The Ford Bronco’s retro styling has been a major selling point since the SUV was reintroduced to the market in 2021. While today’s Bronco models might feature a decidedly more modern look than some of the boxy models of old, the midsize offering is still a standout on today’s market with a unique design that allows it to outshine many of its contemporaries. If the Bronco’s distinctive style doesn’t invoke enough nostalgia, Ford has introduced two retro-inspired trims for the 2025 model year. Honoring the Bronco’s off-road heritage and the 70’s design aesthetics that defined early models, these two trims turn back the clock to provide drivers with rugged body-on-frame SUVs that are as alluring as they are functional.
The Free Wheeling Package and Stroppe Special Edition represent two exciting additions to the lineup, but they’re not the only upgrades you’ll find when exploring the inventory at your local Ford dealer. The new model year sees the departure of a few trims, the reshuffling of some optional equipment packages, and new features like interior grab handles and an optional sound-deadening headliner. All in all, 2025 represents another strong showing for the Bronco, which has long bucked the prevailing trends to provide drivers with a wholly original 4×4 creation. Let’s saddle up and see what the new model offers in terms of style and substance.
The Free Wheeling Package
We’ll start with the Free Wheeling appearance package, which takes the Big Bend trim to the next level with multi-color 1970s-style stripes, an exclusive grille, and an optional off-road package that dramatically ups the Bronco’s profile as a go-anywhere adventure rig. Inspired by the Free Wheeling package that was first offered for the Ford F-100, F-150, Bronco, Econoline van in the ‘70s and ‘80s, the exterior overhaul includes reflective red, orange, and yellow graphics against a black background that lends the midsize model an authentic vintage feel.
These bright graphics are complemented by painted, gloss-black 17-inch steel wheels along with mirrors and bumpers that have been treated to a sophisticated black finish. The silver grille features a flashy Bronco wordmark with a white center and red outline to match the stripes and give the front fascia a fascinating pop of color. The combination gives the Bronco a playful, vibrant look that certainly doesn’t detract from the SUV’s serious capability.
The Free Wheeling package also adds red and orange pin striping on the dash and seat stitching to the combination marine-grade vinyl/fabric upholstery. Ford is even offering a new line of merchandise based on the Free Wheeling package that’ll allow drivers to match the SUV’s ‘70s aesthetic with a full wardrobe of t-shirts and hats, as well as a bomber-style jacket and insulated vest. Featuring the same red, yellow, and orange color scheme as the SUV’s stripes and a fleece collar that’ll have you reliving your disco nights, the collection provides a fun excuse to step back in time.
Those looking to create a retro Bronco that’s just as tough as it is nostalgic should consider adding the optional Sasquatch off-roading package. Available for just over $8,400 (or $9,400 when opting for the beadlock-capable wheels), the Sasquatch package seriously ups the Bronco’s off-road arsenal with high-clearance fender flares, a raised suspension, all-terrain tires, and Bilstein shock absorbers. The beadlock-capable wheels are a particularly useful feature, giving drivers the ability to tackle loose surfaces with confidence by decreasing their tire pressure and increasing the surface area without risking a blowout.
The Stroppe Special Edition
The original Bronco defined the early SUV market by combining off-road performance with everyday utility and a comfy, practical ride that made it a popular choice for families, professionals and off-road racers alike. 2025 sees Ford celebrate the latter role with the new Stroppe Special Edition. Honoring legendary builder and Off-Road Motorsport Hall of Fame member Bill Stroppe, the Stroppe Special Edition follows in the footsteps of the original Stroppe Baja Bronco of the ‘60s and ‘70s.
The Stroppe Baja Bronco cut its teeth in some of the most punishing environments the racing world has to offer, including the NORRA Mexican 1000 and its namesake in the grueling Baja 1000. A Stroppe-designed Bronco made history in 1969 when it became the first and only stock 4×4 to complete the punishing desert race. The Bronco recreated this historic moment in 2024, winning the stock midsize class and cementing the SUV’s reputation as a speedy off-road machine. Ford has packed the revived Stroppe Bronco with all the hardy off-road gear you’ll need to get your adrenaline pumping.
