You Can Finally Get Into a Ford Bronco for Under $40K Again

The return of the base trim can save buyers $1,600 over last year's cheapest model, but those early days of the $30K Bronco are long gone.
Ford

When Ford revived the Bronco in 2021, it came with an eye-catching price tag of under $30,000 including destination. However, Ford’s ability to bait customers with a $29,995 advertised price quickly disappeared, as the entry-level trim repeatedly leaped by a few thousand over subsequent years until the 2024 Bronco started at no less than $41,525. Thankfully, the Base trim is back for 2025, opening the door to off-road fun under $40K—if only barely.

The two-door Bronco base is advertised for $37,995 before Ford’s $1,895 destination fee, which takes MSRP to $39,890. Strangely, building a 2025 vehicle on the automaker’s website tacks on an acquisition fee beyond that, though that would only apply to leases. By the way, that’s for an SUV with standard four-wheel drive and a seven-speed manual transmission.

The roughly $10K price increase since the Bronco first came on the scene in 2020 might sting, though it’s worth highlighting that the SUV has better standard equipment now, like a 12-inch digital gauge cluster. For that $39,890 sticker, you get three no-cost color options—black, white, or gray—4.46 axles, an open rear diff, and a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Today’s Bronc is also a bit more comfortable than before, thanks to rear climate vents on four-door versions and additional sound insulation to make the cabin quieter.

Ford's Factory Matte Clear Film on a 2022 model-year Bronco Big Bend as an example, next to a regular Bronco without the film applied.
Ford’s Factory Matte Clear Film on a 2022 model-year Bronco Big Bend as an example, next to a regular Bronco without the film applied. Ford

Ford also added its Factory Matte Clear Film wrap to the Bronco’s options list. It provides a matte finish to any paint color you choose, while also doubling as a paint-protection film. It’s a compelling option that will help your Bronco look edgier and stay cleaner after playing in the mud.

Comparatively, you can get a two-door Jeep Wrangler with a manual transmission, four-wheel drive, and a 3.6-liter V6 for $33,990. However, the Bronco is a bit bigger, offers more interior space, and is more refined on-road than the Jeep. So if you’re interested in a back-to-basics off-roader that isn’t too compromised for regular commuting, the new Bronco Base is the cheapest the model’s been in two years.

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Nico DeMattia

Staff Writer

Nico DeMattia is a staff writer at The Drive. He started writing about cars on his own blog to express his opinions when no one else would publish them back in 2015, and eventually turned it into a full-time career.