Ford Bronco Review 2026: Ready For The Long Way

from the experts at Invoice Pricing

2026

Ford

Bronco

Enhanced | Ford | SUV

In this Ford Bronco Review, we break down why the 2026 Ford Bronco still feels like one of the most appealing ways to buy real off-road capability without giving up too much everyday usability. Removable doors and roof, serious trail hardware, and a choice of turbo powertrains keep it true to the formula, while its calmer on-road manners help it feel easier to live with than some rugged rivals.

This Ford SUV lives up to its name, embodying the same untamed spirit as the animal it represents. When its doors and roof are removed, it can venture deep into the desert. Riding through the trees or jumping over dunes will make you feel as free as a wild horse.

This SUV is easy to steer and won’t buck unless you slam on the brakes or forget to turn off four-wheel drive, which is what its name refers to. It also does better on the highway than its biggest rival, the Jeep Wrangler.

You can choose between a manual drive (but only with the four-cylinder engine) and a number of packages that add more off-road and overlanding gear. You also have the option of a 300-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder or a 330-horsepower twin-turbo V6 engine. The outside is new, pretty nice, and big, but the inside is boring, hard to zhuzh up, and makes a lot of wind noise. Also, who doesn’t like the outside?

What's New?

For 2026, the Bronco’s biggest update is a heritage-focused 60th Anniversary Package that celebrates the nameplate without changing the core formula that made the current truck so popular. It is based on the Outer Banks with the Sasquatch package and adds red-and-white styling touches, special badging, a Wimbledon White roof option, anniversary graphics, and trim-specific details that lean hard into the classic Bronco look. Ford also adds new A-pillar grab handles for easier entry and exit and introduces a new hard-center rear tire cover with a Wimbledon White finish and Vermilion Red Bronco script, giving the rear view a more distinctive look. Beyond that, the broader story is continuity: the Bronco keeps its removable-roof, doors-off personality, its off-road-focused hardware, and the same general mix of trims and powertrains rather than chasing a major redesign this year.

Infotainment and Connectivity

12.0-inch tablet for entertainment.
The vehicle features Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity and is fully compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Audio systems include a 7-speaker radio as standard and a 12-speaker B&O stereo as an option.

Inside the dash is a 12.0-inch tablet running Ford’s Sync 4 software. Users can connect to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay apps wirelessly, and app updates can be made over the air. Some Broncos have better sound systems than the standard seven-speaker setup, and many of them include built-in navigation.

Engine and Performance

The SUV comes with two engine choices: a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 300 horsepower (325 lb-ft torque), or a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 330 horsepower (415 lb-ft torque).
It comes equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 7-speed manual option.
There are four wheels on the engine.

The 330-hp twin-turbo 2.7-liter V-6 comes standard with a 10-speed automatic transmission. However, you can also get a four-speed stick transmission if you’d rather build your own. Unfortunately, neither engine delivers an exciting sound. The driving soundtrack is fairly subdued: the Bronco’s engines are quieter than a Jeep Wrangler’s, but lack the deep, throaty growl you get from a Toyota 4Runner V6. If you’re hoping for a soundtrack that matches the Bronco’s wild looks, you might find the engine note a little tame by comparison.

This is an off-road car, equipped with a four-wheel-drive system that must be engaged when off-road and disengaged when returning to the road. Because it has an independent front suspension and well-calibrated handling, the Bronco is a big SUV designed for everyday use. The Ford generally moves better than the Jeep Wrangler and can keep going on the Interstate without having to change its steering as often as the Jeep does. It also has more accurate steering than the Jeep, which has a live axle on both ends.

Notable features include beadlock-capable wheels (sometimes called “wheels that can be bedded”), electronic locking front and rear differentials, wide 35-inch all-terrain tires, and an anti-roll-bar disconnect system that lets the wheels move as far as possible.

The twin-turbo V6 reaches 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, whereas the turbo-four does so in 7.1 seconds with the automatic transmission and 7.4 seconds with the seven-speed manual.

A twin-turbo V-6 Wildtrak, on the other hand, had the fastest time to 60 mph (6.2 seconds) of any Bronco model we tried, except for Raptors. By comparison, a Bronco Everglades with a four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission accelerates to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds.

Fuel Economy

Highway Gas Mileage at 75 mph. The test showed that the twin-turbo V-6 got 18 mpg, the turbo-four with a seven-speed manual got 19 mpg, and the turbo-four with an automatic transmission got 22 mpg. For comparison, the Jeep Wrangler with the V6 gets around 17 mpg at the same speed, while its four-cylinder version manages about 20 mpg. This means the Bronco is a little more efficient than its biggest rival, especially if you pick the turbo-four with automatic transmission.
The EPA rates cities at 17-19 mpg.
The EPA rates highway gas mileage at 18-21 mpg.

The EPA has not yet released the 2026 Ford Bronco’s fuel economy numbers, but they should stay the same. It is thought that the four-cylinder engine and automatic gear in the 2025 Bronco will get no more than 18 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. The manual subtracts 1 mpg from the second number.

The six-cylinder Outer Banks Bronco achieves 21 mpg in city driving and 19 mpg on the highway, making it the most fuel-efficient Bronco for urban use. However, adding the Sasquatch package reduces its fuel efficiency to the teens.

Based on our observations while driving Broncos with automatic transmissions on our 75-mph fuel-economy route, these numbers are correct.

Safety Features

Ford doesn’t include many driver-assistance features on the base Bronco. Still, all of them come with automatic high beams, automatic emergency brakes, and a system that can handle different terrains with at least five settings.

Automatic high-beam headlights and automatic emergency brakes are standard safety features.
Adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, and blind-spot tracking are all optional safety features that can be added.

Cargo and Towing Capacity

Cargo Capacity:

Space varies sharply between two- and four-door models. The four-door SUV offers more cargo space than the two-door SUV, and all four doors can be removed. To take the back seats home, you have to fold them down if you want to take off the two-door Bronco’s doors while you’re out and about.

First Row:

The front seats were comfortable and roomy, even for our tallest workers, although they were somewhat compromised by a lot of wind noise (see our long-term Bronco review). We can see why Ford used hard plastic all over the car, even though it never feels five-star. This is a strong outdoor vehicle—notice how the roof and doors can be taken off—and the material won’t break easily. Ford now offers marine-grade vinyl upholstery and rubberized floors, catering to customers who frequently leave their cars open to the weather.

Second Row:

The Bronco’s back row has four seats and two doors, so two adults can fit easily there. Three people can fit in the second row of the four-door sedan, which offers much more headroom.

Towing:

Tow up to 3500 pounds of weight.

When it comes to the most weight it can pull, the Bronco is about the same as the Jeep Wrangler, but not as good as the Toyota 4Runner.

Price and How to Choose

The 2026 Ford Bronco is priced between $42,000 and $55,000, depending on the model and optional features selected. Not answering is wrong. Each Bronco model features an impressive exterior and offers versatility that lets it tackle off-road terrain beyond what most drivers would attempt. It limits your trim level choices and makes it hard for parents to load little kids in the back, but we prefer the look of the two-door model and appreciate that the back seat remains useful.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Real off-road capability is the whole point, with available hardware like locking differentials, beadlock-capable wheels, 35-inch tires, and sway-bar disconnect on the right builds.
Better on-road manners than many people expect from a removable-roof 4×4, with more settled steering than a Wrangler.
Open-air driving is a big part of the appeal, and the Bronco still nails that fun, doors-off personality.
Engine choices are solid, whether you want the cheaper turbo four or the quicker twin-turbo V6.
The lineup offers a huge amount of customization, so it is easier than usual to match the Bronco to how you actually drive and explore.

Cons:

Wind noise at highway speeds is still one of the Bronco’s biggest everyday compromises.
Fuel economy is mediocre, especially once you move into heavier trims or more aggressive tire packages.
Cabin materials are more durable than luxurious, so it can feel plain inside for the money.
Maximum towing stays at 3,500 pounds, which is fine for light weekend gear but not a standout number.
The two-door model looks great, but it is noticeably less practical for passengers and cargo than the four-door.