The Ford Bronco is an SUV with a long history. The SUV was originally manufactured from 1965 until production ceased in 1996 in order to make room for newer lineups due in part to a rapidly changing market. However, Ford has brought the lineup back this year, and with the release of the greatly anticipated 2021 Ford Bronco, fans both new and old are heeding its call. Since the production of the original lineup came to an end, the automotive industry has made many leaps and bounds regarding vehicle capabilities and efficiency. Ford has gone to great lengths to ensure the Bronco comes back swinging and totes some impressive capabilities, namely an exceptional emphasis on off-roading. With the homecoming of the Bronco, Ford hopes to revitalize this classic lineup with a fresh coat of paint and readying it up for a whole new generation. Many changes have been made to the Bronco since we’ve last seen it. Some of these changes include two and four-door body styling and a choice between two highly capable engines.
Available Trims
The 2021 Ford Bronco will be offered in six different trims with an additional trim that was sold to those who were lucky enough to get one of the 3,500 models produced known as First Edition. The starting trim, conveniently named ‘Base,’ starts at an MSRP of $28,500 and is followed by the Big Bend. The Big Bend starts at an MSRP of $33,385 and focuses primarily on comfort with additions such as heated seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, among others.
The next available trim is the Black Diamond, which starts at an MSRP of $36,050 and takes off-roading capabilities a step further with included rock rails, front and rear bumpers constructed out of steel, and seven individual G.O.A.T Modes. What G.O.A.T stands for is ‘Goes Over Any Type of Terrain” and is the perfect inclusion for anyone looking to perform some off-roading, especially on rough terrains. G.O.A.T consists of five standard drive modes with certain trims getting an additional two modes designed for mud and rock crawling. The aforementioned five standard G.O.A.T modes are Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, and Sand, but it’s worth noting that the Sport mode gets replaced by a Baja mode depending on the trim you have purchased.
The Outer Banks serves as the next trim and aims to add some flare to your off-roading experience. Outer Banks starts at $38,995 and comes with leather-trimmed seating, LED headlamps, and you can opt for an increase to your infotainment center’s screen size up to 12 inches and a premium audio system supplied by B&O. Taking off-roading capabilities further by adding more power coupled with additional stability is the Badlands. The main selling point for this trim is the inclusion of 33-inch all-terrain tires and 17-inch aluminum wheels. In addition, it has a starting MSRP of $42,095. The trim that serves as the top-end choice is Wildtrak. Starting at an MSRP of $48,875, this trim features a high-clearance suspension with front and rear locking differentials.
Engines & Performance
For the 2021 Ford Bronco, there are two available engines to choose from. The first of which is a 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 engine that produces 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Paired alongside this engine is a 7-speed manual transmission that Ford claims can feature a best-in-class crawl ratio of 94.75:1. Additionally, you may swap out the transmission for a 10-speed automatic for an extra smooth ride. The second engine that can be fitted into the 2021 Ford Bronco is the 2.7L EcoBoost V6, which can produce 310 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque.
The Ford Bronco is the quintessential SUV for off-roading thanks to the inclusion of both part-time selectable engagement and an advanced 4×4 system with automatic on-demand engagement, which dynamically switches between 2H and 4H to maintain constant performance. Ford has even made mention of the 2021 Ford Bronco featuring best-in-class stats for ground clearance, water fording, plus departure and break-over so you can always expect a phenomenal off-roading experience.
Interior Features
Each 2021 Ford Bronco trim features a maximum five-passenger seating capacity but is a spacious interior regardless. Due to the convertible body style nature of the Ford Bronco, you may remove the doors or the roof to customize your experience. This allows a great range of versatility as you can have the roof and doors attached during rainy weather, for example, and remove them for more sunshine and airflow when the weather permits.
With the 2021 Ford Bronco, you can expect 41 inches of headroom in the first row along with 57.1 inches of shoulder room and 43.1 inches of legroom. The second row is also quite spacious with head, shoulder, and legroom measuring in at 39.8, 51.8, and 36.3 inches, respectively. The trunk provides ample cargo space but the amount you get is dependent on whether or not your Ford Bronco is a 2-door or a 4-door. Should you acquire a 4-door Bronco you’ll receive 52.3 cu.ft of maximum cargo space and a whopping 77.6 cu.ft with a 2-door variant.
Since the original production of the Ford Bronco came to an end, there have been significant changes regarding entertainment and connectivity in the industry, and Ford has made great efforts to bring the 2021 Ford Bronco up to speed. SYNC 4 makes an appearance in the Bronco and comes standard with an 8-inch screen with touch controls. Although this screen size is respectable as is, you can go one step further and opt for an upgraded 12-inch screen. Not only can you access infotainment controls through the system itself, but you’ll also have an array of media controls integrated onto the steering wheel for ease of access.
With the introduction of SYNC 4 comes the inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both of which have become increasingly popular over the last few years and have become a highly requested feature from many fans and enthusiasts alike. CarPlay and Auto will let you connect your iPhone or compatible Android device with ease, allowing you access to a plethora of apps, your media library, and can even make hands-free text messages and phone calls.
The Future of Ford
The reintroduction of the Ford Bronco certainly made news headlines and has reinvigorated the lineup’s popularity. What this ultimately proves is that discontinued vehicles such as the old Bronco still have a chance in the market today once they’ve received some modern updates. Some speculate this could mean the further revitalization of discontinued models, but for the time being, it’s certainly great to have the Ford Bronco back in action, and with all of the changes Ford has made, it’s a real contender in the marketplace today.
If you’d like to experience the return of the Bronco, visiting your local Ford dealership is a great way to get started. Finding a Ford dealer with a great sales staff at the helm will provide you with answers to every question you have. Even if you’d like to try before you buy, many Ford dealerships offer test drives so you can instantly experience everything the 2021 Ford Bronco has to offer.
