After ending production in 1996, the legendary Ford Bronco is making a comeback. Ford announced the Bronco's eventual return at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit back in 2017, and we've been waiting patiently ever since. Now, we have the official details on both the Bronco and the Bronco Sport.
This post will be continually updated as more information is released. It was last updated on July 24, 2020.
Price and Release Date
The two-door base Bronco starts at $29,995, but you can easily add quite a bit to the price from there. Four-door Broncos start at $34,695 but can be optioned up to $60,800 if you spring for a loaded First Edition. Wranglers can be just as pricey. Head on over to our dedicated Bronco pricing article for the full details.
According to Ford's website, Bronco deliveries are slated to begin in June 2021. Due to the massive demand so far, though, the company says reservation-holders may have to wait until the 2022 calendar year to actually receive their SUV.
What It Is
Simply put, the first real competition the Jeep Wrangler has had in decades. It's an off-road focused body-on-frame SUV with a solid rear axle, removable doors, a two-door model, and tons of customization options.
It's also the return of one of Ford's most valuable nameplates, which is what's giving Ford the confidence to take on Jeep. You'll be able to get it stripped out or optioned up, with over 200 accessories available at launch. And because it's focused on off-road and adventure, all Broncos come with Ford's Bronco Off-Roadeo driving school and outdoor experience.
It's Got A Little Brother, The Bronco Sport
The Bronco Sport isn't a slightly faster version of the standard Bronco; it's an entirely different vehicle that shares its underpinnings with the Ford Escape. Essentially, instead of a hardcore off-road truck, it's a more conventional crossover that should be cheaper and nicer for on-road driving.
Think of it like a Jeep Compass or Cherokee; more off-road focused than your normal Rav4 or CR-V, but not something that'll run with Wranglers. It offers a 1.5-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost as standard, but the trail-focused "Badlands" model gets a 2.0-liter turbo four. More details about it are laid out here.
What Powertrains Are Coming
The full-fat Bronco 2-door and 4-door will launch with two engines, a 270-hp 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-four and a 310-hp 2.7-liter V-6. Both can be mated to Ford's ten-speed automatic, but the 2.3 can be optioned with a seven-speed manual. One of those gears is a low-speed crawler gear for off-roading.
Speaking of which, all Broncos will be mated to a four-wheel drive system with a terrain-response system. Ford has also confirmed an upcoming Bronco hybrid, but we don't have details on that.
The G.O.A.T. Modes
One of the core concepts of the Bronco was to make it approachable for first-time off-roaders while still allowing experienced users a lot of control. That's why the Bronco comes with a set of configurable Goes Over Any type of Terrain (G.O.A.T.) modes, which adjust four-wheel-drive power split, transmission response, throttle tip-in, traction control, and more. They should help you negotiate sand, snow, mud, rock, and anything else you might encounter.
The Other Off-Road Goodies
The Bronco will offer locking front and rear differentials to help negotiate treacherous terrain, just like the Wrangler. Unlike the Wrangler, though, it'll get a low-speed off-road cruise control that delicately controls the throttle over slippery ground, like Toyota's Crawl Control. It will also get a Trail Turn Assist feature, which will send more power to the outside wheel on a turn and slow the inner wheel to help reduce the turning circle on tight bends.
You'll also be able to enable one-pedal driving, meaning the truck stops completely if you lift off the brakes. For situations that require a lot of articulation, the Bronco Badlands will also have a stabilizer bar disconnect that can allow for more wheel travel. High-speed rough surface driving will be aided by available position-sensitive shock absorbers. Oh, and the Bronco one-ups the Jeep with available 35-inch tires.
The Sasquatch Package
If there's one must-have option for enthusiasts, it's the Sasquatch package. As the bigfoot name implies, it's the one with the oversized shoes. It includes 35-inch tires, a shorter 4.7:1 final drive ratio, position-sensitive Bilstein shocks, locking axles front and rear, 17-inch "beadlock-capable" wheels, a suspension lift kit, and higher-mounted fender flares.
Ford says the Sasquatch Package is currently planned to be automatic only, but that the company is open to feedback. A base model, stick-shift Bronco with the Sasquatch Package sounds like the perfect off-roader to us.
How It Compares To The Jeep Wrangler
It hasn't been released yet, so we can't say that the Bronco beats the Wrangler on or off the road. However, we know a few key ways that Ford has Jeep beat. The Bronco's independent front suspension should provide better ride quality and high-speed stability than the Jeep's solid front axle, even if that'll reduce articulation. Ford also makes it easier to get the big tires, locking diffs, and other key off-road equipment.
The Bronco's larger available tires also enable a deeper max fording depth, more ground clearance, and better breakover and departure angles. More power is also available for now, though a V-8 Jeep is likely coming soon. Hopefully a Raptor-ized Bronco won't be far behind.
And on the livability front, the Bronco offers newer cabin tech, over-the-air-updates, lots of available safety features, and a roof design without a large, obstructing center cross member. Take the doors off and you'll notice that you still have side mirrors, unlike a doorless Wrangler. Plus, trimmer pillarless doors mean you can store them onboard the Bronco, while Jeep owners have to leave them at home or chain them to trees.
How to Get One
You can reserve one with a $100 refundable deposit. The 3500 First Edition Broncos sold out quickly, but Ford has since doubled the production of the special model to meet higher-than-expected demand.
A car enthusiast since childhood, Chris Perkins served as Road & Track's engineering nerd and Porsche apologist.
Brian Silvestro is Hearst Autos' former lead deputy editor for rankings content. He spent over seven years as a staff writer for Road & Track Magazine where he contributed car reviews, industry interviews, and more. He has a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.
