The 2021 Ford Bronco is easily one of the most anticipated vehicles of our fledgling decade, and we won’t keep you in suspense: Our initial impression after driving the new two- and four-door Bronco is that it absolutely lives up to the hype. Driven on-road or off, viewed as a getaway/adventure vehicle, a family truckster, or as a piece of retro automotive art, the Bronco feels like a winner. Indeed, Jeep’s longtime off-road champ, the Wrangler, now has some serious 4×4 SUV competition, as does our 2021 MotorTrend SUV of the Year, Land Rover’s epic Defender.
We had the Wrangler in mind as we saddled up a Bronco in Austin, Texas, for our first on-road drive. Our trusty steed was a mid-level four-door Black Diamond model—seriously, who came up with these Bronco trim level names?—with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, manual transmission, and honest-to-goodness steel wheels. Hey, there were more lavish Broncos available to drive, but we can’t resist a stick and steelies on a vehicle like this.
The 2021 Ford Bronco almost immediately made a positive first impression. For starters, its cabin feels spacious and airy compared to the claustrophobic Wrangler’s. While the Jeep’s instrument panel and windshield are so close to you that you can practically inhale them, the Bronco’s dash does a better job of social distancing, and we appreciate the breathing room.
Shades of the Original Bronco
If you’ve ever driven a first-generation Ford Bronco, you’ll immediately appreciate the view out over the new Bronco’s hood. The hood is broad and flat and outlined by flipped-up fender edges, just like the original Bronco’s. Those visible edges, capped with load-bearing metal brackets Ford calls “Trail Sights,” come in very handy when off-roading, which we’ll talk more about shortly. The dash itself is a series of flat planes intended to recall the original Bronco, but Ford didn’t let nostalgia get in the way of sensible design. The control layout is straightforward, the switchgear feels substantial and easy to use, and there are well-placed grab handles at the edge of the dash to help with the long climb into the front seats.
The back seats in the four-door Bronco weren’t quite so pleasant: They are mounted high, which is nice for visibility, but they’re also thin, parsimoniously padded, and short on thigh support. The nicest thing we can say about them is that they fold down easily to expand the roomy cargo bay, which is lined with hard (and, we hope, hard-wearing) plastic. As you can likely surmise, the shorter two-door Bronco’s rear seats aren’t any better than those found in the four-door, but they are also more awkward to get into.
Does Our Opinion Really Matter?
Our initial opinion of the 2021 Ford Bronco may well be irrelevant, as Ford has already sold out of the first year’s production, and probably the second year’s, as well. The best we can do is to tell those who have already put down a deposit that, if their expectations are geared to an off-road vehicle, they are unlikely to be disappointed. We’re eager to experience more Bronco, including more seat time in the two-door and V-6 models, and putting them through our thorough testing regimen.
Along with our enthusiasm for the 2021 Ford Bronco, something else excites us: There’s no way Jeep is going to stand pat in the face of this new and very real Bronco threat, and we predict massive and enticing improvements for the next-generation Wrangler. Perhaps General Motors will also get into the game and replace the trendy but tame Chevrolet Blazer with an off-roader worthy of the name. GM certainly has the hardware, proven by the ZR2 version of the Colorado. And let’s not forget there’s a Bronco pickup coming to take on Jeep’s hot-selling Gladiator.
Yes, the 2021 Ford Bronco is a strong contender, and the SUVs it competes against are only going to get better, too. We can’t wait.
| 2021 Ford Bronco Specifications | |
| PRICE | $31,490-$62,605 |
| LAYOUT | Front-engine, 4WD, 5-pass, 2- or 4-door SUV |
| ENGINE | 2.3L/300-hp/325-lb-ft* turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4 / 2.7L/330-hp/415-lb-ft* twin turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6 |
| TRANSMISSION | 7-speed manual, 10-speed automatic |
| CURB WEIGHT | 4,300-5,150 lb |
| WHEELBASE | 100.4-116.1 in |
| L x W x H | 173.7-190.5 x 75.9-79.3 x 71.9-75.3 in |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.9-8.0 sec (MT est) |
| EPA FUEL ECON | 16-20/17-22/17-21 mpg city/hwy/combined |
| ON SALE | Now |
| *Ratings based on premium fuel; regular fuel ratings: 275 hp/315 lb-ft (2.3L), 315 hp/410 lb-ft (2.7L) | |
By: Erika Pizano
Title: 2021 Ford Bronco First Drive Review: The Long-Awaited 4×4 SUV Is Absolutely the Real Deal
Sourced From: www.motortrend.com/cars/ford/bronco/2021/2021-ford-bronco-first-drive-review/
Published Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2021 10:00:02 +0000
