2021 Ford Bronco

To cater to as wide a range of audiences as possible, Ford offers the all-new Bronco with 6 different trims and a limited-run First Edition trim that is limited to just 3,500 units. Each trim is also offered with a 2-door or 4-door body style and a removable roof as an option. The G.O.A.T. terrain management system comes in as standard and an Advance Package can be added to Base through Outer Banks trims, to add more functions to the vehicle. 

Which trim should you buy?

It really depends on the needs of the buyers when opting for any trim of the Bronco and thus is really difficult to suggest one. If you need the Bronco for majorly adventure rides, the 2-door Black Diamond trim should suit you well. If regular usage in the city is also needed, opting for the 4-door Outer Banks should make more sense. 

Official fuel efficiency figures haven’t yet been revealed by Ford yet, but the EPA website lists the base engine of Bronco for 21 mpg of fuel economy for combined city and highway driving conditions. The larger V6 is rated for 18/20/19 by the EPA for city/highway/combined. The 4-door body style employs a larger 20.8-gallon fuel tank which is reduced to 16.9 gallons for the smaller 2-door variant. Therefore, the 2-door Bronco needs more frequent gas station visits as compared to its larger sibling. 

Since the Subaru is more road-focused and utilizes an AWD system, it has a much higher fuel efficiency as compared to all the other three. The Toyota 4Runner has the highest fuel consumption and hence features the largest gas tank to compensate for the driving range. Jeep’s naturally aspirated V6 can’t match up with the efficiency of Ford’s EcoBoost engine as well, but the Bronco V6 has a similar combined efficiency rating. 

The interior of the new Ford Bronco has a rugged theme that is complemented by sophisticated technology to keep it up with modern-day standards. It features rubberized mats with drain holes that are a handful when washing off the muck, while every other interior panel can be wiped clean after an adventurous day. 

Grab handles in the center console and instrument panel are offered as optional along with MOLLE hooks mounted in the seatbacks. Although there is leather-trimmed upholstery available, certain trims also feature marine-grade vinyl seats which make the cabin more practical to clean. The LCD multifunction screen reminds of the older Broncos and gives a hint of modernity as well. 

In terms of space, the tall and wide body of the Bronco aids in providing abundant headroom for all the occupants and can seat three-abreast at the rear rather comfortably. Behind the second row, the 4-door offers 38.3 cu-ft of trunk space which can be extended to 77.6 cu-ft by folding the rear seats. As for the 2-door variant, the cargo space is respectable at 23.6 cu-ft, with a maximum of 58.4 cu-ft after folding down the back seat. 

At the front, the Bronco feels the most spacious amongst all while the Subaru Outback offers the most spacious and comfortable rear seats. The 4Runner compromises a bit in the headroom section and also has the most compact cabin to offer. The cramped cabin translates to a class-leading cargo capacity of 47.2 cu-ft even with all seats in use. The Jeep, on the other hand, offers a similar space at the front like that of the Toyota, but has a much more spacious rear seat than the Bronco, though for the sake of trunk capacity. 

• 10-way power driver seat and 8-way front passenger seat
• Heated Leather-Trimmed Bucket Front Seats
• 60-40 Folding Split-Bench Manual Reclining Fold Forward Leather Rear Seat
• Tilt/Telescoping Heated Leather Steering Wheel
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning
• Smart Device Remote Engine Start and Tracker System
• Vinyl/Rubber Floor Trim

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Along with the 8-inch display, Ford also offers a larger 12-inch infotainment screen as an option, both of which are powered by Ford’s SYNC 4 interface which we have grown accustomed to over the years. Wireless smartphone integration is standard along with voice commands and AppLink while the built-in navigation is available with 3 years of complimentary service.

Ford also offers dedicated off-road navigation with over 1,000 curated trail maps from across the country with its performance app which complements the superior off-road capabilities of the SUV. The center console and instrument panel are modular in nature and can also be had with a 12-volt power outlet to power the accessories needed for a fun trip. 