The 2025 Stroppe Special Edition also replaces the Wildtrak trim and takes it up a notch with a standard stabilizer bar disconnect, 35-inch Goodyear Territory RT tires, and Ford’s High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension 3.0 (HOSS 3.0). It’s a well-rounded package for the price and one that should allow drivers to get a taste of the desert racing antics that made Stroppe such a legend in the field. In addition to its full suite of robust off-road features, the Stroppe Special Edition also delivers some singular styling thanks to a palette of heritage paint colors, including Oxford White, Atlas Blue, and a Code Orange hue that was previously limited to the Ford’s high-performance Raptor models. These colors are designed to match the Calypso Coral, Wimbledon White, and Astra Blue paint found on the original Stroppe Baja Broncos, but that doesn’t mean the SUV prioritizes form over function.
The Stroppe Special Edition also comes with a matte black hood designed to reduce sun glare when speeding through the desert, squared-off high-clearance fenders, removable side steps with integrated rock rails, and 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels. Code Orange tow hooks, a matte black tailgate, and a standard steel bumper round out the Bronco’s sporty look while rivaling the Free Wheeling package in terms of sheer curb appeal.
Other Notable Enhancements to the 2025 Bronco Lineup
The Stroppe Special Edition and Free Wheeling Package might earn top billing, and deservedly so, but they’re not the only changes coming to the 2025 Bronco lineup. Ford has shuffled the SUV’s trim ladder for the new year, eliminating the Wildtrak, Black Diamond, and Everglades models to make room for the two new trims, though an off-road-focused Black Diamond Package with steel bash plates and rock rails has been added to the Big Bend model.
Other optional packages on offer for 2025 include a moody Black Appearance Package and aggressive Raptor’s Shadow Black Appearance Package, as well as the Matte Film Protection Package, graphics packages, and the Ford Integrated Tether System (FITS) Accessory Package. The latter is a particularly clever inclusion, providing drivers with integrated slots throughout the cabin that can be used to customize the interior with a wide variety of manufactured or 3D-printed accessories. From a tablet, smartphone, or french fry holder to cupholders, hooks, and other storage accessories, the FITS system brings a new level of personalization to the Bronco’s cabin.
Ford dropped the 2.7-liter engine from the two-door version of the Badlands trim and lost the two-door version of the Big Bend and Heritage altogether but retained the unique seven-speed manual transmission that ups the SUV’s appeal for those who prefer to choose their own gear. Like the Stroppe Special Edition, the Badlands model is also available with the HOSS 3.0 system with FOX Internal Bypass Dampers, giving the range-topping trim the ideal suspension for tackling tough off-road conditions.
When the going gets rough, you’ll be happy for the expanded deployment of the Bronco’s interior grab handles, which are standard on the Badlands and Heritage and now make their way into the Black Diamond Package for 2025. Elsewhere in the interior, drivers will enjoy a heated steering wheel on the Outer Banks, Badlands, and Raptor models, an expanded slate of auxiliary switches, standard ambient footwell lighting across all trims, and an optional sound-deadening headliner for the Big Bend, Outer Banks, and Badlands. Finally, there’s the addition of three new exterior paint colors, Desert Sand, Ruby Red, and Marsh Gray, which will replace six outgoing choices.
The New Bronco Lineup Offers Options That Provide Thrilling Performance and Unique Style
The 2025 Ford Bronco might not be a top-down reimagining of the popular SUV, but it does represent an important step forward. The Stroppe Special Edition gives adventurous drivers an enticing new option that honors the Bronco’s sporty heritage while integrating the latest in off-road technology. Between the trim’s 35-inch Goodyear Territory RT tires,
stabilizer bar disconnect, and HOSS 3.0 suspension, few models can rival the Stroppe Special Edition in terms of pure brawn.
The Free Wheeling Package might be more aesthetically focused than the Stroppe Special Edition, but it’s a fun experiment in automotive design that cleverly celebrates the heritage of the trailblazing SUV. These limited edition packages and trims have become a hit among drivers, allowing Bronco owners to create a one-of-a-kind ride that almost feels like a four-wheel-drive collector’s item. New packages, engine options, and features expand the Bronco’s customization potential while keeping the SUV at the forefront of the segment in terms of technology, convenience, and style.
