10 Things You Need to Know About the 2021 Ford Bronco

2021 Ford Bronco hero ・ Photo by Ford

You might have heard something about a new 2021 Ford Bronco. Yes, it’s true, the Bronco has returned to the Ford SUV lineup as a mid-size SUV made for serious off-roading and ready to battle the Jeep Wrangler for terrain-trampling supremacy.

Do not, however, confuse the Bronco for the also-new Bronco Sport. The Sport is a small crossover SUV that shares a platform with the Escape, whereas the Bronco is built on the same rugged foundation as the Ranger pickup truck. If the Bronco competes with the Jeep Wrangler, think of the Bronco Sport as a competitor of the Jeep Compass. With that distinction made, here are 10 things you should know about the 2021 Ford Bronco.

1. There is a Bronco for everyone.

Available in two-door and four-door body styles, and in seven different trim levels, there is a 2021 Bronco for just about everyone. Prices start at $29,995, including the $1,495 destination charge. On the opposite end of the spectrum, they can more than double that number.

Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Badlands, and Wildtrak trim levels are available. Ford is making 3,500 examples of the First Edition, but if you snoozed, well, you loozed: The company filled all reservations for the First Edition within 24 hours of launching the SUV. A hardtop with three removable roof panels is standard for the Bronco two-door, while the Bronco four-door gets a convertible top. The hardtop is an option for the four-door and is available with four roof panels. The Bronco’s rear windows are also removable, and the doors come off. They store in protective bags and fit in the cargo area.

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2. Turbocharged engines offer plenty of power.

Ford installs a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine in most Broncos. It makes an estimated 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque and is paired to a standard seven-speed manual gearbox with a low-speed crawler gear. A 10-speed automatic transmission is optional with this engine.

Standard on the Badlands, Wildtrak, and First Edition trims, a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine generates an estimated 310 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. This engine requires the 10-speed automatic and is optional on all other versions of the Bronco. One benefit of turbocharging is the performance at higher altitudes. Normally aspirated engines lose power and performance in thinner air, but turbocharged engines are less susceptible to the effects of elevation. Go ahead. Call the new Bronco a Rocky Mountain hot rod.

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3. 4WD is standard.

Who in their right mind would buy a two-wheel-drive Bronco? Nobody. So Ford makes four-wheel-drive standard equipment.

The standard part-time 4WD system has a two-speed transfer case with electronic shift-on-the-fly operation and a 2.72:2 4-Lo ratio. With this system, the Bronco’s rear wheels drive the SUV until you choose 4WD. The available advanced 4WD system has a two-speed electromechanical transfer case with automatic 4-Hi operation. When the driver chooses 4-Lo, this system supplies a 3.06:1 ratio. Ford makes the advanced 4WD system standard on Badlands, Wildtrak, and First Edition versions of the Bronco. It is optional on other models, and with either engine or transmission. When paired to the 2.3-liter four-cylinder and seven-speed manual gearbox, the crawl ratio is 94.75:1. 

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4. It scrambles over terrain a GOAT.

When it comes to the new 2021 Ford Bronco, GOAT stands for “goes over all types of terrain.” To make that happen, every Bronco includes a Terrain Management traction system with GOAT driving modes. There are eight GOAT modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, Slippery, Sand, Baja, Mud/Ruts, and Rock Crawl. However, no single version of the new Bronco includes all eight.

Beyond this, the Bronco supplies a minimum of 8.3 inches and a maximum of 11.6 inches of ground clearance, depending on trim and equipment. All-season tires are standard with the base trim, while other Broncos get all-terrain or mud-terrain rubber. Any Bronco can be fitted with 315/70R17 35-inch Goodyear Territory mud-terrain tires mounted to 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, which come standard with Wildtrak and First Edition trims.

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5. There's serious off-roading technology.

In addition to Terrain Management with GOAT modes, the new Bronco offers multiple off-roading technologies designed to maximize its capability in the wild.

