LEGO Ford Bronco® SUV 42213 set review - a mechanical interpretation of the off-road spirit

The LEGO Technic series has always been known for its highly restored mechanical structure and rich playability. The 42213 Ford Bronco® SUV, released in early spring 2025, is undoubtedly a masterpiece that once again presents the essence of the LEGO Technic group to off-road fans and building enthusiasts.

The set draws inspiration from Ford Motor Company's popular classic off-road model Bronco, recreating a Technic vehicle model with a steering system, suspension structure and visual impact. It is not only suitable as an engineering toy for children to get started, but also an ideal choice for mechanical enthusiasts to experience the fun of construction.

Set Overview
Building Experience
Structural Highlights
Appearance Reproduction
Show Creativity
Why Buy
Advantages and Disadvantages
Summary

Set Overview

LEGO Technic 42213 "Ford Bronco® SUV" is a medium-sized mechanical set launched in 2025 for builders aged 9 and above. The entire model consists of 943 parts and adopts the iconic red and black color scheme of Ford Bronco, showing a strong off-road style. The overall shape is tough and well-proportioned. The spare tire and practical luggage rack on the top further restore the design language of the real off-road vehicle, making the finished product both ornamental and full of outdoor adventure atmosphere.

The official suggested retail price is about US$65 (slightly fluctuating due to different regions), which is a cost-effective entry-level work in the Technic series. Designed for children and teenagers, this set has a solid structure and intuitive gameplay, making it suitable as a holiday gift, birthday surprise or the protagonist of a family building activity. It not only helps players understand basic mechanical principles, such as suspension systems and steering structures, but also has display and game functions. It is an excellent engineering building block model that takes into account both educational and entertaining functions.

Building experience

When you open the box of this Ford Bronco® SUV 42213, you will see a complete set of finely arranged Technic parts, totaling 943 pieces. This is a medium-sized Technic work suitable for builders aged 9 and above. The front of the box shows the model's brave posture in an off-road environment, with bright colors, which makes people eager to try.

The set does not come with a minifigure, but its design concept is more inclined to the display of real restoration and mechanical structure. Each bag of parts is numbered, the instructions are clear and intuitive, and 3D building guidance can also be obtained through the LEGO Builder App, which is suitable for novices to easily get started.

During the building process, you will first build the chassis and front and rear axle structures of the vehicle. This part reflects the rigor and authenticity of the LEGO Technic series in mechanical details: the front and rear axles are equipped with a movable suspension system, which gives the model a certain shock absorption performance and can simulate the ups and downs of real off-road vehicles in complex terrain. Next, the assembly of the steering system is also unique. The spare tire at the rear realizes the linkage steering. This unconventional operation method adds interactive fun to the whole vehicle, especially for builders who like to try mechanical principles.

Entering the assembly of the body part, you will feel the ingenuity of the design and the solidity of the structure. From the hood to the door, to the luggage rack on the top, every detail echoes the real Bronco SUV. The door can be opened, and the V6 piston engine assembly hidden under the hood can also rotate with the wheel, which is impressive. The roof luggage rack also comes with two traction plates, which adds imagination space for "off-road adventure". These layered designs not only enhance the playability of the model, but also add a lot of highlights to the display effect of the finished product.

The entire assembly process has clear logic and progressive structure, so even players who are new to the Technic series can complete it smoothly. Especially with the help of the LEGO Builder App, the 3D view can be rotated and enlarged, which greatly reduces the possibility of assembly errors. After the final completion, this Ford Bronco® SUV not only highly restores the original car in appearance, but also has a satisfying mechanical feel and interactivity inside. It is a medium-sized Technic masterpiece that combines building fun, engineering enlightenment and collection value.

Structural highlights

Although this Ford Bronco model is not equipped with a motor system, it still retains the core mechanical structure of the LEGO Technic series, showing the charm of engineering building. The most impressive part is its front and rear suspension system - it adopts an independent suspension structure similar to that of a real off-road vehicle. When the vehicle is manually pressed or "off-road" swung, you can feel the natural elasticity and rebound force, which greatly improves the dynamic performance of the model and enhances the overall sense of reality. This design not only helps to understand the basic principles of vehicle suspension, but also adds interactivity and fun to the entire model.

Another commendable feature is its unique linkage steering system. Unlike traditional models, this Bronco does not have a steering mechanism at the driver's seat, but uses the spare tire at the rear of the car as a joystick to control the steering of the front wheels. Just rotate the spare tire and the front wheels can swing synchronously, simulating the steering effect when driving. This ingenious structural design not only increases the operability of the model, but also inspires engineering thinking for the builders, which is very suitable for players who love mechanical principles to experience in depth.

