Is the Ford Bronco built on the Ranger chassis?
Yes, the Ford Bronco is built on the same chassis as the Ford Ranger mid-size pickup truck. The Bronco shares a significant amount of its underpinnings and engineering with the Ranger, though the two vehicles have distinct body styles and designs.
Detailed Explanation
The Ford Bronco is the latest iteration of the iconic off-road SUV that was first introduced in 1966. After a 25-year hiatus, the Bronco nameplate was revived in 2021 as an all-new model built on the same platform as the Ford Ranger. This means the Bronco and Ranger have a shared chassis, suspension components, and many other mechanical systems.
The decision to base the new Bronco on the Ranger platform was a strategic one by Ford. By leveraging the existing Ranger architecture, the automaker was able to quickly and cost-effectively develop the Bronco as a more rugged, off-road-focused companion to the Ranger pickup. This allowed Ford to bring the Bronco back to market without having to invest in an entirely new vehicle platform from scratch.
Key Similarities and Differences
- The Bronco and Ranger share the same ladder-frame chassis and suspension design
- Both vehicles use the same range of turbocharged EcoBoost engines, including a 2.3L four-cylinder and 2.7L V6
- The Bronco has a more squared-off, boxy SUV body style compared to the Ranger's pickup truck design
- The Bronco is available in both two-door and four-door configurations, while the Ranger is only offered as a four-door crew cab
- The Bronco has more off-road-focused features and capabilities, such as higher ground clearance, locking differentials, and available 35-inch tires
By sharing the Ranger's underlying architecture, the Bronco benefits from the pickup's proven reliability and capability. At the same time, the Bronco's unique styling and off-road enhancements help differentiate it as a distinct model in Ford's lineup.
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 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 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 chassis is the Ford Bronco built on?
The modern Ford Bronco is built on the body-on-frame T6 platform, which is shared with the Ford Ranger. In contrast, the Bronco Sport uses a unibody C2 platform shared with the Ford Escape and Ford Maverick.
Modern Ford Bronco
- Platform: Body-on-frame T6
- Shared with: Ford Ranger and Ford Everest
- Characteristics: This traditional truck-based chassis provides rugged capability for serious off-roading.
Ford Bronco Sport
- Platform: Unibody C2
- Shared with: Ford Escape and Ford Maverick
- Characteristics: This platform is more car-like, offering better handling and ride comfort for everyday driving.
