Latest News
Our Favorite Movie Car Mistakes2021 Ford Bronco Review
The 2021 Ford Bronco returns as one of the most capable SUVs on the planet with seven trims and serious off-road ability.
2021 Ford Bronco – ford.com | Shop 2021 Ford Bronco on Carsforsale.com
The All-New 2021 Ford Bronco
This is an all-new model that reignites the torch for the Bronco line. It features two very good engines paired to either 7-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission. Every Bronco is standard with four-wheel-drive too. They all get a very good infotainment system with Sync 4. Higher trims on the new 2021 Ford Bronco can be equipped with bead-lock capable wheels, a lift kit, and 35-inch wheels.
The Breakdown
Serious off-road performance
Great on-road comfort
Very reasonable pricing
Meh fuel economy
No manual for the V6
Cramped back seats for two-door
Can’t wait for the Bronco Raptor
2021 Bronco Specs
- 300 horsepower from base engine
- 325 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 7 available trims
- 22.4 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 38.3 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- 3,500-poundtowing capacity
- Sync 4 infotainment system is great
- Automatic forward-collision braking available
- Industry-standard warranty
2021 Ford Bronco Powertrain
For a vehicle as capable off-road as the new 2021 Ford Bronco is, its on-road refinement might be the most shocking aspect of its package. Both motors available are outstanding tools. They’re not particularly engaging, they won’t set your hair on fire, but they’ll do the job day in and day out without complaint. With a base horsepower of 300 and 325 lb-ft of torque from the 2.3L I4, you’ll never feel like the Bronco is weak or wheezing to get up to highway speeds.
The more potent 2.7L V6 doesn’t pack many more horses at 315, but it does have a fantastic 415 lb-ft of torque. The power is consistent, linear, and reassuring. Around town, the Bronco is tame and easy to use. Visibility is good and is aided by an upright driving position. Handling is vastly better than a stock Jeep Wrangler thanks to independent suspension up front.
It’s when you get off-road that the Bronco comes into its own. Thanks to the super-cool G.O.A.T. modes dial, there’s no question about if the SUV is ready to go regardless of the surface you’re on. It’s incredibly capable and thanks to the clever engineering inside, it’s just more fun.
Towing & Payload
While not a primary tow vehicle in most situations, the 2021 Ford Bronco does match its Jeep rival by towing up to 3,500 pounds in both two and four-door variants. Ford also adds trailer sway dampening and offers a Towing Capability factory installed option that includes a hitch receiver and wiring harness.
2021 Ford Bronco Fuel Economy & MPG
If there’s a slightly disappointing feature of the 2021 Ford Bronco, it’s the fact that the Jeep Wrangler is more economical in most trim comparisons. The 2.3L four-cylinder engine manages just 21 mpg combined at best and the V6 sees that number drop to just 19 mpg in unpackaged form. Opt for the burly Sasquatch package that adds all-terrain tires and other off-road equipment and its economy will drop to just 17 mpg combined.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
If you had to knock anything about the 2021 Ford Bronco, it would have to be the lack of hardcore luxury in even the most expensive trims. That’s not the point of the Bronco though. This SUV is meant to be an adventure vehicle and it does that while providing sincere comfort throughout the lineup. The suspension and seating are a revelation compared to this vehicle’s Jeep Wrangler rival.
Not only are there a number of adjustments for the seats, but the climate control is also top-notch. We really like the dual-zone system that’s available as it’s even more effective and can comfortably control both zones independently. The two-door variants of the Bronco have a fairly cramped rear seat, so if you’ll be transporting adults in the back on the regular, perhaps go for the four-door model.
Cargo space is decent in the two-door SUV with 22.4 cubic feet with the back seats in place. Drop those and it bumps up to 52.57 cu-ft of space. The four-door Ford Bronco is full of space though. The standard cargo area is 38.3 cu-ft and having the seats folded down increases total cargo space to 82.97 cu-ft.