In addition, the rich details of the vehicle are also commendable. The doors can be opened, which truly restores the door opening structure of an SUV. When the engine cover can be lifted, a V6 engine built with Technic parts can be seen. Its internal piston can move up and down as the wheels roll, showing the dynamic beauty of mechanical linkage. The luggage rack on the roof is not only full in appearance, but also comes with two traction boards and other outdoor equipment to simulate off-road travel scenes, greatly enhancing the storytelling and scalability of the model. These designs not only improve the playability of the model, but also give it more possibilities for display and secondary creation.

Appearance restoration

In terms of appearance, this model adopts the classic red and black color scheme, continuing the iconic off-road style of Ford Bronco. The body lines are square, the tires are wide and thick, and the visual sense is full of power. The headlights, bumpers, air intake grilles, etc. are exquisitely restored with Lego parts, and the recognition is extremely high.

Special mold parts are used in key parts such as fenders and wheels to further enhance the appearance texture. Although there is no sticker decoration, the overall shape is very good, and people can almost recognize "this is Bronco" at a glance.

Creative display

The LEGO Ford Bronco® SUV 42213 is not only a fun mechanical building model, but also a visually impactful display model, especially suitable for placing in a workspace, desk or child's room. Its tough body lines and realistic suspension, steering and other functions make it a representative off-road model in the Technic series that is both operational and ornamental.

You can consider displaying it together with other Technic off-road or engineering vehicle models (such as Jeep® Wrangler or Land Rover Defender) to create a mechanical off-road theme display corner. Thanks to its moderate proportions and solid structure, it can form a visual unity with other vehicle models and create a vivid scene like an "outdoor test drive site".

If you prefer to display it alone, you might as well place the Bronco on a display stand with a natural-style background, such as rock stickers, mud floor, or even small plants to recreate the off-road adventure atmosphere. To add a sense of dynamism, you can also place it on a transparent rotating base to display its linked tires, engine pistons and movable suspension structure.

Want to make the display more creative and eye-catching? Consider adding a BrickBling LED lighting kit to illuminate the headlights or chassis for a more impactful look at night. Add a Technic minifigure or handmade off-road obstacle props to turn this Ford Bronco® SUV into your own LEGO off-road king.

Why buy it?

LEGO's high degree of restoration of mechanical details and accurate interpretation of real automotive engineering principles make Ford Bronco® SUV 42213 one of the most representative off-road theme sets in the current Technic series.

For collectors, this model shows excellent engineering design with its movable suspension system, linked steering mechanism and engine piston device. It not only has a strong visual impact of an off-road vehicle, but the red and black color scheme also makes the finished product extremely attractive. At the same time, its stable structure and harmonious proportions make it very suitable for long-term display. As part of the Technic exhibition area or car model series, it adds mechanical texture and dynamic style to the collection system.

The current suggested retail price of this Ford Bronco® SUV is about US$65, which is very cost-effective considering the 943 parts it contains, the operable functions, and the brand-authorized Ford genuine model design. Especially for teenagers or engineering enthusiasts, it is an excellent entry-level work that combines learning value and building fun. It also has potential as a collectible, especially when displayed in combination with other Technic off-road models in the future.

Whether you want to use it as an operational teaching model to explore mechanical principles, or want to display it in a corner of the bookshelf to show the off-road spirit and the beauty of engineering, Ford Bronco® 42213 can meet your expectations and is an excellent LEGO mechanical group model that combines fun, function and collection value.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:
The assembly process is smooth and suitable for players of all stages
Front and rear suspension + steering structure, full of dynamism
The red and black color scheme is classic and the appearance is highly restored
LEGO Builder App assists assembly, lowering the entry threshold
Reasonable price, high cost performance (about 65 US dollars)

Disadvantages:
The structure is relatively simple and the difficulty is not enough to satisfy advanced players
Lack of electric/remote control expandability
Few color options for the appearance, only a single version
No small dolls and additional plot settings, the gameplay is more functional

Summary

LEGO 42213 Ford Bronco® SUV is a Technic set that cleverly combines mechanical structure, off-road elements and classic appearance. It highly restores the hard-core style of Ford Bronco, and through designs such as movable suspension and linked steering, it shows rich mechanical interaction and engineering charm, suitable for builders who like structural principles.

Although it is not equipped with electric components, its pure mechanical structure can better reflect the assembly logic and technical details. From the chassis to the car body, it shows a rigorous design concept, taking into account operability and visual restoration. It is a rare engineering experience.

For Technic novices, this set has a clear structure and moderate difficulty. It is easier to use with the LEGO Builder App; and off-road fans will also be satisfied with its rich details and playability. Whether it is for learning, entertainment or collection, Ford Bronco is a recommended entry-level mechanical set.