Is the Bronco on the same platform as the Ranger?
No. The Bronco is not built on the Ranger’s chassis. Ford assigns the Ranger to its global midsize pickup platform, while the Bronco uses a dedicated off-road–focused, body-on-frame platform designed specifically for the Bronco lineup.
Platform families explained
Ford organizes its vehicles around platform families that support different body styles and capabilities. Here’s how the Ranger and Bronco differ in that approach.
- Ranger: built on Ford's global midsize pickup platform, a chassis shared with related trucks in various markets (including Everest in some regions and BT-50 in others).
- Bronco: uses a dedicated, off-road–focused body-on-frame platform created specifically for the Bronco lineup; it is not the same chassis as the Ranger.
- Engines and transmissions: both vehicles have relied on Ford EcoBoost engines and modern automatic transmissions, though the exact powertrains depend on market and trim.
In practice, that separation matters for how each vehicle handles rugged terrain, payload, and overall ride dynamics. The Bronco earns its off-road identity from its specialized chassis, while the Ranger prioritizes versatility for work, towing, and daily driving on a midsize truck platform.
Shared components and capabilities
Despite the distinct platforms, Ford has aimed to harmonize certain components across both models to streamline production and aftermarket support. Highlights include:
- Engine options: both have featured turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engines.
- Transmission: both lineups commonly use advanced automatic transmissions, including 10-speed units in many configurations.
- Electronic systems: traction management, stability programs, and off-road assist technologies appear across both vehicles.
These shared elements help Ford offer familiar performance characteristics and equipment across a model range, even as the underlying platforms diverge to suit different missions—off-road SUV versus midsize pickup.
Bottom line for buyers
Platform choice influences capability, maintenance considerations, and versatility. The Bronco’s dedicated off-road chassis is optimized for crawl ratios, approach/departure angles, and axle configurations that appeal to trail enthusiasts. The Ranger’s global midsize pickup platform, by contrast, emphasizes payload, towing, and practical daily use, with a chassis tuned for comfort and durability across a broad range of markets and duties.
Summary: Ford has not built the Bronco on the same platform as the Ranger. While they share some powertrains and electronics, their frames and engineering strategies are distinct, reflecting different primary missions—Bronco as an off-road–focused SUV and Ranger as a versatile global midsize pickup.
In context, buyers should consider the platform implications when evaluating capabilities, potential aftermarket options, and regional availability. Checking the latest official specifications for your market is advised to confirm exact platform designations and configurations.
Is the Ford Bronco the same as the Ranger?
Besides the obvious difference of the Bronco being an SUV and the Ranger being a midsize pickup truck, there are a few other unique characteristics of each. The 2025 Ford Bronco is either a two-door SUV with seating for four or a four-door SUV with seating for five, depending on the model and configuration chosen.
What platform is the Ford Bronco based on?
The Ford Bronco has two main platforms: the modern, non-sport Bronco uses a body-on-frame platform shared with the Ford Ranger, while the Bronco Sport uses Ford's unibody C2 platform shared with the Ford Escape and Ford Maverick. This means the two vehicles have different construction methods, with the standard Bronco being a more rugged, truck-based SUV and the Bronco Sport being a more car-like crossover with better on-road manners.
Standard Bronco
- Construction: Body-on-frame
- Shared platform: Shares its chassis with the Ford Ranger
- Characteristics: Rugged, durable, and built for serious off-roading due to its truck-based foundation
Bronco Sport
- Construction: Unibody
- Shared platform: Uses the Ford C2 platform, which is also the foundation for the Ford Escape and Ford Maverick
- Characteristics: More car-like in its ride and handling, making it easier to maneuver in cities and suburban driving
Is the Bronco built on the Ranger platform?
The all-new Ford Bronco SUV rides on a modified version of the same platform used to create the Ford Ranger midsize truck, but the similarities pretty much end there.
What platform is the Ford Ranger built on?
The Ford Ranger's platform is called the T6 platform, which is a body-on-frame chassis designed for mid-size trucks and SUVs like the Ranger, Everest, and the Volkswagen Amarok. The platform has been updated over the years, with the second generation, known as the "T6.2," debuting for the 2022 model year and also supporting the latest Bronco. The T6 platform is known for its rugged capability and versatility, underpinning vehicles from work-ready models to high-performance variants like the Ranger Raptor.
Key characteristics
- Body-on-frame construction: This is a traditional truck design where the body is built separately from the chassis, offering strength and durability.
- Engine layout: It uses a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive layout.
- Suspension: It features a double wishbone front suspension and a leaf spring rear suspension, which is common for trucks and SUVs in its class.
- Shared with other vehicles: The T6 platform is shared with the Ford Everest SUV and, since 2022, the second-generation Volkswagen Amarok.
- Long-term use: Ford has indicated that the T6 platform will remain in production for the foreseeable future, with plans for future generations of the Ranger to continue using it.
This video shows the installation of a roof platform on a Ford Ranger: 56sWork Live PlayYouTube · Sep 12, 2025
Platform evolution
- Original T6 (P375): The first generation launched in 2011, developed by Ford Australia, and was not initially sold in the U.S.
- T6.2 (P703): The second generation was introduced in late 2021 for the 2022 model year, featuring a modernized body and a revised T6 platform. This version also underpins the latest generation of the Ford Bronco.
- Future generations: The T6 platform is expected to continue to be used for future Ranger and Bronco models.
