Blue Oval will expand its crossover SUV offer in the coming years thanks to the comeback of the Bronco. However, the iconic off-roader isn’t going to be everything that the famous automobile company has in mind. Before the Wrangler’s biggest nightmare arrive, the North American public will meet one still unnamed model which is currently known as the 2021 Ford Baby Bronco. The boxy-shaped compact crossover that will be called either Scout or Adventurer will reportedly arrive a few months before the bigger body-on-frame Bronco.
Yes, the Baby Bronco will hit dealerships in the first half of the next year, while the Bronco should not be available before next fall.
Based on spy shots, you might get an impression that these two have plenty of mutual things, but that won’t be the case at all. Moreover, aside from the evident boxy design, the regular and Baby Bronco won’t have anything else in common.
It’s quite simple: the regular off-roader will be underpinned by the T6 architecture for pickup trucks, while the smaller boxy SUV isn’t going to be as capable on rough terrains, simply, since it’s going to share the C2 unibody platform with the Escape crossover. Still, we expect just slightly better off-road kit which will help the Baby Bronco to cope with the Jeep Renegade.
Even though the camouflage still hides the details of the design, we know what to expect beneath. That’s largely thanks to a leaked photo from last November. Judging by the image that came up after a dealer presentation, the 2021 Ford Baby Bronco will largely resemble the legendary Bronco from the 1960s. There’s a pair of round lights in the front which are LED-treated of course, as well as quite impressive ground clearance. The roof seems to be rather flat and fitted with rails, while the rear end appears to be coupled with oversized taillights.
Although it looks like a perfect machine for a rough-terrain drive, the 2021 Baby Bronco won’t essentially be as capable as it looks like. Moreover, the entry-point model will use the front-wheel drive, while all-wheel-drive comes as a more expensive option.
Performance-wise, the compact crossover which will most probably be named the 2021 Ford Adventurer will start its journey with a 180-hp 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine. This one will most probably start at around $23,000.
More expensive Baby Bronco will get more power of course. As far as we’ve heard, the automaker will offer a 250-hp 2-liter turbo which will cost around $30K, as well as a 200-hp hybrid.
