How would you configure your 2021 Ford Bronco?
It seems that every aspect of the Ford Bronco reveal was steeped in anticipation and excitement. Now that we’ve seen the Bronco in the sheet metal, the next milestone we were waiting for was the online configurator, which is finally live. Plenty of our staff has been busy digitally altering Ford’s new off-roader to suit their specific needs. Be forewarned, due to lots of demand, the Bronco configurator has been a bit slow to load. We got a spinning loading icon more than once and a countdown timer telling us to give the website a rest.
When I finally did configure my Bronco, here’s what I came up with:
This base trim level four-door Bronco got a hardtop for cargo security along with a headliner for better insulation. It also opted for the Sasquatch package with its increased ground clearance and lots of sidewall that allows for a massive footprint when aired down on the trail. The powertrain is the optional 2.7-liter V-6 and 10-speed auto for the extra power that’s gonna be needed to lug those 35-inch tires around. The Sasquatch package includes a locking rear differential and the flares needed to cover the wider rubber but not the beefier steel bumpers, which seem like a good value. Add those for sure. They come with additional front underbody protection and until the aftermarket comes up with a heavy-duty alternative –it won’t be long– the bumpers look to offer strong, good-looking protection from trail damage. The Sasquatch option may be total overkill for the kinds of desert trails I typically drive. Hopefully, the added road noise of the aggressive tires can be muffled by the hard-top.
Inside, I’d prefer the sandstone cloth seats from the Big Bend package to break up the all-black interior, but higher trims include some luxury items that are just lost on me. I’m not a fan of heated seats and the vinyl seats that are seen as an easy-to-clean upgrade in some of the trim levels just have me thinking of how easily they transfer heat in the searing desert and icy cold in mountain winters. The cloth is fine by me.
The total price for my base 2021 Bronco with Sasquatch package, hardtop, bumpers, V-6, and automatic is $44,295. This build seems rather modest, but it’s still almost $10,000 on top of the base MSRP for the four-door Bronco, which starts at $34,695.
Associate Editor Grace Houghton kept things more austere:
“I went for the bare-bones two-door Bronco with a few options tacked on to support some sunny summers at the lake with a paddleboard. Total price? $30,829. Sure, I’d like to spec out a Badlands or a Wildtrack with the six-cylinder engine and the Sasquatch package, but if I bought a Bronco this week, I don’t want to stare down six years of payments. A lot of other single 20-something-year-olds will probably be in a similar position. The manual makes this more engaging and the short wheelbase means it’s highly maneuverable. For just one, the two-door is more than adequate—and if I’m totally honest, I think it’s cute. The few options—roof rack and paddleboard carrier, plus the essential floor mats—suit my favorite aquatic weekend activities. If I want to explore the off-road experience, I’d likely save some cash and rely on the aftermarket for a beefier wheel/tire combo. In the meantime, the 16-inch base wheels are delightfully retro and extremely functional in winter slush.”
Associate Editor Nate Petroelje also stepped in to build his ultimate Bronco:
“I’m a newly married man, and rather than building yet another car for myself, I thought I’d defer to my wife as the builder for this one. She opted for the four-door Bronco Black Diamond in Cactus Gray with the Sasquatch package. Two-thirds of that was her choice. She may have had help with the Sasquatch package. (You’re not gonna not get the Sasquatch package, am I right?)”
“Being from Michigan, heated seats are an absolute must, so we had to spec up the interior a bit. Ditto the remote start, because I know we’ll both appreciate an already warm vehicle on the coldest of early mornings.”
“We opted for the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6, because, while I understand not having a V-8 optional, we feel that the four-cylinder is better suited for the Bronco Sport, or maybe two-door Broncos at best. As much as having a manual would be fun, you can’t get it with the V-6, and the automatic makes more sense for usability’s sake, even though the manual does have that stupid-low crawler gear. This is the woods of northern Michigan, not Moab.”
Nate’s Black Diamond Bronco is a bit more luxurious than mine. The Mid Package adds SYNC voice recognition, ambient lighting, Ford Co-Pilot 360, and dual-zone climate control among others. Perhaps his Lexus has spoiled him. Nate also opted for the towing package, bike rack, and refrigerator-freezer to cover all of the weekend festivities. The grand total comes to $51,338.
I also asked my wife for her input on building the ultimate Bronco. She’s an out-of-the-box thinker:
