Ford Bronco 2021 Review

Just like Hollywood, Ford has no qualms about remakes of past hits. Its latest is the 2021 Ford Bronco, which is both a revival of a famous nameplate and a highly capable off-road 4x4. After a 20-plus-year absence, this storied SUV has arrived at Ford dealerships boasting the style and spirit of the original 1966 Bronco. Its strong off-road capability, extensive customization options and modern technology features make it an intriguing rival to the Jeep Wrangler, Toyota 4Runner and Land Rover Defender.

Available in two- and four-door versions, the 2021 Bronco is a body-on-frame vehicle like traditionally defined SUVs and most modern pickup trucks. (Just don't confuse it with the Bronco Sport. That's an entirely different, smaller and less capable vehicle that's based on the Ford Escape crossover SUV.) Power comes by way of a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine or an optional and more powerful turbocharged V6. It also has cool touches such as an easily removable roof and doors and available rubberized floors with drain plugs — remove them and you literally see the ground underneath.

Not all remakes are good, but Ford has created a blockbuster hit with the new Bronco. Getting your hands on one — and paying a fair price — might be difficult for this inaugural year, but overall this is a great pick for a SUV with loads of rugged character and rock-crawling capability.

Which Bronco does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Ford Bronco is a four-wheel-drive SUV available in seven trim levels: Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Badlands, Wildtrak and the limited-production First Edition. It's also available as either a two-door or a four-door and can be kitted out with a long list of options, ranging from appearance and personalization options to different roofs to off-road hardware, wheels and other accessories. Highlighted features include:

Base: Starts you off with:

• 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (300 horsepower, 325 lb-ft)
• Seven-speed manual transmission or optional 10-speed automatic
• 16-inch steel wheels
• Tow hooks (two front, one rear)
• LED headlights
• Hardtop (two-door versions) or soft top (four-door versions)
• Digital instrument panel
• Cloth upholstery
• Six-way manually adjustable front seats
• Power windows
• 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Six-speaker audio system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (with wireless connectivity)
• Push-button start
• Basic terrain management system with five drive modes

The Bronco's optional engine is a turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 good for 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. It comes with the 10-speed automatic transmission.

All Broncos also come with:

• Hill start assist (momentarily holds the brakes to keep the Bronco from rolling backward at a stop)
• Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
• Hill descent control (keeps the Bronco at a constant speed while descending steep slopes)
• Trailer sway damping (adjusts vehicle brakes to help control trailer movement if a trailer begins to sway)
• Trail Turn Assist (can help the Bronco make very tight turns when off-road; automatic transmission only)

Big Bend Adds some style and a few other features, such as:

• LED foglights
• Different grille
• Tinted second-row and rear windows
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
• Interior grab handles
• Upgraded terrain management system with six modes

Black Diamond Ratchets up the off-road capability with:

• Heavy-duty front and rear bumpers
• Skid plates
• Black grille
• Rock rails (prevents body damage while off-roading)
• 17-inch steel wheels with all-terrain tires
• Prewired auxiliary switches
• Vinyl upholstery
• Rubber flooring
• Seven-mode terrain management system

Outer Banks A fancier version of the Big Bend trim thanks to:

• Body color-painted door handles, fender flares and mirrors
• 18-inch aluminum wheels with all-terrain tires
• Side step rails
• Upgraded LED headlights
• Contents of the Mid package (detailed below)

Badlands Combines the Big Bend's features and the Black Diamond's off-roading-oriented features. It also has:

• Upgraded LED headlights
• Unique Badlands suspension
• Front stabilizer bar disconnect (allows for improved wheel articulation for off-road driving)
• Seven-mode terrain management system

Wildtrak Builds on the Outer Banks with:

• Turbocharged V6 engine
• Special graphics
• Hardtop
• Prewired auxiliary switches
• Seven-mode terrain management system
• Contents of the Mid and Sasquatch packages (detailed below)

First Edition This limited-production trim adds to the Badlands with:

• Turbocharged V6 engine
• First Edition hood and body-side graphics
• Heavy-duty bumper with brush guard
• Leather and vinyl upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Power-adjustable front seats
• Contents of the Mid, High, Lux and Sasquatch packages

Here's what you need to know about the Bronco's main optional packages.

Sasquatch package: Optional on most trim levels, it adds more off-road capability thanks to:

• 17-inch beadlock-capable alloy wheels (beadlocks can secure the tire to the wheel to help maintain tire pressure at low pressure settings)
• 35-inch mud-terrain tires
• Shorter final drive ratio with electronically locking front and rear axles
• Lifted suspension
• Modified fender flares

Mid package Adds more tech and convenience via:

• Proximity keyless entry
• Ambient interior lighting
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Dual-zone climate control
• Heated front seats
• Remote start (available only with automatic transmission)
• Rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)
• Upgraded 8-inch touchscreen
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the Bronco back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)

High package Adds to the Mid package with:

• 12-inch infotainment touchscreen
• 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Bronco and its surroundings for tight situations)
• Extra sound deadening
• Front parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of the vehicle when parking)
• Mirror-mounted approach lights and spotlights

Lux package Requiring the High package, the Lux package adds:

• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Ford and the car in front)
• Upgraded 10-speaker audio system
• Integrated navigation system
• Evasive steering assist (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance)
• Heated steering wheel
• Wireless smartphone charging pad