The 2021 Ford Bronco two-door and four-door, along with the new Bronco Sport crossover, made their official debut this week. Unfortunately for General Motors, the automaker has no direct rival to these highly anticipated new off-roaders at this time, leaving only Ford and Jeep to duke it out in the off-road arena.
Ford says the mission of the 2021 Bronco “is to deliver maximum 4×4 go-anywhere, anytime capability and confidence,” and provide “lasting performance in the harshest of conditions for generations to come.” Power comes from a turbocharged 2.3L four-cylinder engine producing 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet, while a twin-turbo 2.7L V6 with 310 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque will also be on offer. A seven-speed manual transmission and four-wheel drive are standard and Ford’s 10-speed automatic is also for a premium.
Two 4×4 systems will be available on all Bronco models: a base 4×4 setup and a more advanced system. The base system has a two-speed electronic shift transfer case, while the more advanced setup has a two-speed electromechanical transfer case with an auto mode for on-demand selection between 2H and 4H. Also standard is a Dana 44 AdvanTEK solid rear axle and a Dana independent front differential unit – both of which are available with Spicer electronic locking differentials for improved traction and off-road performance.
Ford claims the 2021 Bronco boasts “segment-leading levels of off-road capability,” thanks to its best-in-class ground clearance, (11.6-inches), 29-degree breakover angle, 37.2-degree departure angle and best-in-class water fording capability of 33.5 inches. The off-roader rides on a fully boxed high strength steel chassis with independent front suspension, a solid rear axle and available long-travel, position-sensitive Bilstein dampers. Buyers who want more capability can opt for the optional beadlock wheels and 35-inch tires – both of which are a first in this segment.
The interior of the 2021 Ford Bronco blends utility with comfort thanks to an available 12-inch infotainment display screen, washable rubberized floors with integrated drains, available marine-grade vinyl seats and a dashboard device rack that allows the user to easily mount GoPro cameras, phone mounts and more. The SUV also has an available off-road navigation system with topographic trail maps of more than 1,000 curated off-road trails. Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 suite of active safety technology is available on the SUV, too.
As for the removable roof panels, base two-door models come with a three-panel removable roof, while four-door models have four removable roof sections.
The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport crossover, meanwhile, is for the Bronco enthusiast who wants a smaller, slightly less off-road oriented package. Power here comes from a turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder, which is good for 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. A turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder is available, too, which makes 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. Both engines pair with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel-drive. The four-wheel-drive system also has a segment-exclusive twin-clutch rear-drive unit with a differential lock feature.
Similar to the regular Bronco, the Bronco Sport’s interior is ready to face the elements thanks to its available with washable rubber flooring in the cabin and cargo area, easy-to-clean cloth seating surfaces and silicone-sealed control switches. The crossover is offered with an eight-inch Ford SYNC infotainment system and the Co-Pilot 360 range of active safety tech, as well.
Four underbody skid plates, available 28.5-inch all-terrain tires and available tow hooks give the Bronco Sport some additional capability and ensure it’s worthy of the Bronco nameplate.
The 2021 Ford Bronco will start at $29,995 for a base-level two-door model. Pricing for the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport has not yet been announced. Both vehicles can be reserved via the automaker’s website now for $100.
Comments
Bronco Sport competes with blazer.
Renegade and Compass. It should be far more capable than the Blazer. It’s also closer in size to the new TrailBlazer.
Good article, one mistake, the Bronco Sport is NOT available with the 12″ screen, only the 8″.
If GM used the Hummer brand properly, they would have models competing.
Instead we are getting an electric GMC with the HUMMER name.
I seriously feel like the Board Room at GM is comprised of a bunch of morons like the president’s cabinet in the movie IDIOCRACY where they laugh at the person with the good ideas and push their stupid ideas through.
Correct. In working for a big national manufacturing group, I lived with more time is spent on process improvement, which never improves, marketing departments that depend on long time employees and the voice of the customer to learn their product, and never thinking outside the box. FORD is working their plan, because they have one…GM not only can’t lead anymore, but they don’t even know how to follow. Shame on people like Mark Reuss who are supposed to be car guys. Seriously, they waste iconic names like Blazer because there isn’t anyone that knows the history of what worked.
Complaining about the use of Blazer discredits your opening line of experience. Crossovers are king, and the hefty price tag on the Blazer is working. The Bronco has so many configurations that it’s a nightmare from a production standpoint. I’m not happy about the Blazer name, but it wasn’t a bad business decision, same goes for the TrailBlazer. It’s not like they were going to use the name for anything else.
