---
title: "Stock 2021 Ford Broncos Beat the Rubicon Trail, But Not Without Battle Scars"
description: "You do what you've gotta do."
date: "2020-08-06"
modified: "2020-08-06"
authors:
  - name: "Peter Holderith"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/peter-holderith"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/35451/stock-2021-ford-broncos-beat-the-rubicon-trail-but-not-without-battle-scars"
categories:
  - "Ford News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Bronco"
  - "Ford"
  - "Off-Road"
  - "suv/crossover"
---

# Stock 2021 Ford Broncos Beat the Rubicon Trail, But Not Without Battle Scars

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2020/08/2021-Ford-Bronco-on-Rubicon-Trail-3.jpeg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

Off-road testing for some vehicles can be a bit silly—unless they're wheeling on a trail that actually requires real skill and capability, then what's the point? The 2021 Ford Bronco knows this. Luckily, [it doesn't cost six figures](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/34929/heres-your-first-look-at-the-brilliant-base-2021-ford-bronco-with-steelies-and-a-stick-shift>) like some 4x4s we'd rather leave unnamed, which means you won't be afraid to give the truck a beating like Ford engineers [were seen doing earlier this week on the Rubicon Trail.](<https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/first-videos-of-2021-ford-bronco-on-rubicon-trail-more-pics.3465/>) There was plenty of dirt and, yes, even dents, and the Bronco seemed to prove its off-road merit where you'd usually its competition tearing up the terra.

Of course, I'm talking about [the Wrangler Rubicon.](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/27456/2019-jeep-wrangler-rubicon-new-dad-review-the-little-big-man-of-off-road-trucks>) The Rubicon Trail is the origination of the "Trail Rated" badges you see on many Jeep's vehicles. The [new Bronco](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/34770/2021-ford-bronco-an-off-road-legend-returns-at-29995>) (did you know there was a new Bronco?) may not have one of those badges, but it seems to hold its own here.

https://youtube.com/embed/OvV-S45dAz8

The Broncos running on the trail may be pre-production models, as one of them still has some camouflage on it. The Bronco Sport is also missing from the mix here; however, both the two- and four-door Broncos are seen being tested pretty hard. It's unknown which specific packages these particular Broncos are equipped with due to their pre-production status, but we can tell by the grille and a few of the options on the trucks that they're likely Badlands models with the [Sasquatch package.](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/34858/the-2021-ford-bronco-sasquatch-package-cant-be-paired-with-a-manual-transmission>)

![message-editor%2F1596729664850-broncorubicon4.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1596729664850-broncorubicon4.jpg>)
*Via Bronco6G*

![message-editor%2F1596729683402-broncorubicon5.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1596729683402-broncorubicon5.jpg>)
*Via Bronco6G*

![message-editor%2F1596729691219-17012138\_775923006512184\_8231038013016914525\_n-jpg.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1596729691219-17012138_775923006512184_8231038013016914525_n-jpg.jpg>)
*Via Bronco6G*

Images taken by a *Bronco6G* forum admin also [show the light damage some of the vehicles sustained after their day out on the town trail.](<https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/pics-bronco-battle-scars-from-completing-rubicon-trail.3473/>) It looks like the skid plates did some...uhh...skidding, the bumpers did some bumping and there were a few scratches on the body. The trucks were also completely filthy, of course.

![message-editor%2F1596729728318-broncorubicon1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1596729728318-broncorubicon1.jpg>)
*Via Bronco6G*

![message-editor%2F1596729737811-broncorubicon2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1596729737811-broncorubicon2.jpg>)
*Via Bronco6G*

![message-editor%2F1596729748454-broncorubicon3.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1596729748454-broncorubicon3.jpg>)
*Via Bronco6G*

So if you're curious about the Bronco's off-roading capability, this is a little taste of it. It looks like all of the trucks completed the trail, so I suppose if you're ordering a new Bronco you'll have some ammo for the next time you get in a debate with your Jeep friends. And maybe Chevy can bring a [Blazer](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/26330/heres-why-gm-didnt-make-the-new-chevrolet-blazer-a-rugged-off-road-truck>) to the Rubicon Trail to try and get in on that conversation too.

Haha, just kidding.

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## Author
Peter Holderith is a former staff writer for The Drive. He enjoys covering the regular news cycle, writing reviews, and hunting down long features on obscure pieces of automotive history.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-h-5ba447192/>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/_baldtires>)