Some may say that Ford was really pulling at the heart strings in terms of nostalgia with the Bronco. In 2021, Ford revived one of its most iconic names after a 25-year hiatus.
In 2026, the Bronco is available in seven different trims with a plethora of engine and gearbox options. While fuel economy may not be a passionate off-roader’s first priority, it is interesting to see how much its efficiency changes depending on its trim. So, which Ford Bronco 4×4 is the most efficient? We rank the Ford Bronco mpg from the lowest to the highest ratings according to the EPA. You would be surprised to see which trim actually wins…
All Ford Bronco mpg ratings are sourced directly from the EPA and the cars have been ranked in terms of their combined mpg, using city and highway mpg as a tiebreaker where necessary. All data is correct at the time of writing. We list these from least to most efficient.
8
The Baddest Ford Bronco Of Them All
15 MPG Combined
2026 Ford Bronco Raptor front 3/4Ford
2026 Ford Bronco Raptor
Engine
3.0L EcoBoost V6
Horsepower
418 hp
MPG (City/Highway/Combined)
15/16/15
Range
312 mi
Base MSRP
$79,995
Key features at a glance:
- 17-in alloy wheels with 37-inch all-terrain tires
- High-performance off-road stability suspension system 4.0
- FOX Live Valve 3.1 Internal Bypass Semi-Active Dampers
- Maximum wheel travel of 13 inches in front and 14 inches in the rear
- Raptor Black Appearance package available
To no one’s surprise, the Raptor version of an off-road-focused SUV is the last on the list of fuel efficiency, mainly due to the larger 3.0L V6. The Raptor also features massive all-terrain tires, which are great for off-the-beaten-path adventures, but not so much for efficiency. Every Bronco has all-wheel drive as standard, as well, which means the engine has to work harder to send power to all four wheels. The Raptor also has wider flared arches and sits much higher than the other trims, boasting 13.1 inches of ground clearance, which adds wind resistance. Nevertheless, it does not take away from the fact that this is the most powerful and capable Bronco; fuel economy just has to take a back seat with this one.
7
The Special Edition Broncos
17 MPG Combined
2026 Ford Bronco Stroppe Edition front 3/4Ford
2026 Ford Bronco Heritage/Stroppe 2.7L
Engine
2.7L Twin-turbo V6
Horsepower
315 hp
MPG (City/Highway/Combined)
17/17/17
Range
287-354 mi
Base MSRP
$56,715
Key features at a glance:
- 17-inch Oxford white painted wheels (Heritage trim)
- Plaid Cloth seating (Heritage trim)
- 17-inch Matte black painted alloy wheels (Stroppe trim)
- High performance off-road stability suspension 3.0 with FOX Internal Bypass Dampers (Stroppe trim)
- Sasquatch package standard (both trims)
The two special editions are next. The Heritage Edition takes inspiration from the original 1960s Bronco and its design language. Hence, you get the classic grille and two-tone paint options. You also get plaid cloth seats inside to add to the appeal. You get two engine options on the Heritage, the 2.3L I4 or the 2.7L V6. The 2.3L is more economical and is featured later in the list.
The Stroppe Edition is to commemorate Bill Stroppe, an off-road racer who modified the first generation Broncos for the Baja 1000. He is also the victor of the only outright stock 4×4 win in the event’s history. The Stroppe Edition gets a Baja-inspired livery, matte black alloy wheels and Stroppe Racing badging. Both these trims also come standard with the Sasquatch package, that adds larger 35-inch rims and higher suspension among a list of other changes that aid off-road, but are less than ideal for fuel economy.
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6
The Mid-Tier Ford Bronco
17 MPG Combined
2026 ford bronco badlands wildtrakFord Motor Company
2026 Ford Bronco Badlands Manual 2.3L
Engine
2.3L Turbo I4
Horsepower
275 hp/ 300 hp (Premium Gas)
MPG (City/Highway/Combined)
17/18/17
Range
287-354 mi
Base MSRP
$48,890
Key features at a glance:
- 17-inch wheels
- High performance off-road stability suspension system 2.0
- Bilstein position-sensitive dampers
- Electronic locking front and rear axles
- Front stabilizer bar disconnect
The Badlands trim is next, and it is the most off-road focused non-Raptor Bronco trim. It features electronic locking differentials for the front and rear axles, along with off-road-focused Bilstein dampers. The Broncos get multiple terrain modes through the G.O.A.T (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) system with Badlands and Raptor-specific modes such as the Rock Crawl and Baja modes.
5
The Entry-Level Ford Broncos
18 MPG Combined
2026 ford bronco badlands wildtrakFord Motor Company
2026 Ford Bronco Base/Big Bend/Outer Banks/Badlands/Heritage 2.3L (Sasquatch Package)
Engine
2.3L Turbo I4
Horsepower
275 hp/ 300 hp (Premium Gas)
MPG (City/Highway/Combined)
17/19/18
Range
304-374 mi
Base MSRP
$49,255
Key features at a glance:
- Removable doors and tops (all trims)
- High-performance off-road stability suspension system 1.0 (Big Bend trim)
- Body-colored painted fender flares and side-view mirrors (Outer Banks trim)
- Bilstein position-sensitive dampers (Badlands trim)
- Oxford white painted hard top (Heritage trim)
As we see on this list, the engine and gearbox combinations significantly change how efficient a Bronco trim is. However, all the 2.3L cars with an automatic and manual gearbox have the same EPA rating as long as the Sasquatch package is equipped. The Sasquatch package includes larger tires, locking front and rear differentials, a 4:7:1 final drive ratio and higher fender flares, among other upgrades.