When Chevy had the EQUINOX and TRAVERSE as their stable of CUVs, they did not need to bring yet another one out that was a close match to the EQUINOX and brand it the BLAZER. All they needed to compliment the CUV line was a smaller Escape/CX-3 fighter to round it out.
Now they have the TRAILBLAZER, TRAX, EQUINOX, BLAZER and TRAVERSE, leaving the Tahoe/’Burb as the only real SUVs of the bunch.
And they sell a bunch of all of them
Not compared to the competition.
They’re selling a lot of toasters but I want something more exciting than another phoned in appliance.
I would say that’s because they are “Throw Away” vehicles. They are absolute junk. One little fender bender and they are totaled. So yeah, they keep selling them. Oh, did I forget to mention that they cheap as hell to buy.
It doesn’t discredit my opening line Andrew. The Blazer name isn’t fitting for yet another fractionally resized people mover. I am sure we will see Riviera on a Buick crossover soon which will then offer no relationship to the history of the nameplate and brand.
It isn’t fitting, but it makes business sense, as do crossovers, which is what you were commenting on: “FORD is working their plan, because they have one…GM not only can’t lead anymore”. You are concerned with models names, which is fair, but worker bees rarely have the context to call out executive decisions that will dictate a 5-10-15 year company strategy.
Agreed. That is a problem that has been brewing in many products lines. Many products, automobile related or not, are not offered because the buyer wants them, it’s because they are told they want them. CEO and executive level leaders want to make their mark or lay the foundation for their legacy, rather than make their company or product the best. That is because they are not going to be there long. In most business atmospheres, some of the worker bees can tell you exactly what is working. But Execs don’t want to hear contradiction to “their” plan. Simply it goes back to “On a Clear Day you can see General Motors”…written decades ago. “Are we in business to make cars?? Or to make money?” Some make cars, and make money. Some struggle with years of rebranding and refocus.
GM wants to be the Chinese Toyota.
Just churning out boring vehicles for the masses.
They lost their way.
I wish GMUSA could be spun off from the rest of GM and get back to what it used to do. Make great cars that Americans WANT to buy.
C8
The only possible competitors to the new Bronco are the new Suburban and Tahoe Z71 off-road models, but those are full-size body-on-frame SUV offerings, not the body-on-frame mid-size offering like the new Bronco.
Anyways, I’m very excited about the Bronco’s return. It’s one of Ford’s true heritage vehicles like the F-Series and the Mustang, so big round of applauds for Ford for bringing it back.
People are right in saying that Ford knocked this one out of the park, because they did. Even as a GM site, we need to give credit where credit is due. The media has been all over this story with nearly unanimous praise.
But believe me when I say this, if you think the media is crazy now, wait until the Hummer reveal. The hype will be far more intense. Watch.
We’ll see, for sure. The GMC Hummer EV has also been creating a lot of buzz in the automotive market as well.
Off the top this is a Ford article.. on GM Authority. No matter how you start it saying GM has no rival doesn’t change that. An article discussing past GM competitors, shelved in development projects, and future potential would have changed that all and made for a unique article that people can’t find on literally ever other automotive media outlet right now and covers the industry as a whole, who are not prided on GM news.
GM was working on a Jeep Wrangler fighter as little as 5 years ago (same development timeline for the Bronco) when the next gen Colorado was going to move to a scaled T1 platform, there was then a shift to look at the future and the VSS-T platform was then decided to be the future truck/BOF platform. The next gen Colorado, 2023, is now set to use a modified version of it’s current platform which is dubbed 31XX-2. The platform that *was* to be shared between a Colorado and a Wrangler fighter was called 32XX. There is conflicting details, but it sounds like 32XX was to be a heavily modified T1 for the midsize trucks. T1 will not live on under the Silverado after 2025/26. It will be replaced my VSS-T.
VSS-T allows proper scaling, powertrain and fuel source flexibility need to carry large GM vehicles into the next 10-15 years.
Because Colorado is now basically just getting a heavy update for 2023 and the business case for a niche feature rich, highly configurable, offroad oriented 4×4 didn’t have a business case. Obviously Ford felt otherwise, but Ford does have a history of making enthusiast decisions and not necessarily business focused decisions. Both have merits. I for one love the looks of the Bronco and can’t believe they are offering with 35″ tires, a 4.7 diff, and an insane crawl ratio with the manual trans. Ford sees the value of halo vehicles where GM for the most part shys away from them.
GM does have a Colorado based SUV in global markets, but it’s more like a smaller Tahoe in the sense that it’s not an offroad focused crawler with removable roof and doors, modular bumpers, focus on approach-breakover-departure angles, etc. It’s a family hauler that happens to be BOF
Good analysis, also don’t forget about the ZR1 Colorado/Canyon AT4 off-roders, I’d said earlier Ford have a sketchy launch schedule and quality problems , don’t forget this truck won’t be out until 9 months for now at the least with dealer markup, while you just walk on a Chevy lot and get a ZR2,
Can’t wait to see YoouTube vid on Bronchitis crashing/roll-overs like it’s idiot brother Mustang…
Fault Objects Reproduced Daily….
The Colorado looks disgusting like it was made from Family Dollar compared to this Bronco lol. The interior of the bronco decimates the Colorado/canyon, GM should be ashamed of putting a cavalier shifter in the middle. Hell they went to the parts bin and decided to put the same dash their equinox has with a small twist. The price that ford offers all this is 3/5th of the price you would need to spend to get the Colorado 4×4 and that’s without selectable lockers.
GM desperately needs to hire talent to keep up. Don’t try to say “I don’t need all the bells and whistles “ and justify the lack of design in GM trucks other than the Full size SUV’s. Ford is supporting over 200 accessories for their budget off-roader mean while GM can offer some sub par over priced side steps and a kicker subwoofer
The other disappointment I have with GM is the lack of info about the new Hummer EV. Their sole reason to not day view the vehicle was because Covid wouldn’t allow an in person viewing. Clearly Ford still went ahead and released it virtually. In fact they did the F-150 virtually too! All which begs to question, is the Hummer EV even operational? There have been no sightings of the thing on the road. I understand that they might have some indoor testing site but come on. Downvote me or whatever but this is reality.
Lol, the Ranger can’t keep up with the GM Twins which it’s meant to compete with, the Twins wears two hats as a pickup and a off-roder and a faux Wrangler is supposed to look good at the beach. For the Hummer E/V it’s a Silverado underneath like the older H2, you might see an odd GM pickup around Detroit but GM will have the largest omelette in their face if they say the Hummer is coming and no truck is produced.
Criticize their product all you want, at least Ford has new interesting new products for everyone to talk about.
Like recalls?, That’s a Ford product that people talk about…
I mean they canned the 32xx platform that was supposed to compete with the Wrangler, they haven’t answered back to the raptor nearly a decade later (the trailboss/at4 is purely a lift kit nothing more), the ZR2 is Chevy only sorry GMC I guess you guys don’t deserve the top of the line which is what GMC is essentially marketed as in GM’s portfolio, and lastly the latest biggest Omelette GM has to swallow is the horrendous marketing done for the Blackwing V8 and the CT6-V in general.
Yep, I hope GM proves me wrong with the Hummer, but it’ll take a lot for the public to swallow if the starting price is North of $50k unlike the Bronco at $30k with 4×4 standard.
Ok, do that necessarily mean sales and profit?. GM made cool cars and trucks during the BK, you think they want to embarrassedly show up in front of Congress again in front of AOC telling GM “no money because your name has ‘Motor’ which is a gas powered name, why not change it to General Electric?…”.
FCA has the muscle cars and Jeep but still trying to pair with another loser Euro company while letting 2 main divisions starve for product. Ford whooho, cool stuff with a $6 share price and bad launches of new vehicles. GM is still selling it’s truck/CUVs with little problems (other than the pandemic economy), me personally I’d love to see Pontiac resurrected even if it’s a EV but don’t let emotions overrun facts in this case.
This is a really dumb argument, but I’m going to go there.
Motors are electric, and engines are not, so that isn’t even an issue.
“Motors are electric, and engines are not, so that isn’t even an issue”
AOC couldn’t say it better herself…..
That makes zero sense. I don’t for one moment think AOC has any idea that the word motor is correctly applied to an electric motor and not a gasoline or diesel engine.
You said something stupid, so I corrected you, and then you replied again with something stupid. Stop already.
Getting in emotions means really retarded responses, re-read in Context. As said “wow” vehicles don’t mean staying in business.
The shop that will build the GMC Hummer (lol) wont even be tooled and ready until right about this time next year. Maybe sometime next Spring we will start to see test mules. Prepare for disappointment. I have serious doubts that the Soccer Moms in charge of GM will make the Hummer anything more than a mall crawler.
