Ford Bronco 2021 – Return to Adventure

It has been over 20 years since the last ride of the Ford Bronco from the factories, and DePaula Ford is proud to be a part of the revival of this iconic SUV alongside the other Ford dealerships across America. The 2021 model year marks the long-awaited and surprising return of this off-road American classic. It has been decades since the Bronco nameplate was last seen on a new model year release, so you might be asking yourself, “When will the 2021 Ford Bronco be available?”

The much-anticipated deliveries of the base model will begin at the start of Spring 2021. But you won’t have to wait until then in order to make sure your Bronco is ready for you. Reserve your Bronco online for only $100! While looking forward to the release, let’s look back at the history of the Ford Bronco and at the lasting legacy it left behind. From there, we can take a closer look at what this new 21st century Bronco has to offer.

A Storied Past

The Bronco became famous in the 1960s. However, it’s heritage goes back a few decades earlier to World War II, when Ford was competing for government contracts on the manufacturing of military vehicles. They went on to build hundreds of thousands of army jeeps for the war. The consumer model from Ford wouldn’t be unveiled for another twenty years or so.

In the year 1965, production began on the first series of Ford Bronco. During the early 1960s, the most viable off-road options were the Jeep CJ and the International Harvester Scout. Ford invested in valuable market research and found that although these SUVs were popular for off-roading, they did not perform particularly well on the highway. From there, Ford sought to fill a need the consumer felt it was missing.

The Bronco, released as a cousin to the famous Ford Mustang, was not projected to be a massive hit. But it promised a rugged and adventurous lifestyle that was desirable to many Americans. Off-road was a niche market in the 1960s, and SUVs were considered a recreational vehicle. The Bronco underwent several iterations for the next 30 years, but after two fuel crises and the rise of affordable and attractive imported cars, the Bronco was discontinued in the latter half of the 1990s.

Legacy of Adventure

Capability, adventure, and exploring wild places – the classic American nameplate of the Bronco represents fun, adventure, and off-road freedom. Even in the years after it was discontinued, the Bronco has become something of a nostalgic collector’s item among car enthusiasts and racing history fans. It earned a reputation as a desert racing truck and has carried an image of Ford’s last rough riding model since the family-friendly (and extremely popular) Ford Explorer replaced it in Ford’s SUV lineup.

The Bronco didn’t just garner a reputation for its racing prowess but also in popular culture. Most notably, Pope John Paul II was driven around in a famously modified Bronco lovingly nicknamed “The Popemobile.” Despite having been gone for so long, the Bronco legacy has continued to today and is something Ford is eager to bring back to life. In reviving the Bronco nameplate, Ford has gone to incredible lengths to research what the Bronco represents to the consumer base and what features have been underserved. Which brings us to the much-awaited, anticipated, debated, and desired 2021 release.

2021 – Built Wild

Finally! The last time we saw anything with the Bronco nameplate was 1996! They have kept us waiting long enough, and the new Built Wild campaign is one of excitement. Ford is pulling out all the stops to compete with their primary targets, the iconic Jeep Wrangler and luxurious Land Rover Defender. They aren’t just competing for specifications and price-point – they have to win hearts and minds against well-earned reputations that have been established since the 1980s. With everything the new Bronco brings to the stable, they just might pull it off.

The relaunch of the Bronco is one that leverages automotive Americana car nostalgia with modern sensibilities. The style of the new Bronco is excellent, with tons of callbacks to the classic look. It is boxy and looks rugged enough to outrun dinosaurs in the next Jurassic Park movie. The new and improved grille and headlights have a sleek but strong frame and are centered by the throwback Bronco nameplate.

A Stable Family

The return of the Bronco name is part of a wider revival of the brand. Ford is unveiling a family of new Broncos in order to help build a thriving community of passionate and loyal Bronco drivers with different levels of off-road engagement. The 2021 launch featured three major options: The Bronco 2-door, Bronco 4 door, and smaller and more economic Bronco Sport.

The base powertrain of the Bronco 2-door and Bronco 4-door is a 2.3L EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine with 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. There is also an option for the 2.7L EcoBoost V6 with 310 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The base transmission is a 7-speed manual, which is only available with the four-cylinder engine. It boasts six standard forward gears plus a crawler gear for intense off-road action that will blow your mind. The V6 and 4-cylinder can also come with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The 2021 Bronco Sport is a worthy subcompact with room for five and a slightly lower price tag. The model has either a 1.5L turbo 3-cylinder engine with 181 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque or a larger 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder with 245 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are only available paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, but the larger engine gets steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for manual gear selection.

The Bronco 2-door and Bronco 4-door will have six trims: Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Wildtrak, and Badlands. There is also a limited seventh premiere trim called the First Edition. The Bronco Sport will have four trim options: Base, Big Bend, Outer Banks, and Badlands, plus its own First Edition trim.

A special option for the true outdoorsman is the beefy Sasquatch package. Available on every trim and standard on the Wildtrak, this is the complete off-road dream. It includes 35-inch tires on 17-inch beadlock wheels, front and rear locking differentials, Trail Control, a 4.7 Final Drive Ratio, lifted suspension, and wider fender flares. While currently only available with the automatic transmission, Ford has been transparent about taking customer feedback to make the manual transmission available for the Sasquatch package as well.

Interior and Features

There are certain features that 4×4 drivers have come to expect in the years since the disappearance of the Bronco, such as removable doors and modern navigation for exploring the uncharted wilderness. Rest assured, the Bronco has you covered. The roof and doors can be removed easily, and there are plenty of considerate design features, such as rear storage that can fit the doors of the 4-door model when they’ve been removed – a feature the competing Wrangler does not have. The side mirrors have also been intelligently mounted to the fenders so that when you do take off the doors, you don’t take your mirrors with them.

Much like the original 1966 Bronco, the interior is a no-nonsense build. But that doesn’t mean you won’t have all the modern infotainment and luxury features you need. Inspired by the classic Bronco design, the inside is spartan while maintaining a classy feel. Aside from a massive 12” touch screen with optional performance software, the 2021 Bronco brings options like a GO-PRO mount on the dashboard and a digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel.

Adventure Awaits

Whether you are a long time fan excited for the release, a 4×4 veteran intrigued by the return of the classic, or a newcomer to off-roading, the 2021 Bronco is exciting. It’s design, build, and features are rugged, reliable, and can give you the freedom to ride wild where there are no posted speed limits. Feel free to go online and reserve your Bronco today for only $100, or drop by our Albany dealership to handle things in person. With three distinct series and so many trims and additional options, no matter who you are, there is a Bronco for you, and we are excited to make you a welcome part of the new Bronco Nation. You don’t want to miss your opportunity to grab one of the new herd of game-changing SUVs.