• 8.0-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and AppLink w/app catalog compatibility
• Voice command recognition
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio w/3-month prepaid subscription
• 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system w/subwoofer
• FordPass Connect Built-In Navigation w/3 years of service

Ford has ensured nostalgia with the design of the new generation Bronco by maintaining the upright and wide stance, flat surfaces, and sharp edges. The flared-out fenders offer a rugged appeal and can be quickly taken off when needed. At the front, the Blue Oval is missing, and instead, the ‘Bronco’ name is spelled out on the grille which is flanked by round headlights with LED daytime running lights.

Both body styles offer removable roofs, a 3-section for the 2-door while a 4-section for the 4-door body styles. The doors are frameless which can also be easily taken off and stored when needed. The side mirrors are cowl-mounted to aid sideward visibility without the doors but might be an issue for some terrains. The trail sights on the front fender also function as tie-downs and every Bronco gets a 150 lbs capacity for roof-mounted objects like canoes. A range of off-road tires is also available, with the largest being 35-inch. 

The Ford Bronco offers the best in class ground clearance of 11.6-inch for every model that makes it tower over every other vehicle when on the road. The Jeep Wrangler and Toyota 4Runner offer a pretty high ride height which is about an inch lower than the Bronco. The Outback feels like a wagon against these SUVs despite offering pretty decent ride height. Although longer wheelbases of the Wrangler and Bronco cannot offer the cabin space on offer with the Outback with a much shorter wheelbase. 

• Autolamp Aero-Composite LED Auto High-Beam Daytime Running Lights Headlamps
• LED Brakelights
• Manual Convertible Hard Top w/Glass Rear Window and Fixed Roll-Over Protection
• Power Heated Side Mirrors w/Convex Spotter and Turn Signal Indicator
• Front Bumper w/2 Tow Hooks and Black Brush Guard
• Rear Step Bumper w/2 Tow Hooks
• Black Grille, Side Windows Trim, and Fender Flares
• 17-inch Black High Gloss-Painted Aluminum Wheels

The 2021 Bronco is an all-new SUV that is yet to hit the market, has not yet been tested by either of the safety agencies like the NHTSA and IIHS. That being said, Ford has packed the Bronco with plenty of safety functions like a wide array of airbags, automatic high beams MyKey system, alongside clever technology like the terrain management system which makes low-speed rock crawling and trail driving safer. A highlight of the available safety and driver assistance features has been listed below. 

• Terrain Management System with G.O.A.T. Modes
• Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection
• Blind Spot Information System
• Cross-Traffic Alert
• Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist
• Front And Rear Parking Sensors
• 360 Degree Camera
• Ford Mykey System

2021 Ford Bronco vs Jeep Wrangler

The biggest rival to the Bronco, the Jeep Wrangler offers similar performance and capabilities as that of the Bronco and also costs roughly the same. The larger V6 engine under the hood of the Wrangler isn’t as efficient as the Bronco but it has a more spacious rear seat on offer which compromises a bit of trunk volume. Both are pretty evenly matched in terms of performance, but the modernity and dependability offered by Ford are what stand out for the Bronco. 

2021 Ford Bronco vs Subaru Outback

The Subaru Outback feels the most out of place SUV in this comparison despite offering a solid off-road capability. Priced a bit higher, the Outback is marginally quicker off the line and is far more frugal as compared to the Bronco. The cabin is plush but does not offer the ruggedness and off-road capabilities as that of the Bronco. Therefore, even though the Outback is a pretty good offering for the price, the Bronco is much more versatile and offers a more enjoyable off-road experience.

2021 Ford Bronco vs Toyota 4Runner

The Toyota 4Runner is another tough competitor to the Bronco which costs substantially more and employs a larger V6 under its hood. The acceleration performance isn’t upto the mark but the 4Runner offers the best towing capacity in the segment. The Bronco’s EcoBoost engine is much more efficient and the cabin too is far more spacious inside the Bronco. Though the 4Runner offers a host of off-road capabilities, it too cannot stand against the superiority of the Bronco. 

Ford has brought back its Bronco SUV after over 20 years with an intention of taking on the Jeep Wrangler which enjoyed a sort of complete monopoly in this segment. On paper, the new 2021 Ford Bronco seems well equipped to not only challenge the Wrangler but might as well take its throne of the best off-road SUV on sale in the US. There’s still time to see if that really happens, but based on everything we see, we believe the new Ford Bronco should be one of the best buys for enthusiasts wanting to wander off the road.