Is the 2021 Ford Bronco As Fuel-Efficient As You Thought It’d Be?

We shared an article with you last week highlighting the Bronco Sport’s capabilities and how it climbed Hells Gate without breaking a sweat, getting us even more pumped for the new Bronco. Big brother hasn’t even been released yet, but we’re beginning to receive more information about what it’ll offer. Although the new Bronco won’t have a V8 option, it should get decent gas mileage, right? Right.

We’ve read a few stories this morning about the Bronco’s fuel economy, and we discovered the four-cylinder version of the motor will achieve up to 22 mpg on the highway. Those over at the Bronco6G forum have dug up a lot of details about the new SUV, and their latest contribution to the Bronco world details how Ford’s fuel figures compete with the competition.

Of course, initially, we were a bit wary of the new engines and how they’d stack up, but also understand that things change, according to the times. This is why we trust Ford to offer an exceptional product that provides decent gas mileage and stellar off-road capabilities. So, what’s under the hood of the new Bronco?

The two engines responsible for powering the next-generation Bronco will be a 2.3L EcoBoost inline-four and a 2.7L EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, which offers more power than anticipated and better fuel economy, and decent horsepower for what it is. The four-cylinder will offer 270 horsepower and 310 horsepower for the six. We should note, these figures are based on premium fuel – you can expect lower numbers if you use regular instead, which is recommended by the manufacturer.

These horsepower numbers put it right in the mix when it comes to its competition – the Jeep Wrangler. The Wrangler offers a 2.0L four-cylinder that reaches 270 horsepower, while its V6 manages an impressive 285 horsepower. However, since the Bronco doesn’t offer a V8, it can’t compete with the Wrangler’s 392, which offers a substantial increase in power at 470 horsepower.

Now for the real question – what is the fuel economy of the new Bronco?

2021 Bronco Fuel Economy

Bronco Nation reported numbers that are right on par with the Wrangler, later confirmed by Ford to be accurate. The four-cylinder will provide 20 mpg city, 22 on the highway, and 21 mpg combined. The six-cylinder achieves 18 mpg city, 20 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined, depending on the trim level.

The Wrangler with the four-cylinder achieves 22 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined, while the V8 offers 18mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined. We don’t have to talk about the 392 fuel economy because it’s less than paltry.

When you see the fuel economy figures, especially from such a small motor, it’s understandable if you are a bit disappointed. However, one thing to consider is that these machines were not designed to be aerodynamic. The Bronco and Wrangler are both shaped like boxes – which don’t just glide along the road – so putting smaller and more capable engines isn’t exactly going to solve the fuel economy issue.

Either way, we’re excited to watch these two off-road beasts compete head-to-head. It’s about time Ford revived an enthusiast favorite with a new twist.