With the 10-speed automatic transmission, Trail Control is off-road cruise control that manages the accelerator and brakes while the driver focuses on steering and choosing the best path forward. Trail Turn Assist applies braking to either rear wheel to help tighten the Bronco’s turning radius when off-roading at low speed. Trail 1-Pedal Drive allows you to drive off-road without using the brake pedal. Lift your foot off of the accelerator pedal, and the Bronco will come to a stop on its own. Additionally, the Bronco’s independent front suspension offers a disconnecting front sway bar for improved wheel articulation.

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6. Go Sasquatch for maximum capability.

Remember Bigfoot, the massive Ford monster truck? With the Bronco, Ford associates the SUV with that pop culture icon by offering a Sasquatch Package for maximum off-roading capability.

Standard for the Bronco First Edition and optional on all other trim levels, the Sasquatch Package includes the 10-speed automatic transmission with Trail Control, a 4.7:1 final drive ratio, electronic front and rear locking differentials, and a high-clearance suspension with position-sensitive performance shock absorbers. High-clearance fender flares are also part of this package, along with 17-inch black beadlock-capable aluminum wheels with 35-inch mud-terrain tires. The Sasquatch Package is one of four main option packages for the new Bronco. In addition to the Standard Package, they include the Mid Package, the High Package, and the Lux Package.

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7. The measurements are best-in-class.

Ford claims best-in-class approach and departure angles for the new 2021 Bronco, as well as available best-in-class ground clearance and water fording capability. For the Bronco two-door, the maximum approach, break-over, and departure angles measure 43.2, 29, and 37.2 degrees, respectively. Those same measurements for the Bronco four-door are 43.2, 26.3, and 37 degrees. And when you exceed these, the Bronco is available with multiple bash plates to protect delicate underthings. Not skid plates. Bash plates.

Furthermore, the Bronco two-door offers up to 11.6 inches of ground clearance, while the Bronco four-door supplies as much as 11.5 inches. Maximum water-fording depth for each body style is 33.5 inches, while front and rear wheel travel measures 215 mm and 261 mm, respectively. Note that all measurements above are with the 35-inch wheels and mud-terrain tires included in the Sasquatch Package.

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8. Water, dirt, mud — none of it is a problem.

Ford designed the Bronco’s interior for prolonged exposure to the elements. As such, easy-clean fabric and available marine-grade vinyl that resists mildew will be appealing to people who expect to regularly drive the Bronco with the top and doors off. Ford also offers heated front seats and a heated steering wheel to ward off a chill.

If you’re not planning to bring the outdoors in on a regular basis, consider the optional genuine leather upholstery. And when the forecast calls for mud, an available rubber floor covering with drain plugs in the floor will be perfect for ridding the cabin of the muck. Additionally, Ford has designed the Bronco’s interior to resist dust and moisture using rubber touchpoints, surfaces, and component surrounds as well as silicone-sealed switchgear in key locations. 

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9. Next-generation Sync 4 is standard.

Ford equips every new Bronco with a Sync 4 infotainment system. This is next-generation technology, available with 8-inch and 12-inch touchscreen displays, and it offers improved responsiveness, graphics, and functionality.

A FordPass Performance app is available with either system, including off-road navigation, topographic maps, and a professionally selected list of more than 1,000 trails nationwide to explore, helping owners to make the best of their Bronco’s capabilities. Over-the-air software updates are available, and the 12-inch version of Sync 4 has a surround-view camera system with off-roading spotter views. Audiophiles will want the available B&O Play 10-speaker premium sound system, developed by Bang & Olufsen. 

Photo by Ford

10. It has practicality perfect.

One of the points of getting an SUV is practicality, and the 2021 Ford Bronco does not disappoint. From its five-passenger seating capacity to its maximum cargo capacity of 83 cubic feet, the Bronco delivers on both sides of the sport/utility equation.

If you plan to tow, the Bronco can handle up to 3,500 pounds of trailer. The maximum payload for the Bronco two-door measures 1,170 pounds, while the Bronco 4-door can take on a 1,370-pound load of people and cargo. The SUV’s dynamic roof load rating is 110 pounds, while the static roof load measures 450 pounds. Ford plans to offer more than 200 factory-backed accessories for the new Bronco, all available through dealers. No doubt, many of them will improve upon the Bronco’s already impressive utility.

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