2021 Ford Bronco Returns as a Wrangler Strangler with $30K Base Pricing (But You’re Gonna Want to Upgrade)

By Michael S. Palmer - July 13, 2020

Sasquatch Package. GOAT Modes. Off-Roadeos. Dana differentials. 35″ factory tires. Ford is crazy-serious about the new 2021 Ford Bronco.

Make no mistake, Ford wants to dethrone the Jeep Wrangler as America’s go-to offroading vehicle. It also wants to revive a decades-long dormant icon, and to create a whole new outdoor adventure brand in the process. Talk about lofty goals. Can Ford achieve any of this while building a 21st-century Bronco that lives up to the original G.O.A.T. nickname? (That’s Goes Over Any Type of Terrain, for those unaware.)

I don’t really know, to be honest. Car people are loyal. Jeep people perhaps the most loyal of all. And Jeep will likely up the ante with a 450hp SRT Wrangler.

Pre-production 2021 two-door Bronco Black Diamond trim & Sasquatch off-road package in Cyber Orange Metallic Tri-Coat.

Regardless, Ford just took the roof off their beast of a sixth-gen Bronco, heading to dealers early next year. No longer a re-badged F-150 or Ranger, the all-new Bronco boasts “available best-in-class 11.6-inch ground clearance, maximum 29-degree breakover angle and 37.2-degree departure angle, plus best-in-class water fording capability of up to 33.5 inches.” This is a boxed-frame SUV that Ford tested at King of Hammers next to the competition to prove its mettle. (Ford showed us dozens of broken coilovers next to a box clearly labeled Mopar.)

Tuck these bonafides into nostalgia-fueled body lines and a slick grouping of modern amenities and modular customization, and arguably, the new Bronco lives up to the hype. Well, mostly. Ford needs a Raptor-style Bronco with more power.

Pre-production 2021 Bronco four-door Badlands series with available Sasquatch off-road package in Cactus Gray.

Built Wild (<– Trademarked!)

Before we dive into the features, let’s talk a little bit about the Bronco’s development. According to Ford, it sought to revive the Bronco nameplate because “rugged SUVs” are growing twice as fast as other segments and because classic Bronco values have been surging.

So Ford studied Jeep Wrangler owners and “quietly stalked the forums” before settling on a series of Built Wild (<– Trademarked!) “Commandments” that any Bronco must achieve:

Innovative
Capable
Durable
Simple
Open Air
Must be a Bronco

Nostalgia-plus-market-demand seems to be a common manufacturer approach. Consider how FCA, GM, and Ford have approached their muscle cars for the last couple of decades. And, of course, vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler and Porsche 911 continue to evolve while retaining classic shapes.

Click HERE to read
Top 5 Things We LOVE About the New Ford Bronco1

And click HERE to read
Top 5 Things We HATE About the New Ford Bronco!

Models

As previously reported, the 2021 Bronco is launching in three variations. The two-door and four-door Broncos are full body-on-boxed-frame trucks akin to the Ford Ranger. These variants are what Ford calls the actual BRONCO, and is what we’re going to be covering in this post.

The Bronco SPORT is a small SUV built on a unibody chassis that’s effectively a beefed-up Ford Escape. If you want to learn about the SPORT, please head over HERE to our Bronco Sport COVERAGE. (I know it’s a little confusing, but Ford clearly wants to expand the Bronco brand and it’s going to be a better SUV than the Escape, so win-win for all involved.)

Engines & Transmissions

The Bronco’s standard engine is a 2.3-liter turbocharged direct-injection DOHC Ti-VCT EcoBoost I4, which Ford says came about of the Mustang Ecoboost High-Performance Package. In this configuration, Ford projects the engine will be rated 270 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. torque. If you order your Bronco with the base engine, you can opt for either the standard 7-speed (6+1 crawler gear) Getrag manual or the 10R80 10-speed automatic we’ve seen in the F-150 and Mustang for the last two years.

The optional 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged port and direct injection DOHC Ti-VCT EcoBoost V6 bumps horsepower to 310 horsepower and torque to 400 lb.-ft., but is only available with the 10-speed auto. Again, this is where we point out that we’d really like to see the 3.5L Ecoboost or the 5.0L Coyote under a future Bronco hood (there are rumors about a Warthog edition).

Trims & Packages

In addition to deciding between two or four doors, the Bronco will be available in a variety of trims and packages, from a base model two-door that starts under $30,000 with shipping, to a tech-heavy version with leather seats. Like everything with the new Bronco, it seems customizable and personal.

Base. A blank slate to customize with, Ford hopes, some of the 200 accessories that will be available at launch. This is a no-frills Bronco for the purist who wants something simple and affordable.
Big Bend. Adds more creature comforts, 17″ wheels, 32″ tires, and the optional Co-pilot 360.
Black Diamond. For a more serious off-roader. It features modular bumpers and heavy-duty skid plates as well as marine-grade vinyl seats and an optional rubber floor for easy cleaning.
Outer Banks. For those who love style and technology. This package adds high-gloss wheels, LED lighting, the new 12″ touchscreen, and you can opt for the B&O sound system.
Wildtrack. Made to fulfill your Baja 1000 dreams! This one’s a desert runner, but for high-speed off-roading. The 2.7L Ecoboost and 10-speed transmission are standard.
Badlands. If you want to go rock-climbing, this one features a standard front stabilizer disconnect, the upgrade Billstein suspension, front & rear locking differentials, a washout rubber floor, and marine-grade vinyl seating. You can also opt for leather seats, the 12″ touchscreen, and the B&O sound system.
First Edition. A limited-edition run of 3,500 units, it’s the Badlands’ mechanicals with the Outer Banks interior and Wildtrack exterior features. It’s going to be the Ultimate Bronco.

