2021 Ford Bronco | First Drive

For the latest Ford Bronco pricing and information:


The Bronco comes with two engine options. Standard is a 2.3-liter turbo 4-cylinder EcoBoost, (graphic: 275 hp/300 lb ft torque).

The more powerful 2.7-liter V6 that makes 310 hp and a lot of twist with 415-pound feet of torque. That works massively in your favor when climbing up steep or slippery stuff.

The smaller engine may not have the horsepower of the V6, but it’s lighter and definitely changes the feel of the truck. Making it even more agile. And of course, you can only get the smooth-shifting manual 7-speed transmission with it.

But the power of the V6 works plenty of magic out on the trail. No, it’s not crazy V8 power, but with the rest of the tools in the Bronco’s arsenal, you don’t lack for ability.

The Bronco gets Ford’s HOSS suspension. That’s the High-performance Off-road, Stability, Suspension System
. That H.O.S.S. setup absorbs a lot of bumps off-road, making for a smooth and comfortable ride, even on the rough stuff.

The Sasquatch off-road package gets a super beefed-up version of it. If you’re planning on rock crawling for hours, this is going to be a nice way to do it.

With the Sasquatch, the spring rates change because of the lift and you get 3-position reservoir shocks that adjust really nicely to the different terrain you’re on.

This suspension is marvelous in my opinion.

The Bronco comes in six different trims depending on your Broncoing needs.

The Big Bend base model (2-door $33,385/4-door $35,880) will likely be the one modifiers buy. It comes with a hardtop or a soft top but only on the 4-door model. Yes, that’s the case across the board. Bummer.

It also gets 16-inch steel wheels with 30-inch all-season tires.

All Broncos are 4x4 capable with a low gear transfer case.

Black Diamond and Outer Banks trims both cost more and add more amenities. Head to the Bronco configuration site and you can get yours up into the $60,000 range if you opt for the First Edition 4-door.

Sky’s the limit with options and add ons like leather heated seats, a 12-inch touchscreen and fancy audio equipment.

The Badlands trim comes with all the off-roading goodies like 33-inch tires. It’s got a front sway bar disconnect for better articulation over tough obstacles and locking differentials for increased traction.


The off-roading geometry with the Sasquatch package is sick. That’s the off-road goody bag that you can add to any Bronco for about $5,000 that gets you front and rear lockers, a high-clearance suspension, and fender flares so you can fit the 35-inch mud-terrain tires you get on it. (2-door: Approach angle – 43.2-degrees/Breakover angle – 29-degrees/Departure angle – 37.2-degrees; 4-door: Approach angle – 43.2-degrees/Breakover angle – 26.3-degrees/Departure angle – 37-degrees)

You get an 11.6-inch max ground clearance on the 2-door and 11.5 for four doors.

The bottom line, this thing goes over pretty much everything.

There’s a ton of tech in here to help make off-roading easier for a pro or more likely help out someone who’s never done it before. The Goes Over All-Terrain drive mode system adjusts to different types of terrain you’re driving over. Sand, Mud and Ruts, and Rock Crawl to name a couple.

Trail One-Pedal Drive and Trail Control are a lot like off-road cruise control settings. Both of them are great if you’re wanting to focus on the trail and steering, but if you prefer to do it all yourself, the Bronco is incredibly drivable over some pretty outrageous stuff.

Trail One-Pedal Drive is really outstanding especially if you’re not great at left foot braking.

We all expect it to do well off-road, but how does it do on road? In a word, I’d say pleasantly surprised. That’s two words, but oh well.

With the Sasquatch package, if you’re not used to driving on big knobby tires give yourself some time. They don’t grip pavement as well as standard all-terrain tires and they amplify road noise. But the ride quality feels pretty darn good.

The HOSS system absorbs uneven pavement nicely and your vantage point feels high.

The steering is surprisingly well behaved. You’re not going to have to make a ton of steering corrections because of those big tires. Just be careful taking corners at speed.

Without the Sasquatch, you still can hear road noise but the manners are a bit more refined with the smaller all-terrain tires.


There’s going to be a lot more to talk about this one, and trust me we are going to talk, so subscribe to the KBB YouTube channel stat.

Micah’s already ordered his Bronco, so we’ll definitely hear from him about it, too. But killer looks, rad tech, amazing off-road credentials, and on-road/commuting drivability, the Ford Bronco totally lives up to the hype.





00:00 2021 Ford Bronco
0:10 Engines
1:26 Driving Impressions
2:38 Pricing
3:52 Competitors

[briannavarrete]

Ford: we got the Bronco
Jeep: we got the Wrangler
Chevy: *ahhh SHIT*

[People-Business-And-Ideas]

2021/2022, Model Comparison: Wrangler 0 vs Bronco 1

[jimmyr]

Those hp figures are for regular gas. Premium gas gets higher numbers

[jimcole]

Wait till the Bronco adds the Coyote 5.0l to the lineup folks. Opps spilled the beans.

[kencoleman]

It definitely seems to have the off road chops. I'm anxious to hear more about what it'll (Outer Banks, specifically), be like on my weekly commute and highways getting to the adventure stuff. Great job, again, Lyn!

[classikz]

Just like most wranglers sold, most Broncos will never leave the pavement.

[denisleblanc]

It shows what is possible when you're not limited by tradition. All Ford had to do was keep the body looking a little like a first gen Bronco and then add a more modern suspension (like Toyota) achieve better packaging (didn't keep the long hood for the straight 6 the Jeep was designed for) more inside space for the same overall length. The Sasquatch package is brilliant because you can add it to any variant unlike the Wrangler where you were stuck with going to the Rubicon with its higher price. Then they threw all the teck they could at it. I think the one pedal driving is also brilliant. The crawler low gear is also great. It will add a lot of life to the clutch that won't be abused as much. All thats left to find out is how those turbo engines will fare when the going gets really tough and how the thighs the body will remain after a few years of dirt road pounding. Bring some PHEV versions and you'll be all set with torque fill while waiting for the turbo boost.

[rogerhogg]

Everytime Lynn says "torque", I hear "twerk". I can't unhear it.

[geraltofrivian]

Man, this looks awesome! Well done Ford!

[craigzilla]

Love it. Love the starting price point, love the standard manual transmission and the options! Jeep needed this competitor

[Accrd]

These are going to be EVERYWHERE on the street, seriously so many Jeep guys will be fair weather friends and buy them and trade those jeeps in. It's just sad that Chevy's Blazer is a joke of a suv anymore. I look forward to seeing them even though I've never been a truck/suv type guy.

[LionheartLivin]

Can't WAIT TILL THIS GOES FULLY ELECTRIC!!!;)

[ethanmeyersproductions]

Bronco: Go over all terrain, be comfortable, start a war

[sd-yksq]

how is the wind noise with hard top + sound deadening material compared to wrangler jl hard top?

[LordWinter]

Jeep fans should be grateful for the competition...it means better products. The next few years are going to be veeery interesting.

[porscheguy]

This is the 4th Bronco review video I’ve watched from one of the bigger automotive journalism channels and magazines and each one has stated different horsepower numbers for both the 4 and 6 cylinder EcoBoost engines. I would expect an automotive publication that reviews vehicles for a living to get information like that correct.

[Jedi]

Their stats are wrong. The 2.3 has been re-rated to 300/325 with premium. Come on KBB.

[twany]

Excellent review Lynn. I can't wait to test drive one for myself.

[kellysunseri-adams]

Great job on this video, my favorite one thats come out so far.

[miguelircontar]

Can’t wait to see these on the road instead of the Wrangler