Test mules have nothing to do with the plant being ready. I’m sure there are Hummer mules running around today with all the Hummer EV components in Silverado trucks. There are probably hand build Hummer EV’s as well since you can’t build a plant without designing the machinery, dies, presses, or program robots without knowing how the final product will go together. What you’ll get in the spring is a preproduction vehicle built on the factory tools.
I think Hummer is a lot further along than GM is advertising. You don’t do plant upgrades for a vehicle you’re still designing. Also with Ford showing their cards for the Bronco, GM now knows where they stand. Many of the Bronco features seem hinted at or implied in the Hummer given it’s an EV with 1 – 3 motors. The biggest question with the Hummer is price.
Many people in the EV circle are saying the Bronco is a nice looking vehicle, but to bad it’s
not electric.
You seem to be implying that a Hummer will be competition for the Bronco in some way, but I think there will be very little of that, given the huge difference in cost.
The Hummer might change the mind of some Raptor or Land Rover buyers, and of course Bollingers or whatever, but you could pick up a Bronco for about $30k it looks to be decently equipped for that price. Obviously yes, you can spend even more on it, but it doesn’t even get close the starting price of that Hummer.
The Hummer will be insanely expensive, and that’s fine because they don’t plan on selling a million of them.
So, you don’t want a Hummer from a Soccer Mom?
Great comment, Andrew. Your documenting of the now-dead 32XX Wrangler-fighter is very accurate, from everything I’ve heard. It’s a shame the program died.
Remember, GM had a Wrangler-fighter green-lighted for production EVEN BEFORE this 32XX program, and over a decade before the new Bronco. That was the Hummer HX concept. And if I had to guess, had GM dropped the H2 and brought the HX (likely as “H4”) to production coming out of the recession, along with the H3 and H3T, Hummer would have thrived much like Jeep has since. Instead, it lost an entire decade of off-road opportunity.
If the new Hummer EV can basically be like this Bronco with all the lifestyle options, but with electrons pushing the wheels instead of gasoline, it could mark a major and long-overdue rebirth.
True i forgot about that HX concept. If we can jumble together those few paragraphs off the top of our heads, surely a staff writer can do better. i just don’t understand the lack of intent the modern age of GM Authority has put forward. I’m only critical around here because I want to see better and I know it takes no additional effort.
“ I for one love the looks of the Bronco and can’t believe they are offering with 35″ tires, a 4.7 diff, and an insane crawl ratio with the manual trans”
Yes, Ford let the ‘car guys” design it, not the accountants. What a concept. Halo vehicles are Important to a brand and other than Corvette GM has none. More special editions that are nothing more than decals,wheels, and emblems just doesn’t cut it. The Blazer is a fine, boring crossover that will make GM money and it remains to be seen if Bronco will do the same for Ford, but nonetheless GM needs to develop an exciting, capable, true SUV before the next-gen Blazer, and put the Blazer name on it.
And exactly how well is Ford doing financially right now? There has to be a balance. If GM catered to the crowd on this site every vehicle would have a V8 engine and would every be a 2 sports car, large 4 door sedan or truck. Out of those 3 only trucks are selling and most without V8’s.
Ford nailed it. Still surprised it comes stock with 35″ tires. The GMT31XX platform could certainly be used by GM to build an offroad SUV.
Obviously many of us have been here screaming for years that GM needed a Wrangler/Bronco type of vehicle.
I have always thought this and still do. The GM Hummer Brand (i thought Hummer Would have been a Stand Alone Brand) should be PURE EV as it has been announced. The First Vehicle is going to be a Pickup Truck then an SUV. The third model should be a Bronco type vehicle. At this point it will be the ONLY Advantage that GM can get in that Segment. an All Electric Bad Ass (Jeep) that can out perform and spank the Wrangler and Bronco.
And cost a ton more while being severely limited by range and recharge time.
@Nate
Why would it cost more? Have you not heard that Battery Prices are dropping like Led Balloons?
DO NOT listen to the Legacy Auto Makers…they are in trouble and they know it. It is so costly for them to convert all their Factories and Manufacturing contacts into BEV’s that they are praying they can weather the Storm in the short term. Look at how many NEW All Electric Companies are sprouting up lately. That is because Manufacturing is much cheaper than ICE and so is R&D
In a couple years time it will be much cheaper to produce EV’s than ICE vehicles.
Also, the Tesla Cybertruck which I am assuming is heavy as you know what will get over 500 Miles of range. That is with Current Battery Tech.