Also, as an option on any Bronco, you can upgrade to the off-road-focused Sasquatch Package, which adds 35″ tires, 17″ beadlock-capable wheels, the advanced 4×4 system with 4Auto mode, locking front and rear differentials, and the HOSS (High=performance Off-road Stability Suspension) system.

Closeup of Dana AdvanTEK independent front differential.

4×4 & Chassis

Up front, you’ll find an undefended front suspension with twin alloy A-arms and coil-over springs. Out back, there’s a solid five-link rear axle with active bushings and coil-over springs. Or, you can upgrade to Bilstein position-sensitive shock absorbers with end-stop control valves all around.

The standard 4×4 system is a two-speed electronic shift-on-the-fly with 2.72:2 low ratio. With the 10-speed auto, this gives you a 57.19:1 crawl ratio. With the manual, it’s 79.92:1. You can also you can opt for the Advanced 4×4, with automatic on-demand 4H engagement, two-speed electromechanical transfer case 3.06:1 low ratio. With this transfer case, the craw ratio is 67.8:1 for the auto, and 94.75:1.

The final drive ratio ranges from 3.73:1 to 4.7:1, depending on packages.

Ford went with Dana differentials, front and back. Specifically, the Dana 44TM AdvanTEK solid rear axle out back and the Dana AdvanTEK independent front differential. Both are available with the optional Spicer Performa-TraK electronic locking differentials.

And, to help out when you’re off in the wild with your new Bronco, Ford’s engineers added a few driving modes to help with more technical challenges.

Trail Control moves the Bronco forward at a constant low speed so you can focus on your track rather than pedal control.
Trail Turn Assist helps the Bronco pivot around one particular wheel.
Trail One-Pedal Control adds auto-braking so you can simply focus on using one pedal rather than need to put one foot on the brake, and one on the gas.

There’s also an optional electronic disconnect front sway bar.

G.O.A.T. Modes

As with most modern Ford, the Bronco features adjustable drive-train modes which, depending on your trim level, adjust things like throttle response, stability control, braking, and suspension stiffness. As a nod to the 1960s Bronco, Ford named the options G.O.A.T. Modes. These include:

Normal
Eco
Sport
Slippery
Sand
Baja
Mud
Rock Crawl

And we can’t wait to try each and every one of them.

Bronco two-door models come with a standard three-section roof system that is removeable quickly and easily with the first-row panels able to be stowed away on board. Both Bronco two- and four-door models offer the largest overall open-top view in its class to take in the sunshine or to gaze at the stars at night. (Prototype not representative of production vehicle.)

Modular Mods

Ford describes the Bronco experience as akin to having a full-sized LEGO set. What do they mean? You can take apart the whole truck in an hour with simple hand tools. This includes a quick-release, storable roof panel (the four-door variant is a soft top, but you can option it with two roofs). You can also take off the doors (all of the normal door-controls are in the center of the vehicle) and remove things like bumpers and fender flares while adding tents, winches, light bars, rock sliders, and grab handles.

The cynic in me knows this is about selling accessories, but ergonomically speaking, this is a wonderful idea and I hope it works out as intended.

Features & Amenities

Like any Ford truck, the Bronco can be simple and primitive. Or it can be luxurious and feature-laden. Here’s all of the cool tech you can get. Like the 2021 Ford F-150, it features SYNC 4 along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and integration with the Ford Pass performance app. However, what’s unique is how the navigation still works even when you’re off the grid. And there are shareable trail maps so you can record your tracks and let others know about certain obstacles.

The standard radio features an 8″ touchscreen and includes a 360° camera so you can see any trail obstacle. You can also opt for the larger 12″ screen along with features like Co-Pilot 360, which can help you park and avoid accidents while in cruise control.

And, as mentioned previously, you can get standard cloths seats, marine-grade vinyl seating for water and muddin’, or premium leather. And there are rubberized flooring options with optional removable drain plugs so you can hose down your beast inside and out after a hard days.

Lastly, and this may seem like a small feature, but I personally think it’s brilliant. Ford added a horizontal bar to the dash where you can mount phones, cameras, and other accessories AND they put power nearby so you don’ have to run cables all over the cab. It’s perfect for YouTubers, filmmakers, and even just a family looking to record memories.

Wheels & Tires

Base wheels n’ tires include a 30″ all-season tire wrapped around a 16″ wheel. This gives the Bronco 8.4″ of ground clearance (8.3″ on the four-door). Opt for 35″ tires, though, and you’re looking at 11.6″ of ground clearance (11.5″ on the four-door). Here’s how it all breaks down.

Pricing & Availability

The 2021 Bronco officially launches next spring in 2021 with the following starting prices (but don’t forget to add on ~$1,500 for shipping):

Base 2-Door. $28,500
Big Bend 2-Door. $33,385
Big Bend 4-Door. $35,880
Black Diamond 2-Door. $36,050
Black Diamond 4-Door. $38,545
Outer Banks 2-Door. $38,955
Outer Banks 4-Door. $41,450
Badlands 2-Door. $42,095
Badlands 4-Door. $44,490
Wildtrack 2-Door. $48,875
Wildtrack 4-Door. $51,370
First Edition 2-Door. $59,305
First Edition 4-Door. $63,500

All seven trims and 200 accessories will be available at the same time. We expect full pricing and package details to follow in the coming months.

You can RESERVE a 2021 Bronco RIGHT NOW over at Ford.com for just $100. Ford said they hope to make the reservation and ordering processes simple and customizable, so customers can simply: