Midsize off-road SUV
2026 Ford Bronco: buying summary
The most open-air off-road truck on the market, built for trails first
- MSRP range
- $38,920–$78,535
- Combined MPG
- 20
- Body style
- Midsize off-road SUV
- Powertrain
- Gasoline
Pros
- Removable doors, roof, and fold-flat windshield on all trims — the most open-air experience of any production vehicle
- 2.7L EcoBoost V6 produces 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque on Wildtrack and above; standard 2.3L makes 300 hp
- GOAT modes and available Sasquatch package (35-inch tires, locking front and rear diffs) without a specialized trim
- Assembled in Michigan, tariff-immune under the current import schedule
Cons
- High wind noise and buffeting at highway speed with the soft top — the Bronco is a trail truck, not an interstate car
- 3,500 lb max tow rating on both engines — the same as a Wrangler and far less than the mid-size Tacoma's 6,500 lb
- On-road ride quality, especially on the Sasquatch package, is compromised by tall sidewalls and the solid rear axle
- Raptor trim pushes above $78K, where you are cross-shopping sports cars and mid-size luxury SUVs
Best trim: Outer Banks 4-Door 2.7L
Outer Banks 4-door with the 2.7L EcoBoost upgrade is the balanced pick at around $51K. You get the 330-hp twin-turbo V6, leather seating, wireless CarPlay, and a trail-capable setup without the hardcore suspension tune of the Wildtrack or Badlands. Wildtrack adds HOSS 3.0 long-travel suspension and is the right call if you ride rough terrain regularly. Black Diamond is the off-road-hardware option for budget-focused buyers who will skip leather. Skip the base 2-door unless you specifically need lighter trail maneuvering weight.
What to cross-shop
- Jeep Wrangler
- Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
- Jeep Gladiator
Verdict
Buy the Bronco if removable panels, open-air driving, and genuine off-road hardware matter more than highway comfort or towing. The Jeep Wrangler is the only direct rival — the Bronco beats it on daily drivability while the Wrangler Rubicon beats it on maximum trail capability with its disconnecting sway bar and 4:1 crawl ratio.
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