Are you serious? Do you actually think the Hummer EV, which they claim will have 1000 HP will cost somewhere in the $30k – $50k range?
Yes, of course I’ve heard battery prices are dropping, but unless they are planning on waiting 10 years, that’s not going to be enough to put the Hummer and Bronco in the same market.
I’m sorry but with everything I’ve seen, the Hummer EV is going to be a luxury vehicle. I’d bet it would cost more than the Bronco even if they sold it without the battery.
Couple things, Nate.
1.) The Hummer will definitely be more expensive than the Bronco. But, remember that the 1,000 hp figure is for the top variant, the tri-motor AWD setup with two motors in back and one in front. There will also be a dual-motor AWD variant, and a single-motor RWD variant. I don’t want to be that infallible “I have sources” guy, but I do know a guy who sells directly to GMC and knows a number of their top brass, and he said that the pricing will “surprise people like the C8 pricing did.” Who knows what that means, but is $50k for the single motor out of the question? Not Bronco-competitive, but WAY cheaper than most forecasts.
2.) The Hummer isn’t going to be a luxury vehicle. It will have a ton of tech (and likely SuperCruise), but the materials were described by select journos who saw it as being “rugged and utilitarian,” not luxurious. Think the new Defender or even the Bronco. Also, the entire interior will be made of “recyclable” materials. This is going to be a purpose off-roader, not a luxury pretender like the H2.
This is just what I’ve heard and/or read. Frankly, we need to see these damn things soon, because the hype is starting to fade a bit, and people need to know this stuff lol.
Well, I’m quite sure you’re wrong, but since neither of us know what the Hummer will sell for it’s hard to say.
Quite sure, huh? We’ll see.
@G8Burnout
Exactly. Battery Tech is getting cheaper and cheaper by the Day.
I cannot wait for the Hummer EV Pickup Truck.
I am dying to see if it will be Full size like The Silverado or smaller like the Colorado. Also, I hope it isn’t like the H2 SUT and that it is a proper Pickup bed.
But I’ll be ok either way just prefer a real Bed.
@Momolos: Neither can I, man!
You and I have been the most steadfast supporters of the new Hummer on GMA, I’m so hoping we aren’t disappointed. Though I will say this, I can confirm that it will be full-size, just on the smaller end of that (i.e., likely a bit shorter than a crew cab Silverado, though likely a fair amount taller). Also, it will have a proper 5 foot bed. This according to an older report from a journalist who saw both the SUT and SUV in the flesh.
Good times are very likely ahead!
The GMC Hummer will start around $70,000 the Cadillac electric will start around $80,000. Those are the rumors on the shop floor. I believe Dan Aman stated that.
Interesting, thanks for the info, Guest. I can stomach a starting price of around $65k, but closer to $60k would be way better. I guess time will tell!
@Nate
I never said that it would be all I said Is that it can be.
Why can Tesla have a $39,000 Pickup Truck but GM can’t have a $35,000 (Starting Price)
EV Hummer (Bronco)
Lets all remember that the Cybertruck will come Standard with Air Suspension that can also be used at a job site to power Air Compresors and Plugs for electrical tools in the Bed.
DO NOT believe Legacy Auto Makers about EV pricing, they are desperately trying to kick the can down the road. All you need to do is a little research and see how many “Cheap priced” EV’s there are in China and Europe. Why are there so many NEW Start Up EV Auto Makers popping up?
Why wasn’t that happening during the second half of the Century in the ICE Auto Industry?
The reason is that it is becoming cheaper to R&D and Build EV’s than ICE Tech.
Nio in China is on fire and they don’t even build their cars, just let that sink in for a second.
VW I fear is the ONLY Legacy Auto Maker that realized the HUGE Shift happening around the World to BEV’s and they pretty much placed all their upcoming Chips into the Game. Others are trying to tip toe their way through this. I hope GM goes All In pretty soon.
I am not stating that I dislike ICE as I have wanted a Ferrari since I was a little kid. All I am saying is that I am a HUGE GM fan and no matter the Propulsion System I want them to become the Best.
GM will be king of boring once the Camaro is killed off. I’m sure the new Hummer will look cool, but it’ll be nothing more than a suburban toy for the wealthy. The new Vette is an amazing car, but at the same time, it lost a lot of the character that made it a CORVETTE. It looks like a generic mid-engine sports car. The Colorado ZR2 is a cool/fun vehicle, but ancient at this point.
