2023 Bronco vs 2023 TRD Pro vs 2025 TRD Off Road

So, I own a 2023 Ford Bronco 2 door, which honestly.......fits my lifestyle pretty damn well. I live 10 minutes from the beach and kiteboard/surf/foil, so I go no top/bikini top a good bit of the year. I also mountain bike and camp 5-8 weekends/3 day trips a year. I'm seriously debating moving to a truck because.......all of that in the back of the Bronco means the back end is constantly covered in salt, sand, mud, etc.

I put up with it because well the Bronco is fun, it's a manual transmission and I can take the doors/top off. My hardcore 4 wheeling is over, I need 4 wheel drive, but I'm not doing anything over moderate trails at this point .

Tacoma - I've always loved the TRD Pros, they honestly just look cool, and I like the 3rd gen looks wise better than the 4th gen. I have, however, driven a 4th gen, and they are way better both drive wise and interior.

So, here's my options:

2023 TRD Pro - Solar Octane, 36k miles, Gold Certified, $46k OTD

2025 Tacoma TRD Off Road, Black, just a bedliner and bed step add ons, $42.500 OTD

I would get $37k on the Bronco on a sale (33k miles).

I've literally debated this for a week now.......opinions? Mainly the cost/value proposition between the 2 Tacomas. That and......the Gold Certified Warranty has anyone had issues with getting anything covered?

 

Welcome. You’re going to get ‘buy a Tacoma’ recommendations as this is a Tacoma website. Honestly, I’d keep what you have and look into a rubber floor mat for easier clean up.

 

You'll miss having the top and doors off. and I would do what vss said and put in rubber mats to make it easier to clean or just toss them when they get nasty. If you do decide to go with a truck, 4th gen as you will be happier with it, they just drive better and DO NOT get black if you dont like cleaning things...take my word on this!

 

I'd keep the Bronco.

 

I actually have a Maverick Truck pad in the back where I removed the back seats, works really well actually. Thanks for the advice......I think it was one of those where I haven't had a truck in so long. I actually have a 4th Gen SR5 as a rental this week, and I started looking at it and with a tailgate pad, honestly I think I can get everything in the Bronco (and covered) almost as well as with a truck (1Up Rack on the Bronco).

 

and you cant take the doors off and have a bikini top in the summer with the truck....Im looking at a hot pepper tintcoat 2 door badlands to add to the barn of cars...as I like the doors off and bikini top for summer!

 

If you want a really good bikini - that's how I run most of the summer - Broncobikini.com. The newest version is top notch, no gap in front, keeps most of the rain out, no flap.

 

I have the 22 Pro (same truck as the 23); bought it used with 18k mi., fully loaded and is still as equipped when driven off the lot new, and Gold certified. I love the truck and would do it all over again. Currently has 29k miles.
In fact, I test drove a brand new 24 Sport 4wd 5 minutes before signing the papers (on the hood of the 24) on the 22 Pro. Note: the hybrid tacomas hadn’t come to market at the time I bought my Pro. My daily driver is a 22 2wd Sr5 Tacoma -had it since new.

can’t speak to the bronco, but they look cool.

edit in: The Gold Certified is a Toyota Corporate program, probably better than the new factory warranty. The 1st year (12k mi.) bumper-to-bumper is gold. The Gold also gives you 100k (36 month) odometer drive train warranty.

 

I have a 2021 Bronco 2 door Big Bend and a 2018 Tacoma SR 4x4 3.5 Double Cab.

We have a LEER shell/camper top on the Tacoma and it's our beach/adventure vehicle of choice. We take all the toys.. inflatable SUPs, full quiver of kites/boards, coolers, table/chairs and a load more than we need including emergency equipment than we've never needed (so far.) I don't see how we'd begin to comfortable store all that in the 2D Bronco. I also can't imagine sticking all the wet and smelly equipment in the cab with us.. it's nice that the truck bed is contained. We typically strap the SUPs on the top of the truck/shell for the duration of beach trips.

On the flip side.. If you're used to the pep/acceleration in the Bronco then you're going to be a bit disappointed in the Taco's acceleration.

 

I've owned several Wranglers over the years. I almost never took the top down. It's so easy to remove the doors that I usually took them off for 5-6 months of the year and left the top on. You catch plenty of wind and can still be in the shade. And have some protection for unexpected rain showers.

I have no idea how hard it is to take the doors off a Bronco, but that's the way I'd use it.

 

Right, this is the rub. This was the whole reason I've been debating it. Camping with wet mtb gear is especially bad. It's not the end of the world, but it's not ideal either. I'm at the beach winging (5'2" SUP with a foil), kiting (5'4" surfboard, harness, kites) or longboarding (9') probably 125 days a year now, and mtb'ing roughly 100 days a year. Pretty much anytime I use the vehicle it's to do one of those 2 things or go to Lowe's. That's basically why I've been pondering a truck.

Balance that with the lost of no top/no doors in the summer, not a huge loss at this point. I've been running that way for 19 years between Jeeps and now the Bronco and honestly, it's great when the weather is great, but it's a pain when it inevitably goes a week with rain or 95+.

Pep/acceleration, I honestly don't care, as long as it will eventually get up to 80 I'm good. With that said, the Bronco with the manual in 2 doors is especially fun to drive.

 

I'd keep the Bronco as that's the most economical option you listed, and the 2drs are just cool. I wouldn't go for a preowned previous gen Pro and I like Solar Octane. I like the 4G OR, but if I was you and if you are buying a truck you don't need I'd just get a F-150 STX for the price of an OR 12" screen, and a 36 gallon tank that won't cost a premium. You are used to driving a turbo Ford already or you can get a V8.

 

Doors are pretty easy on the Bronco just a big longer (2 door), but......no doors on the interstate when its 95 can be tough.

 

Fun stuff!.. I'm envious as we're stuck inland most of the time. Considering your use case I'd jump to a manual Tacoma w/a shell.

As for 3rd gen vs 4th gen.. I don't think you can go wrong with either. Take both on extended test drives. We've put ~119k adventurous miles on our 3rd Taco (with about ~18k of that pulling a trailer) and have occasional beat on it.. it hasn't complained yet and I still enjoy driving it (it's the DD and the Bronco has less than 20k miles.)

 

Did Ford ever fix the head gasket issues they were having with some Bronco models

 

That was the 2.7, I have the 2.3 because it's the only engine allowed with the 7MT.

 

it really sounds like a jeep gladiator, or '89-91 dodge dakota sport convertible is more your style.

 

I came from a ton of Jeeps, I love Jeep actually, but really don't like the Gladiator. It looks like they just threw a truck bed on the back of a sawed off 4 door and called it a day. If they would somehow come out with a 2 door model and it looked proportional I'd be all over it.

I'm still somewhat undecided, I like the style/V6 of the 3rd gen, I like the ride/seating and honestly now that I can get it 10% off MSRP, the price proposition of the 4th gen. The Bronco wins on taking the top off and the 7MT, and economics.

My concern comes when I get 50k and 75k in with the Bronco on how it's going to hold up to the beating and the sand/salt on the inside. I think basically at that point I'll just run it until it's a beater, keep it for the beach only and buy a truck as an everyday.

More than likely, I'm going to take whatever money I would have spent and buy some new kite/winging gear.

 

cant help you decide, ide pass on anything black though....
just a hell of a color & shows everything...

 

I think the 22 and 23 Pros are underrated with regard to performance and comfort …the caveat with the Pro example you listed is the miles. But again, it does come with the Gold Certification, which also means it’s undergone and passed the Gold inspection.