Ford’s Next-Gen Bronco Breaks Every Rule in the SUV Playbook
Ford is cooking up something big and this next-gen Bronco isn’t just another refresh. Early hints suggest a design that steps far outside the usual box, blending futuristic engineering with the Bronco’s rugged DNA. From unexpected styling cues to major tech and powertrain changes, this could be the most unconventional Bronco ever made. Here’s what Ford is secretly shaping behind the scenes.
Jeep Wrangler
You can’t talk Bronco without bringing up the Wrangler. Around $35,000 on the low end, this thing’s been living rent-free in the off-road crowd’s hearts forever. Every time Ford updates the Bronco, you know Jeep’s engineers are somewhere quietly sharpening their tools like, “Oh, really?” The Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid’s actually funit does that whole off-road-silent thing. I mean, electric torque and mud? Why not. Still, it’s rugged, noisy, and kinda uncomfortable which ironically, is part of its charm.
Toyota 4Runner
Ah, the legend that refuses to die. Around $41,000, and it still feels like it was built out of nostalgia and stubbornness. Every time I drive one, I think, “Man, how is this thing still so popular?” Then you take it off-road and get it. It’s not fast, not fancy, just tough. If the new Bronco really “defies convention,” it might try to balance that same ruggedness with modern comfort something Toyota has been way too chill about updating.
Land Rover Defender
The Defender’s what you buy when you’ve got, like, $57,000 minimum and an appreciation for mud and luxury. It’s all posh and poshly dirty if that makes sense? I love it, but I also feel like it’s a little too beautiful to truly beat up in the dirt. Not gonna lie, though if Ford adds even half that vibe to the Bronco, it might pull a new kind of buyer someone who wants adventure but still wants their interior to smell like vegan leather and screen glow.
Ford Bronco Raptor
Okay, okay, technically it’s another Bronco, but c’mon. Around $90,000 and it’s basically a land missile on knobby tires. It’s absurd in the best way. The sound, the stance, the way it jumps — like Ford’s engineers lost their minds on purpose. If this new “different” Bronco channels even a fraction of that energy into something more road-focused or hybrid-y, I think they might have a killer combo.
Chevrolet Blazer EV
The Blazer’s gone full electric, and around $54,000 for the sporty trims, it looks kinda cool, to be fair. But it’s not the old-school rugged SUV people think of. More like the chic gym-trainer version of a Bronco. Still, if Ford’s next Bronco ends up with electric guts, I bet they’re aiming right at this only, with actual off-road credibility and personality. You know, less “mall” and more “mountain.”
Rivian R1S
Okay, this is like the dream EV SUV around $90,000, yeah, but my god, it’s like a spaceship for grown-up adventurers. I’ve seen these things crawl over rocks like they’re made of rubber, and the silence makes it feel cinematic. If Ford’s “new” Bronco ends up sharing any DNA with this level of engineering… geez, it’s gonna be special. Price will obviously be less, but maybe the vibe’s there.
GMC Hummer EV SUV
This one’s bonkers. About $100,000, give or take. It’s not really an SUV more like a flex. It’s stupid fast for its size, it crab-walks, it lights up like an arcade machine. It’s awesome and ridiculous. The new Bronco might chase some of that electric off-roading trend, but in a more… practical size? I mean, people want capability, but also something they can actually fit in a parking space.
Subaru Forester Wilderness
Hear me out it’s not a direct rival, but around $36,000, this thing nails the “weekend adventure energy” vibe that Ford’s been going for with the Bronco. Smaller, but scrappy. Subaru buyers are loyal, and if Ford’s new Bronco gets smaller, hybrid, or just more efficient, it might poach some of that outdoorsy choir. Especially if it looks cooler which, let’s be honest, it will.
Tesla Cybertruck
Look, it’s weird. It’s angular. It’s everywhere. Around $61,000, and honestly, I still don’t know if I like it or if my brain’s just given up trying to process it. But it does defy convention, right? Maybe that’s what Ford’s hinting at a Bronco that breaks aesthetic traditions. Tesla proved that weird sells. Ford might be thinking, “Okay, but what if weird also rocks climbs?”
Ford Ranger Raptor
You gotta mention the Ranger Raptor, right? Around $55,000 and it feels like Ford’s mid-size sweet spot. Tons of power, killer suspension, and it bridges that gap between family truck and off-road toy. Honestly, if they based the “new” Bronco on this platform maybe with some hybrid tech sprinkled in I’d be all over it. Feels like the smarter play than reinventing it from scratch.