That may very well be how the Hummer is used by most people, but it will have the hardware to pack severe off-road cred under that sheetmetal.
Who wants to go off roading in the middle of nowhere in an EV?….
Ford is really doing a great job of giving people what they want. GM is not trying at all anymore. As a long GM fan I am seriously looking at Ford. Love this new Bronco and GM wants to just give us all electric crossovers. Really hate the direction GM is going. They truly dont care about the off road crowd.
Ford is giving people what they want. GM is giving people what Mary Barra believes they should drive, you know, to save the planet and all the other nonsense of the day.
These comments suck.
GM is not Failing and they are not going anywhere, They have become a conservative company at a time to be honest it needs to be conservative. While other companies are working in desperation to find a partner to merge with or like Ford here taking a chance at a vehicle that is not a sure thing unless you get it right.
Well in this case Ford looks like they may have the larger Bronco right.
GM is a very stable company right now and I do wish they would take more calculated risk on vehicles like this.
There has been a group at GMC pushing for a Wrangler competitor and if this Bronco works we may finally see them get the nod. I wish they had not forced it to this but even if it is late I will be happy to see one come.
They have the engine with the 2.7 coming and if they could base it on a shortened Canyon platform I think we may see a viable vehicle.
I work in the performance industry that has been supported by the small block and Camaro for NA many years. Then it was the Fox body Mustang. Today it is the Wranglers and the trucks that sustain the aftermarket companies today. I have a vested interest in these vehicles.
My hope is three expand the Hummer at GMC to include a 2.7 Turbo Wrangler fighter Call it a Jimmy!
The Jeep has the liability that it has to look like a Jeep. The Bronco while cool is not a real looker. GM has an open door to out do either in looks and ability.
Ford did a much better job on this with the true off road package. It will hurt Jeep.
I have noted the absence of any small CUV models at GMC outside the Terrain. Could GM be set to do something on the next gen Canyon? Could be.
The EV Hummer will be a hit but it is expensive so we need to see a cheaper model.
Let’s face it the Camaro as we know it is limited in life so around the time it goes a new off road vehicle with a removable top and doors. This will at least help More than double the production or triple the production of the Camaro present numbers if not more.
A Wrangler fighter from GMC, 10 years late when the market is shifting somewhere else.
Always late, and always glaring omissions.
A Wrangler fighter from GMC will probably be electric and since they can use the same platform, motor, electronics, batteries, etc… as the other EV’s it could be produced rather quickly. That’s the benefit of going electric. Body styles makes little difference to the underlying components. No transfer cases, locking differently, etc.. I can all be handled by the motor controllers.
A Wrangler fighter from GMC….will never happen.
The Bronco Destroys the wrangler in my honest opinion.
I have always been a fan of the wrangler idea but the vehicle itself was too narrow and unrefined. Mostly the interior to be honest.
Ford hit another Home Run. Even the Bronco Sport is top in Segment.
I so hate giving Ford any Praise….Get it together GM!!!
GM USED to be the leader in the automotive field wayyy way back in the 1930’s-70’s. But they somehow have lost its throne from the likes of hungrier competitors.
To much complacency over at GM and ho-hum product lineup. GM used to compete in every segment, but they have lost their way.
I actually really like the look of the retro-modern design of the Bronco. The bright colors pop on it too.
GM could never build something like this. As a diehard Cadillac and GM fan of yore, their current stuff just seems overly cheap, ugly looking and half-assed plastic fantastic piles of you know what.
The Blazer should have been the Broncos obvious competitor, it was in the past after all. The blazer looks pretty cool from the outside, but man the interior is cheap looking and feeling from the times I’ve sat in one at the dealership.
For being one of the most wealthy automakers ( more so than Ford), GM sure seems like it penny pinches every cent it can find.
@Mr. Cadillac
It is really simple what Happened to GM…..They allowed the Bean counters to take over.
You cannot run a Modern Company like that anymore. Too much competition and more importantly, customers are much more aware.
I hate Ford, but, they have just eaten Mary Bara’s kale lunch.
@bubbaq Ford stole Mary Bara’s Kale lunch and dropped a healthy duce in it. Then returned to her private fridge.
Bronco is nicer than every vehicle in GM portfolio, except Camaro and the Stingray.
GM knows how to discourage car entusiasts.
One vehicle does not make a portfolio and given Ford’s stock price they need a pick me up. The concern both Ford and GM should have is Tesla is valued a lot more with a very limited product mix.
It is totally unfair as I have been stating here for years to compare Auto Stocks with Tesla.
