Your Ford salesman probably told you about the GOAT modes on your Ford Bronco before you went forward with the purchase. Your GOAT dial adjusts how your Bronco behaves the moment you turn it. I'm talking throttle response, shift points, traction control, and which differentials lock. That sounds like a lot, doesn't it? It is! That's what makes the Bronco one of the most versatile off-road vehicles ever. Not every Bronco trim has the same number of GOAT modes available. We'll start off by going over what it even stands for next.
What Does GOAT Mode Stand For?
GOAT stands for "Goes Over Any Type of Terrain," a Ford quote, but personally, I think "Goes Over All Terrain" sounds better. Some people like to refer to the Bronco as the GOAT of off-road vehicles, and let me tell you, they aren't lying. Sorry Jeep. Now why did Ford think it'd be a good idea for Bronco owners to have access to all of these different modes? Well, Ford built the system to make the 6th Gen Bronco a versatile monster that can handle anything you throw at it. You'll find out how many modes your particular Bronco has below.
How Many GOAT Modes Does the Ford Bronco Have?
The Ford Bronco comes standard with five GOAT modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, and Sand. Now, if you went with the Badlands, Raptor, First Edition, or Stroppe Edition, you pick up two more, Rock Crawl and Baja, bringing the total to a whopping seven. That's such a beautiful number. Let's pray and cross our fingers that Ford comes up with an 8th mode that lets it float on water, since it already looks like a boat, and it'll be one of the BOAT modes instead.Â
As you already know, the modes that show up on your dial depend on the trim and model year across the 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027 Broncos. What we're going to cover next are all seven Ford Bronco GOAT modes and what each one was made to handle.
1. GOAT Mode: Normal
We're going to start off with normal mode on the GOAT dial. Fun fact: whenever you turn your Bronco on, it defaults to this mode. You'll be using this mode most of the time, from getting to point A to B. Since this is where you'll likely spend most of your "seat time," making your interior ready for daily use is worth it. Check out our interior accessories for the Ford Bronco to get yours ready.
2. GOAT Mode: Eco
The second mode is eco. This mode was designed to stretch your fuel range as much as possible by causing earlier shifting in the transmission. You'll get the best fuel economy out of any GOAT mode with this one, so if saving gas is a big deal for you, this is the one for you. You'll also see a bigger difference in MPG in city traffic or stop-and-go highway driving (if you live in California, you're in luck), saving you some gas overall. This one is also standard on every Bronco trim, so you don't need to spend any extra money to access it. If your headlights aren't doing their job in the rain or snow, take a look at our headlights; you'll probably find some you like! Now what's the opposite of eco mode? We'll go over that next.
3. GOAT Mode: Sport
Late for work? Put your Bronco in sport and go vroom! This GOAT mode noticeably improves steering and throttle response. You'll definitely feel a bigger difference going from normal to this than eco. You'll notice that gears are held longer and RPMs tend to stay a bit higher as well, giving you that athletic, sporty feel. Usain Bolt? No, Usain Bronco is what I'm talking about. Let's go! Wait, but what if it starts raining or snowing? Keep reading.
4. GOAT Mode: Slippery
Are you in Minnesota? Well, you're going to appreciate this mode. Slippery mode is designed to handle icy, wet, or slippery terrain. It helps your tires grip better and keeps your Bronco from sliding all over the place. You'll also notice that the gas pedal reacts much more slowly, so you don't spin your wheels by accident. Slippery mode is useful for boat ramps, too, since they tend to get slippery. Every Bronco comes with this mode, so you don't need any special trims.Â
5. GOAT Mode: Sand
Sand mode is made for driving on soft sand or deep snow. It works by disabling traction control and changing how the brakes function so the wheels can continue spinning to keep pushing through the sand. When you turn the GOAT dial to this mode, 4WD lock gets enabled, which means all four of the wheels get power at the same time instead of just two, giving you a lot more grip. With this mode, you'll notice that pressing down on the gas pedal gives you smoother acceleration, which helps keep your tires from burying deep. Fun fact, the Badlands or Raptor don't have sand mode, they get "Off-Road Mode" instead, which works for sand, gravel, mud, and mixed terrain. If you feel like you'll be airing down and running sand mode a lot, I think it's worth checking out our wheels for the Ford Bronco.
6. GOAT Mode: Rock Crawl
Rock crawl mode is built for climbing over rough, bumpy terrain like rocks and boulders. When you turn your GOAT dial to this mode, the 4WD turns on, and the rear differential gets locked, enabling both rear wheels to turn together, allowing you to push your Bronco forward if one gets stuck in the air. Your front trail camera gets turned on at slow speeds so you're able to see what's under your front tires whenever your hood blocks your view. This mode gives you the most control and power delivery by picking gears that give you slow, careful power instead of prioritizing speed. If you have a feeling you'll be using this mode a lot, you're going to 100% need protection, so I'd love for you to check out our rock sliders and skid plates for the Ford Bronco so the rocks don't win. Have plans to go desert running with your Bronco? Read on.
7. GOAT Mode: Baja
The Baja GOAT mode is built for going FAAAST over terrain like sand. This mode makes the springs and shocks work differently to smooth out any bumps when you're going fast over sand. You won't be scared to power over sand when you're in this mode! The name "Baja" comes from the Baja California desert races in Mexico, where trucks race super fast across the rough, sandy desert. Now, if you're serious about desert running, you should have a look at our suspension and drivetrain parts.
1 comment
I love the jokes that are in this one hahaaa!! Thanks for the read.