Take a Tour of the All-New Ford Bronco (Prototype)
It’s great to get a closer look at this Bronco prototype, courtesy of Doug DeMuro, but he doesn’t get to test every quirk and feature.
When it comes to the ultimate in vehicle reviews, no one can touch Doug DeMuro. Not only does DeMuro have one of the most popular YouTube channels, but he is also well-respected and often quoted in his critiques. Why is he so good? Because he has the industry background, he knows and respects all manner of cars and trucks, offers great insight, and his comprehensive “DougScore” almost always hits the mark. So when we saw he was reviewing the 2021 Ford Bronco, we were thrilled.
“I can’t remember a more hotly anticipated car in the entire history of my YouTube channel,” DeMuro says of the new Ford Bronco.
Unfortunately, DeMuro is a little bit limited in the scope of the review. Ford has a short supply of drivable Broncos available. And it is not expected to hit showrooms for another 6 months. But he does have a prototype of the 2021 two-door full-sized Bronco…minus one engine. But that is not stopping him from plowing forward.
For the record, the 2021 Ford Bronco will have two engine options: Standard is a turbocharged 2.3-liter that makes 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque; the second is a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 that produces 310 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. And thank the powers that be: The 4-cylinder is offered with a 7-speed manual!
Trims and Options
Aside from not having an engine to review, DeMuro has a lot to say about the Bronco. He goes over the trim levels offered on the returning nameplate. The base trim, starting at 30K, has 4WD, removable roof and doors, and that tasty 7-speed manual transmission. An interesting quirk there is that 1st gear is a crawler gear for off-roading. All others work for street, daily driver.
There is the Sasquatch Package; adding 35-inch tires, front and rear locking differentials, Bilstein shocks, bigger fender flares, and more. DeMuro’s Bronco is actually in 37-inch wheels, looking beefy and very off-road ready.
Other trims include Big Ben (more luxury onboard), Black Diamond, Outer Banks (which he thinks will be the most popular), Badlands, and the Wildtrak. It’s a great variety of options that should keep Bronco drivers happy, no matter if they want to drive on the trails or the freeway.
Quirks and Features
Not only are the doors removable, but they are also frameless. A quirk, yes–but a useful one. Without the frame, it is easier to remove the doors. Also, Ford put a “Lift” on the door sill to help indicate where to remove it. Another cool feature the Bronco has (and Jeep does not) is that the doors fit inside the Bronco. So if you are off-roading, you pop the doors off, and they can be stored inside–and even come with protective covers. Very nice detail.
Unlike the Jeep, when you remove the doors the side view mirrors stay intact. Jeep has them attached to the doors. So, better visibility for the Bronco. Plus the doors open nice and wide for easy loading and unloading.
Ford put a lot of time and effort in designing an off-roading, SUV, and it works. Inside, the details are thoughtful, useful, and sharp. For example, the grab handle and dash have Bronco badging.
The interior looks great. But, again, prototype–so many of the functions are not enabled. However, one quirk that DeMuro points out is the floor. There are no traditional floormats, but rather a drain plug that helps make quick work of mud and debris. Just hose it down, easy peasy.
On the dash is a long bar with an adjacent USB port that serves as a GoPro mount. Helpful for mounting and adjusting your camera. And check out the bolts on the mount, they actually are stamped Ford Bronco. Those Bronco bolts are found throughout the interior.
Another feature we were impressed by is the Bronco’s exterior color is carried through to the interior components. Matching buttons and cupholders may be a small detail, but it is pretty great. Also great is the 12-inch infotainment screen, with loads of features. One that stands out is there are over a thousand off-roading maps to help you navigate the trails.
DeMuro likes that the interior is nice, comfortable, and well-appointed…but not too nice. By using easy-to-clean (but not top-shelf) materials makes this far easier to maintain; but not cheap. This extends to even the controls on the steering wheel. “This was made for durability,” DeMuro says.
Controls for the power windows and doors are located on the center panel. A quirk that is also a convenient solution to when the doors are off.
Above the infotainment screen is a series of buttons. These control the front and rear differential locker, as well as a Trail Turn Assist button. This neat feature helps make a tight turn by locking the inside wheels to help propel the outside wheels around.
Overall, DeMuro gives us all the details, and fantastic insight into the new Bronco. Check out the video below.
Ford put a lot of thought, time, and energy into designing the new Ford Bronco. And they brought back the noted nameplate right. It will make off-road enthusiasts very happy, it will be a hit with Ford truck fans, and it will likely make Jeep very, very nervous.
Join the F-150 Online forums now!