Tesla is way more than a Car Company with software, renewables, and Energy Company.
I tried telling everyone here that the Legacy Auto Makers will regret not shifting quickly enough. Europe and China are switching to pure EV’s and Tesla is on fire in both places.
I pray GM has a plan.
Yep
Remember when GM had more than just auto brands.
The new Suburban, Tahoe, and C8 Corvette are exceptions to this. Those are arguably the most impressive vehicles that General Motors manufacturers, and in some ways are as impressive as the new Bronco. But every other vehicle besides the ones I mentioned.. I haven’t been very excited about most of their products.
@Mr. Pink
Totally agree. I am hopeful that becomes the Norm for every future GM vehicle.
And I have High hope for the Cadillac Lyriq
Just one of many products Swiss cheese Barra motors is lacking and not competing in. such a come down from their hey day when they offered something for everybody and are quickly turning into a truck only maker.
I’d buy the top of the line bronco for 35k but I’m sure it’s gonna be more then that. If it’s 50k your better off with a truck. The bronco seems well done inside and out and practical for adventure, which no one will buy it for. I wonder how it rides though, the last time I was in a wrangler it was not fun on the streets. I’m sure ford is needing this to have big sale numbers.but at this time GM is best to to not compete
Lol, the sticker on the fully loaded Bronco Sport is going to exceed your pricing request. The Bronco will easily be $5-10k higher than the ranger. I’m sure you’ll even see a version of the Bronco exceed $60k. After all, the Wranglers exceed that.
Base starts at $28,600 and only the “First Edition” is reaching $60k but it is limited to only 3,500 units. The next “normal” trim, The Badlands, is around $45k.
GM has no idea, neither name for a Bronco-fighter. Blazer and Trailblazer are nice vehicles, but deserve another names.
Barra will realize what they did when Ford moves 20k, 40k-dollars Broncos per month.
Honestly the name stuff needs to stop. If you’re under 40 years old you probably don’t even know what a Bronco or Blazer was. We need to stop living in the past – they are just names. It’s about vehicles and functionality. Car makers will go where the money is. The Ford Bronco looks nice, but there are several EV trucks/SUVs coming out in the next year that will probably split the market. The Bronco might be successful on the lower end, but the higher end will go to the EVs. Which in turn might hurt Ford because the profitability I’m sure is in the high end models.
GM has a competitor for the Bronco. It’s called the Blazer and it has class-leading Camaro-style round air conditioning vents! Actually, yeah, as always, GM has nothing. The sissified Blazer is nothing but another lame, over-styled, FWD appliance to get kids to soccer practice. In every way, but especially in terms of coolness, the Bronco is worlds apart from it.
Ford is getting a ton of good press because A) the Bronco is a really well-done product, B) it builds on a much-loved product (original ’66 Bronco) from long ago, and C) there just isn’t much going on right now in the automotive world. The website I normally go to for car news has 18 stories about the Bronco, all posted in the last 18 hours. The site looks like I’ve gone to the homepage at ford.com.
I think Ford is also basking in a bit of fortuitous luck here too. The public is hungry for an escape from the fear of COVID, the masks, the sanitizer, the terror of riots, fires, and violence happening on our city streets. In the midst of this, Ford is out there launching the ultimate escape vehicle; the go-anywhere Ford Bronco. All the imagery being presented of it are scenes of places far away from the chaos of the urban world we exist in. Instead there are snowy mountains, desolate green meadows, rugged trails way back in the wilderness, and vast open desert. The people depicted in Ford’s press photos are all enjoying the moment peering into a seeming eternity or camping all alone in the world; not a mask or protest sign in sight. No wonder the reservation website has been overloaded. Who among us doesn’t want a Bronco to take us away right now. Sometimes a vehicle just meets the moment in such a perfect way so as to make it a hit. I think it’s safe to say that this Bronco is such a vehicle.
Agree and well said.
3 things impress me about the Bronco. One, it’s available in a 2 door!! Not only is a 2 door available, but it’s available across the board in all trim levels, not an afterthought.
Two, Ford did a great job with all of the Bronco specific details. They could have gone cheap and used lots of
parts from other vehicle lines, but they did not. They even have “BRONCO” engraved torx bolts!
Lastly, it’s made in America for American tastes. Many vehicles now are designed and developed with global consumption in mind. So often the end result is a mish-mosh that is largely devoid of character. GM has many of these.
