Ford Launches Cool Off-Road App Only for Its Owners

by Matthew Guy

Published: May 2nd, 2023

ford launches cool off road app for themselves

Like a petulant child who won’t share their toys, Ford has released a handy smartphone app filled with crowd-sourced and professionally curated tools such as trail maps for off-road journeys – but the only ones who can use it are Bronco owners.

Talk about walling off your garden. Or off-road trail, in this case

Look, we’re not being salty because we don’t hold the keys to a new Bronco. Rather, your author would like to point out there are other apps of this type which are open to everyone. Take the Polaris RideCommand app, for instance. One needn’t have their name on the ownership papers of a Sportsman ATV or RZR side-by-side to use that app’s tools. Simply downloading the app onto one’s device permits the use of trail maps, waypoint system, or navigation kit. Connecting with other riding buddies to form a group ride or simply for security purposes is no trouble at all – even if some users are on a Can-Am or Kawasaki.

If you think the app is all part of Polaris’ marketing efforts, you’re exactly right. This writer can speak of at least two customers who traded in competing products on a new Polaris after using the app for a spell; maybe not because of the app specifically – but you can bet it helped. Ingraining a brand into the psyche of a customer, being top of mind and all that faff, is Marketing 101. I guess Ford thinks differently, which is a shame because the Bronco Trail App actually looks good, offering up the likes of curated trail maps, points of interest, satellite imagery, and adventure tracking. Yes, yes – concerns about privacy and OEMs harvesting your data; tinfoil hats are available in the cupboard over the fridge, okay?

Surely the techies at Ford could open up those general tools to non-Bronco owners, leaving gear like tire pressure monitoring, speed, and pitch/roll readouts as exclusive content for those wheeling a Bronco. There’s nothing wrong with placing some of the tools behind a paywall, giving users an incentive to swap their Rubicon for a Sasquatch. Seems like basic marketing to us, but perhaps that’s why we write about cars instead of running the companies.

In the interest of science, we did try downloading this new app onto a device, even going so far as to adding a Bronco to our account using a VIN grabbed from a dealer listing. No dice. Until the app is actually paired with the rig, it seems yer outta luck.

The Bronco Trail App is available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play. Just swing by a Ford dealer and finance a new 4x4 first, alright?

[Images: Ford, Author]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.

#Ford #Bronco #Offroad #App

Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

More by Matthew Guy

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 14 comments

Lou_BC on May 03, 2023

There's "All Trails". I'm cynical about map apps. I've encountered too many flaws/errors in electronic maps for my part of the world.

Like Reply
3SpeedAutomatic on May 04, 2023

Realize that Ford may be monitoring your driving habits both on and off the road.
As an example , I was required to load an auto insurance app on my phone to obtain a discount. One evening while heading home, I zigged zagged thru my neighborhood looking for my lost cat as opposed to my normal route. No sooner had I walked thru my door, I got a text requesting that I confirm the path with a corresponding map. Same thing happen while I was on a trip to Europe. I put the phone in airplane mode to avoid overseas charges while using WhatsApp to communicate with the folks back home. As I stood in line at Customs in Houston, I got a text message informing me I had been off line for several days.…please confirm.
Should you make a warranty claim or participate in a class action against Ford, they have a data history of your driving habits and could use it in their defense. 🚗🚗🚗

Like Reply

Recent Comments

MRF 95 T-Bird Whenever I travel and I’m in my rental car I first peruse the FM radio to look for interesting programming. It used to be before the past few decades of media consolidation that if you traveled to an area the local radio stations had a distinct sound and flavor. Now it’s the homogenized stuff from the corporate behemoths. Classic rock, modern “bro dude” country, pop hits of today, oldies etc. Much of it tolerable but pedestrian. The college radio stations and NPR affiliates are comfortable standbys. But what struck me recently is how much more religious programming there was on the FM stations, stuff that used to be relegated to the AM band. You have the fire and brimstone preachers, obviously with a far right political bend. Others geared towards the Latin community. Then there is the happy talk “family radio” “Jesus loves you” as well as the ones featuring the insipid contemporary Christian music. Artists such as Michael W. Smith who is one of the most influential artists in the genre. I find myself yelling at the dashboard “Where’s the freakin Staple singers? The Edwin Hawkins singers? Gospel Aretha? Gospel Elvis? Early Sam Cooke? Jesus era Dylan?” When I’m in my own vehicle I stick with the local college radio station that plays a diverse mix of music from Americana to rock and folk. I’ll also listen to Sirius/XM: Deep tracks, Little Steven’s underground as well as Willie’s Roadhouse and Outlaw country.
The Comedian I owned an assembled-in-Brazil ‘03 Golf GTI from new until ‘09 (traded in on a C30 R-Design).First few years were relatively trouble free, but the last few years are what drove me to buy a scan tool (back when they were expensive) and carry tools and spare parts at all times.Constant electrical problems (sensors & coil packs), ugly shedding “soft” plastic trim, glovebox door fell off, fuel filters oddly lasted only about a year at a time, one-then-the-other window detached from the lift mechanism and crashed inside the door, and the final reason I traded it was the transmission went south.20 years on? This thing should only be owned by someone with good shoes, lots of tools, a lift and a masochistic streak.
Terry I like the bigger size and hefty weight of the CX90 and I almost never use even the backseat. The average family is less than 4 people.The vehicle crash safety couldn't be better. The only complaints are the clumsy clutch transmission and the turbocharger.
MaintenanceCosts Plug in iPhone with 200 GB of music, choose the desired genre playlist, and hit shuffle.
MaintenanceCosts Golf with a good body and a dying engine. Somewhere out there there is a dubber who desperately wants to swap a junkyard VR6 into this and STANCE BRO it.