The 2021 Ford Bronco is the long-awaited return of one of the most iconic off-road SUVs in automotive history. After a 25-year hiatus, Ford brought back the Bronco with a design faithful to its original character: removable doors, removable roof panels, a high ground clearance, and a mechanical package built specifically for serious off-road use. This is not a soft reboot. It is a genuine, purpose-built 4x4 designed to go places where most SUVs cannot follow.
G.O.A.T. Modes: Goes Over Any Type of Terrain
The 2021 Bronco's signature feature is its G.O.A.T. system, which stands for Goes Over Any Type of Terrain. Depending on the trim, the Bronco offers up to eight selectable drive modes covering Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, Sand, Mud/Ruts, Rock Crawl, and Baja. Each mode adjusts throttle response, shift points, traction control thresholds, and differential locking behaviour to match the terrain precisely. The Rock Crawl mode, for example, engages four-wheel drive lock, rear differential lock, and activates the front trail camera at low speeds. Baja mode, available on the Badlands and Raptor trims, optimises the suspension and powertrain for high-speed loose terrain running. These are not marketing labels. They are genuinely distinct calibrations built on the DanaAdvaTek front axle and Dana 44 rear axle.
Engine Options and the 7-Speed Manual
The 2021 Bronco is offered with two EcoBoost engine options: a 2.3-litre four-cylinder producing 270 hp and a 2.7-litre V6 producing 310 hp, both paired with either a 7-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission. The 7-speed manual is notable for a dedicated low-range first gear designed specifically for rock crawling, giving the driver precise control at very low speeds without relying on electronic intervention. The crawl ratio on the manual version reaches 79.92:1, among the highest in its class, making it a credible tool for technical terrain. The Trail Control system adds low-speed off-road cruise control and torque vectoring, handling throttle and braking on each wheel independently to maintain momentum on difficult surfaces.
Three Body Configurations, Open-Air Freedom
Ford offers the Bronco in two-door and four-door body styles, with a range of trim levels from the base model to the high-specification Badlands and Wildtrak variants. Both body styles feature removable hard doors, a removable roof, and a washable interior floor with drain plugs. The open-air configuration is not a trim option: it is fundamental to the Bronco's identity, designed from the ground up as a vehicle that transforms from a capable daily driver into a fully open 4x4 in minutes. With best-in-class approach angles, departure angles, and ground clearance figures at the top of the segment, the 2021 Bronco makes a strong claim as the definitive modern off-road SUV. Read a full technical breakdown at Ford's official support pages and at Out Motorsports.
For extreme off-road SUVs and custom builds available now, explore the TheArsenale car collection, including the Rezvani Arsenal high-performance SUV and the Petrology x TheArsenale Land Rover Defender 90.
