2021 Ford Bronco

2021 Bronco Photos
 Editors' Pick
Autoblog Rating
8

Ford's vintage revival lives up to the hype. Nicer to drive than the Wrangler on-road and just as capable off, the Bronco checks every box you'd expect from a modern off-roader.

Industry
8.5
HOLLY, Mich. — The Ford Bronco is no longer a ghost. The mythical qualities that surrounded its first life — from 1960s cult classic to ‘90s gas-guzzler — are giving way to a modern vehicle you can buy right now. It will take a minute for you to actually get your Bronco, as Ford has an order bank of 125,000, but the Bronco is real again. Hell, we’ve even driven it twice now this summer.  Our first taste of the 2021 Bronco is still fresh as we travel to an off-road park an hour north of Detroit called Holly Oaks. The trails are interesting and challenging, a mix of hills, mud, water, rocks and trees. It’s enough to keep an off-roader with some experience on their toes. In other words, a good place to further scrutinize the Bronco. The most obvious takeaway: The Bronco is one of a handful of vehicles that can tackle anything, just like its chief rival, the Jeep Wrangler. On-road, the differences between the Bronco and Wrangler are more noticeable. The Bronco handles better thanks to its independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering. That said, the Ford still requires steering correction, and it’s work to drive the Bronco. We expected this dynamic. If you’re looking for a relaxed driving experience, the answer is neither of these off-roaders. For comparison, the Land Rover Defender is easier to steer and more comfortable on-road, and the jouncy Toyota 4Runner handles worse than any of them. The Wrangler may be tougher off-road thanks to its primitive solid front axle, but we may never be able to test that extreme case definitively. We make our way through the edges of Detroit's sprawl, where the suburbs meet farmland. Our 41.6-mile route is on public roads, though much of it is actually soft. Our Bronco First Edition trundles over dirt roads, many of them pockmarked with holes a foot deep. Trees line our path and the occasional deer takes note of our presence.  Back on solid ground, we open up the throttle and test the 2.7-liter EcoBoost’s mettle. The turbo V6 makes 330 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque (using premium fuel). There’s a lively amount of torque low in the range and the 10-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly. The Wrangler doesn’t have anything quite like this, instead relying on the Pentastar V6’s 285 hp and 260 lb-ft. We didn’t test the Bronco’s 2.3-liter turbo I4 this time around (300 hp, 325 lb-ft on premium), which outguns the 270 hp and 295 lb-ft turbo four in the Wrangler. Ford’s two turbo offerings top Jeep on paper with top octane, but it’s worth noting in off-road situations, the Wrangler’s naturally aspirated V6 is plenty capable. Jeep also offers the V6 with an eTorque mild-hybrid system, an EcoDiesel that produces 442 lb-ft of torque, and the 4xe plug-in hybrid with 25 miles of electric range and 375 hp. Oh, and there’s the 392 Hemi V8 Wrangler with 470 ponies. On balance, it’s hard not to give …
Full Review
HOLLY, Mich. — The Ford Bronco is no longer a ghost. The mythical qualities that surrounded its first life — from 1960s cult classic to ‘90s gas-guzzler — are giving way to a modern vehicle you can buy right now. It will take a minute for you to actually get your Bronco, as Ford has an order bank of 125,000, but the Bronco is real again. Hell, we’ve even driven it twice now this summer.  Our first taste of the 2021 Bronco is still fresh as we travel to an off-road park an hour north of Detroit called Holly Oaks. The trails are interesting and challenging, a mix of hills, mud, water, rocks and trees. It’s enough to keep an off-roader with some experience on their toes. In other words, a good place to further scrutinize the Bronco. The most obvious takeaway: The Bronco is one of a handful of vehicles that can tackle anything, just like its chief rival, the Jeep Wrangler. On-road, the differences between the Bronco and Wrangler are more noticeable. The Bronco handles better thanks to its independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering. That said, the Ford still requires steering correction, and it’s work to drive the Bronco. We expected this dynamic. If you’re looking for a relaxed driving experience, the answer is neither of these off-roaders. For comparison, the Land Rover Defender is easier to steer and more comfortable on-road, and the jouncy Toyota 4Runner handles worse than any of them. The Wrangler may be tougher off-road thanks to its primitive solid front axle, but we may never be able to test that extreme case definitively. We make our way through the edges of Detroit's sprawl, where the suburbs meet farmland. Our 41.6-mile route is on public roads, though much of it is actually soft. Our Bronco First Edition trundles over dirt roads, many of them pockmarked with holes a foot deep. Trees line our path and the occasional deer takes note of our presence.  Back on solid ground, we open up the throttle and test the 2.7-liter EcoBoost’s mettle. The turbo V6 makes 330 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque (using premium fuel). There’s a lively amount of torque low in the range and the 10-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly. The Wrangler doesn’t have anything quite like this, instead relying on the Pentastar V6’s 285 hp and 260 lb-ft. We didn’t test the Bronco’s 2.3-liter turbo I4 this time around (300 hp, 325 lb-ft on premium), which outguns the 270 hp and 295 lb-ft turbo four in the Wrangler. Ford’s two turbo offerings top Jeep on paper with top octane, but it’s worth noting in off-road situations, the Wrangler’s naturally aspirated V6 is plenty capable. Jeep also offers the V6 with an eTorque mild-hybrid system, an EcoDiesel that produces 442 lb-ft of torque, and the 4xe plug-in hybrid with 25 miles of electric range and 375 hp. Oh, and there’s the 392 Hemi V8 Wrangler with 470 ponies. On balance, it’s hard not to give …
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Retail Price

$28,500 - $61,110 MSRP / Window Sticker Price
Engine 2.3L I-4, 2.7L V-6
MPG Up to 20 city / 22 highway
Seating 4 Passengers
Transmission 10-spd auto w/OD, 7-spd man w/OD
Power 275 - 315 hp
Drivetrain four-wheel
Curb Weight 4,286 - 4,997 lbs
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