our '24 are more related to parking brake location, heat loss out the roof during cold weather, tailgate open order(glass first), and road noise.
As somebody said if it is cheaper for Ford to standardize the dashes the change is fine, but if it costs more, there is better value adding elsewhere in the vehicle.

 

[indio22]

That's how I still drive. I find a speed that I'm comfortable driving and after a short time I don't have to look at the dash to know how fast I'm going. I can tell by the sound of the engine and wind noise.

So you're the guy I'm stuck behind on the way to work?

 

[UncleBrad]

Always amazed at the things people spend their time on.

Notice that this sober-minded observation was made by a 2-door owner...

 

[11811]

I wonder if we will get in our Bronco one day and find the dash graphics completely different from a midnight software update.

 

[2021FordBronco2]

Checked out the 2025 this week, an OBX on the lot near my office. Probably not the popular opinion, but I’m sorry, the digital dash is a mistake. It kills some of the stand alone uniqueness charm of the Bronco throwback fun. Made me feel like “hey, I’m not just a Bronco, but I’m a noisier Explorer”. Sorry, just not a fan of it. No slight to the digital dash, I like it as much as any of the others out there, and think Ford does a great job with it. Just. Not the right fit for a regular normal Bronco. Raptor? Fine. It’s such an over the top vehicle in general, a digital 4k dash makes sense. But for a regular? Not a fan. Still would pick the Bronco over the Jeep, don’t get me wrong. But think some of the throw back charm to the Bronco is now gone. The old dash has a retro 80’s vibe with a dedicated speedometer as back up. Just think it’s cool while not being cool all at the same time.

I am one of the few that agrees with you, I feel like the digital gauge cluster just throws the interior off and makes it feel less special as well as not being retro anymore.

 

[2021FordBronco2]

I like the original digital display. Easy to use and read. If I had a manual I would not like it.
I wish we had the ability to change the speedometer to a retro version like the Mustang has. That would be cool.

Having retro gauges on the full digital screen of previous gen Broncos would be the only way I would swap over to the digital gauges.

 

[EasternSierra]

Those of us who rode motorcycles without tachs are scratching our heads at people complaining about having any sort of tach.

Heck, plenty of manual cars existed without tacs too. Listen to the car, feel how it’s running…easy peasy.

My first car was a manual with no tach and it was easy as you said. My second vehicle was a 4x4 pickup with a manual and a tach. Guess what? When the going gets rough off-road and it gets really noisy, you may not be able to hear the engine or at least not well enough. I ended up having to rely on the tach at times so I was grateful for it. Same with the next 4x4 manual. YMMV.

 

[B22-2023]

My first car was a manual with no tach and it was easy as you said. My second vehicle was a 4x4 pickup with a manual and a tach. Guess what? When the going gets rough off-road and it gets really noisy, you may not be able to hear the engine or at least not well enough. I ended up having to rely on the tach at times so I was grateful for it. Same with the next 4x4 manual. YMMV.

And the 2.7L/10 speed automatic doesn’t exactly roar with revs under your seat and at your feet to feel every gear change, like my headered v8 Gen1s would. Grinding in manual mode up a muddy hill or other tricky stuff, a clear tach readout sure helps so I put a cheap HUD on the dash. Now this ‘25 tach, plus it’s large gear indicator, would be an improvement over my ‘23 Atari layout and looks like it may be easier to monitor from a quick glance or the corner of your eye - like a more standard setup.

 

[broncobase1]

I also like the 21-24 gauge cluster. Not a fan of the way the analog speedo is added in but the digital part is intuitive and looks great.

 

[broncobase1]

I saw the new Bronco cluster this weekend and it's WAY better than the pre-'25 unit. No contest there.

That said, I prefer the analog tach and speedo with center display in my JL far more. Less gimmicky, tells you what you need to know simply.

I agree an analog panel with round equal size speedo and tach is hard to beat. That said I wouldn't trade the panel in my Bronco for a Jeep panel, at least the Gladiator I rented last year. The jeep looks seventies AMC in my opinion. The digital portion of the Bronco panel is plenty big and pretty good in my opinion. The selection of screen options is useful and intuitive, and I like the looks of the gauges and the various gauge options, not gimmicky in my opinion. The 4WD screen is also pretty cool.

 

[Bikeric]

I can definitely see the need for a traditional tachometer in the manual, 100%! That, is certainly a drawback of the old dash that hopefully the new version will fix for the manual crowd! I'm sure you can "feel" it naturally, but would nice to have an easy and familiar display to glance at quickly.

I suspect the new dash vs old dash is probably going to be like debating the differences between Mobile 1 and Amsoil. There are those who like the old better (me) and those who will like the new better. I am happy that the old style still fits the car and not immediately disposed of as a version of the bronco that you don't want.

I like the reference to the Atari graphics! That's perfectly said, and perhaps a good reason why I like it so much too!

I appreciate your opinion and thank you for providing it. Evidently the instrument cluster hits a lot of nerves in the Bronco community. I'm driving a 22 Badlands 7MT and only look at the digital speed numbers and the digital tach numbers when I drive. I occasionally view my tire pressures, but that's about it. Do I wish I had a sweeping tachometer? Sure, but I learned to drive stick on my Dad's 84 F-150 300-6 5 speed with no tach at all. My 89 4Runner 22RE 5 speed also didn't have a tachometer. I guess what I'm saying is having the silly bar chart and 2 digit numbers for a tach works for me too.

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