I heard that GM may come up with a Blazer PORE- Pseudo Off Road Edition- with 22 inch wheels, off road tires, and a rollbar on the front.
Meanwhile GM:
We will make more fwd based cars.
I’ll give Ford credit with the Bronco line, and if they keep updating it like the Raptor they should have a strong following. GM only has the ZR2 which is in need of an update other than a new bumper and paint colors. Hopefully when the Hummer debuts it will spark GM into something other than a few EVs that won’t sell in any significant numbers.
@TR
I agree with you about Ford and the Bronco. I also agree that GM pretty much has nothing except the ZR2 which needs to be replaced with a Totally New Truck. I read that The Ranger is now out selling Colorado.
But I will say that I truly believe if done right, the upcoming Hummer vehicles will sell and sell at a pretty decent clip.
Chevrolet Colorado Bison ZR2 off-road suspension components can transform the new Chevrolet TrailBlazer into a CUV with off-road capability and do so without breaking the bank.
In order to answer the bronco and the wrangler with a competitor GM need to introduce a Colorado-based platform and shorten it then give it a familiar name from the past.I think it’s about time that GM brings back the nomad.
And would you look at that! Interior color!!!! If this were GM it would have the 3 interior color options of black, black and charcoal.
@Joe Yoman
Interiors are my biggest Gripe with GM vehicles for years now.
And even IF GM came out with a 2 door SUV to compete with the ugly Bronco – the not so much new “Blazer” name has been taken. The execs at GM have seriously got their heads up their ……
Can I order one in white with a pair of black gloves in the glove compartment?
I am glad she is having her diversity inclusive beta brunch team expanded. I mean, GM has to lead in something these days….
If GM did made a competitor it would be a boring crossover that is basically lifted with Zr2 suspension with shocks hanging very low. Also it would have a ugly cheap dark interior. They could still use the K5 name with Blazer but GM must design a whole new vehicle from scratch that is a 2door convertible & offer a 4door. It should have a very rugged rock crawler retro design. But we all know that GM will not go all out like Ford and invest a lot of time,money, research. Even the 4runner will be better than what GM comes out with if they do.
If GM did came out with a vehicle to compete against the new Bronco and Wrangler it would not be a true iconic 4×4 vehicle. By knowing how GM is they would probable make an SUV version of the Zr2 which is similar to the modern Blazer in South America. It is a regular 4door SUV version of the Chevy Colorado so it’s nothing special about it. The interior would probable be dark and boring like all their vehicles. The reason why GM would do something like this is because they will not invest in the time, research, money, designing, and engineering. Chevy should put in the effort to build the true Blazer they could just name it K5 Blazer & give it other names for different trim models. For GM to be very competitive they must design a whole new vehicle from scratch like what Ford did with the Bronco. Ford did not went the cheap way by using the body of an Explorer or Escape and giving it off road goodies. This is why the Bronco is it’s own vehicle. GM should make the K5 Blazer retro, boxy, and convertible looking and offer it 2door also in 4door. A long time ago there was a 2door convertible Hummer concept name HX it’s very cool but not historical like Blazer. There are rumors about GM bringing back the GMC Jimmy which the new one would most likely be a GMC Acadia that is lifted with the same shocks as the Zr2 that hang very low.
Iconic car names mean nothing to 90 percent of the buying public. People buy on value, features and looks.
60mm had any brains at all they wouldn’t brush off the 99 2 door Blazer /Tahoe build a frame like a real truck with updated updated transmission, steering, & suspension and interior old-time sakes make the rear roof removable. Then they would have a winner. Right now GM has some of the ugliest most used vehicles on the market and I’m a fan of the Tahoe but not the new one and for God’s sake do something about that Trail Blazers it’s disgusting.
I dont belive the bronco is a contender for trail rated performance the 2.7 has a plastic oil pan and twin turbo tubes that’s like 21/2 in in diameter how u gonna keep water out of the engine block snorkel it lol also gm has the drive train to put in a jeep they should use the vortec 90 degree or the inline vortex engine with produce 285 hp off factory the jeep 4.0 only produces 190 offer the vehicle in a manual or auto version stick Dana’s on the front and back and bam it’s done They being useing the vortec engines basically since 1995 when the short block was born to replace the blue flame or whatever the stroke bore is usually same as the v8s the 4l60 transmisson is produced in Toledo ohio and is already a praised machine the stuff’s there just use what u got what your good at makeing and stick all the bells andbwhitsles on it and it would only take half the money to develop because u already have the drivetrain 🙂