Entertainment & Technology
Sync 4 is a fantastic system that every Bronco buyer will get. The smaller 8-inch infotainment system is more than good enough to satisfy most buyers. It’s snappy and easy to work with. We appreciate the inclusion of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard equipment too. Those who can opt for the larger 12-inch infotainment system will enjoy it even more as it just fits the dash better. Beyond the center screen, the tech is mostly focused on off-road capability and on-road safety.
The G.O.A.T. modes are highly adaptable and as advanced as just about any other modern off-road terrain system. We also appreciate features like trail-turn assist which can actively apply the brake to the inside rear tire during turns to cut down on the Broncos overall turn radius.
Safety Features
Every 2021 Ford Bronco is sold with hill-start assist, automatic emergency braking, trailer sway damping, trail turn assist, and hill descent control. That’s a great starter pack and it can be added to with other advanced safety tech like adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The NHTSA has yet to rate the Bronco and it didn’t receive a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS.
2021 Ford Bronco Trims & Pricing
Base – $29,995
Pick up the standard 2021 Ford Bronco and you’ll get a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 300-horsepower and 325-ft-lbs of torque. Buyers can choose either a 7-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission. Every Bronco sends power to all four wheels only. Buyers can opt for a 330-horsepower turbocharged V6 that makes 415 lb-ft of torque.
In this Base trim, the Bronco gets an 8-inch infotainment system equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well as six speakers. It also gets LED headlights, 16-inch wheels, tow hooks, power windows, and a five-settings terrain management system. Every Bronco comes with forward-collision mitigation, hill descent control, and hill start assist.
The available Sasquatch Package is available at this trim and higher for and additional $6,590. It adds on 35-inch tires, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, front and rear-locking differentials, Bilstein monotube shocks, a 4.7 final drive ratio, and high-clearance fender flares.
Big Bend – $34,880
The Bronco Big Bend adds larger 17-inch wheels, a sixth terrain mode, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, tinted rear windows, and a unique grille featuring LED fog lights.
Black Diamond – $37,545
The Black Diamond Bronco is the first off-road-focused trim with its 17-inch steel wheels, a seventh terrain mode, skid plates, rubber flooring, vinyl upholstery, pre-wired auxiliary switches, and heavy-duty bumpers that complement a unique black grille.
Outer Banks – $40,450
The Bronco Outer Banks gets 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires, side step rails, upgraded LED headlights, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist.
Badlands – $43,590
The Badlands Bronco has a unique suspension and a front stabilizer bar quick disconnect for better off-road articulation. It also gets 17-inch wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, LED headlights and LED fog lights.
Wildtrak – $48,475
Buyers who opt for the Wildtrak will get the V6 and a 10-speed automatic as standard equipment. They’ll also get a hardtop, heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a slew of off-road goodies. These include the contents of the Sasquatch package as standard equipment, which comes with modified fender flares, a lift kit, 35-inch mud-terrain tires wrapped around 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, and a shorter final drive ratio.
First Edition – $58,410
Buyers who get the First Edition of the Bronco will also get power-adjustable front seats, leather and vinyl upholstery, a heavy-duty bumper with an included brush guard, a 12-inch infotainment system with 10 speakers, a 360-degree camera system, additional sound-deadening materials, adaptive cruise control, a wireless device charging pad, and the Sasquatch Package items as standard.
Warranties
Ford offers what equates to the shortest warranty in the business which is a 3-year or 36,000-mile limited warranty in combination with a 5-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. That matches what Jeep offers with the Wrangler. However, Jeep offers 3 years of complimentary maintenance.
What we think
2021 Ford Bronco – ford.com | Shop 2021 Ford Bronco on Carsforsale.com
The new 2021 Ford Bronco is a triumph in a market full of half-hearted resurrections. It’s managed to be fairly priced and a sincerely worthy successor of its lineage. On-road or off-road, it’s a good driver and just happens to be one of the coolest looking cars on the market too. We can’t wait to see what advancements Ford plans to make as the model goes forward.
