The 2021 Bronco was a new vehicle, not a continuation of the smaller Bronco Sport. It returned the historic nameplate to a body-on-frame, front-engine 4x4 offered in two-door and four-door forms and assembled at Michigan Assembly.
Launch-year combinations were unusually broad: two engines, manual or automatic transmission, two four-wheel-drive systems, multiple axle ratios, four equipment groups and the Sasquatch package. That variety makes the original window sticker and door-jamb label especially important when identifying a used example.
Why it matters
After no body-on-frame Bronco had been offered for model years 1997 through 2020, the 2021 revival re-established Bronco as a dedicated off-road family rather than a single nostalgic trim.
What this page covers
Market: United States; body-on-frame Ford Bronco only. Bronco Sport is covered separately.
Body styles: two-door, four-passenger sport utility; four-door, five-passenger sport utility
What changed for this year
- All-new sixth generation
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The Bronco returned on a body-on-frame 4x4 architecture with removable doors and removable roof panels, independent front suspension and a solid rear axle.
- Launch timing
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2021 was the first model year after the documented 1997-2020 gap in body-on-frame Bronco production.
Models and trims
- Seven launch series
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Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Badlands, Wildtrak and the one-model-year First Edition.
- First Edition
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First Edition used body codes E5F (two-door) and E5E (four-door), order code 954A, the 2.7-liter V6, ten-speed automatic and Sasquatch hardware; it was not available for fleet orders.
Engines and transmissions
- 2.3-liter EcoBoost I-4
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275 hp and 315 lb-ft on regular fuel or 300 hp and 325 lb-ft on premium. It could be paired with the seven-speed manual or ten-speed automatic.
- 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6
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315 hp and 410 lb-ft on regular fuel or 330 hp and 415 lb-ft on premium, paired with the ten-speed automatic.
- EPA combined fuel economy
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EPA records span 17 to 21 mpg combined across the listed 2021 Bronco configurations.
Use the exact EPA record and window-sticker label for a particular engine, transmission, trim and tire package.
Capability and specifications
- Wheelbases
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100.4 inches for the two-door and 116.1 inches for the four-door.
- Maximum trailer rating
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Up to 3,500 lb when properly configured.
The actual limit varies with engine, axle ratio, body, equipment and vehicle loading.
- U.S. calendar-year sales
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Ford reported 35,023 U.S. Bronco sales in calendar 2021, the abbreviated launch year.
Calendar-year nameplate sales are not model-year production.
- Assembly
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Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan; Ford's technical sheet lists Cleveland for the 2.3-liter engine and Lima for the 2.7-liter engine.
Colors and interiors
- Exterior colors
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Antimatter Blue, Area 51, Cactus Gray, Carbonized Gray Metallic, Cyber Orange Metallic Tri-Coat, Iconic Silver Metallic, Oxford White, Race Red, Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, Shadow Black and Velocity Blue; Lightning Blue was a First Edition offering.
- Seat materials
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The range included cloth, marine-grade vinyl and leather-trimmed/vinyl, with material and cabin color tied to series and equipment group.
Options and packages
- Sasquatch Package
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Beadlock-capable 17-inch wheels, 35-inch tires, electronic-locking front and rear axles, 4.70 gearing, high-clearance flares and position-sensitive Bilstein dampers; standard on Wildtrak and First Edition and optional on five other launch series.
- Mid, High and Lux groups
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The equipment groups layered driver-assistance, cameras, connectivity, audio and convenience features, with availability controlled by series.
Safety and recalls
- Standard active safety
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Pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, dynamic brake support, hill-start assist and a rear-view camera were standard across the launch range.
- Recall snapshot
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NHTSA's model-year search returned 20 campaigns that may include a 2021 Bronco as of September 11, 2026.
Check the individual VIN at NHTSA and Ford; a model-year result does not prove a particular vehicle is affected.
Owner and buyer notes
- Identify before valuing
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Use the VIN, certification label, axle code and original window sticker to distinguish body, engine, transmission, axle and equipment group; exterior badges alone are not enough.
- Inspect removable components
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Confirm that roof panels, doors, storage bags, tools and mounting hardware are present and that seals and attachment points show no damage or water entry.
This is a practical inspection derived from the factory removable-panel design.
- Check recalls by VIN
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Run both NHTSA and Ford VIN lookups immediately before purchase and periodically during ownership.
Stories from this year
- After 24 absent model years
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The 2021 model followed 24 consecutive model years—1997 through 2020—in which Ford offered no body-on-frame Bronco.
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