4
The ‘Badlands’ Bronco
18 MPG Combined
2026 Ford Bronco Badlands front 3/4Ford
2026 Ford Bronco Badlands 2.3L Automatic
Engine
2.3L Turbo I4
Horsepower
275 hp/ 300 hp (Premium Gas)
MPG (City/Highway/Combined)
17/19/18
Range
304-374 mi
Base MSRP
$50,685
Key features at a glance:
- 17-inch wheels
- High performance off-road stability suspension system 2.0
- Bilstein position-sensitive dampers
- Electronic locking front and rear axles
- Front stabilizer bar disconnect
The automatic gearbox on the Badlands 2.3L adds one mpg to the combined EPA rating. It is also a little more efficient on the highway, mostly due to the gearing and the automatic being able to manage the gears with more precision. Apart from that, both cars are basically identical and are beaten by more road-focused or entry-level trims.
3
Turbo-Four Broncos With The Manual
19 MPG Combined
2026 Ford Bronco Heritage Edition front 3/4Ford
2026 Ford Bronco Base/Big Bend/Heritage 2.3L Manual
Engine
2.3L Turbo I4
Horsepower
275 hp/ 300 hp (Premium Gas)
MPG (City/Highway/Combined)
18/21/19
Range
321-395 mi
Base MSRP
$40,795
Key features at a glance:
- Removable doors and tops (all trims)
- Available Black Diamond Package (Big Bend trim)
- High-performance off-road stability suspension system 1.0 (Big Bend trim)
- Plaid Cloth seating (Heritage trim)
- Oxford white painted hard top (Heritage trim)
The cheapest Bronco trim is among the few trims left on this list. The Base trim with the manual gearbox has a MSRP of just over $40,000. This also has a high enough efficiency rating to put it on the podium of the most-efficient Bronco trims in terms of gas mileage. The Big Bend trim adds features such as the off-road suspension system and additional packages, to customize the Bronco to your heart’s content. The Heritage manual trim is the closest you can get to having an old school Bronco experience in the new chassis, as the 2.7L is only available with an automatic gearbox.
2
Turbo-Fours With The Automatic
20 MPG Combined
2026 Ford Bronco Big Bend front 3/4Ford
2026 Ford Bronco Base/Big Bend/Outer Banks/Heritage 2.3L Automatic
Engine
2.3L Turbo I4
Horsepower
275 hp/ 300 hp (Premium Gas)
MPG (City/Highway/Combined)
18/22/20
Range
339-416 mi
Base MSRP
$42,590
Key features at a glance:
- Removable doors and tops (All trims)
- High-performance off-road stability suspension system 1.0 (Big Bend Trim)
- Available Black Diamond Package (Big Bend Trim)
- Body-colored painted fender flares and side-view mirrors (Outer Banks Trim)
- Oxford white painted hard top (Heritage Trim)
Every other 2.3L automatic trim has the second most efficient Bronco gas mileage in 2026. This is due to several factors. The lower trims are lighter due to the lack of off-road focused features such as locking differentials, etc. They also feature the smaller 2.3L engine, which is on par, if not a little more efficient than the 2.7L.
1
The V6 Bronco Is The Most Efficient
20 MPG Combined
2026 Ford Bronco Outer BanksFord
2026 Ford Bronco Outer Banks 2.7L Automatic
Engine
2.7L Twin-turbo V6
Horsepower
315 hp
MPG (City/Highway/Combined)
19/21/20
Range
416 mi
Base MSRP
$51,485
Key features at a glance:
- 18-inch machined painted aluminum wheels
- Body-color painted hard top and fender flares
- Available leather trimmed seats
- Available 60th Anniversary package
- Bang & Olufsen sound system
At first glance, the most efficient Bronco in miles per gallon is a surprising one. However, since the 2.7L Outer Banks trim is the most road-focused Bronco trim, it makes sense. Yes, it gets the larger 18-inch rims, but it also gets lower-profile tires that help eke out that extra mpg on the highway. The suspension is also softer and comfort-oriented, and there is minimal off-road focused tech such as locking differentials and Bilstein dampers that not only add weight but also make the car less aerodynamic. The Outer Banks trim also does not feature any aggressive bodywork or flared arches, making the car smoother and helping its aero profile.
Nevertheless, 20 mpg being the most fuel efficient trim, shows that the Bronco is off-road focused first, economical second. If you want an SUV that can go anywhere and do not really care about fuel efficiency, even though gas prices are manic at the moment, there is a Bronco trim for you, and we are sure it will not disappoint in terms of smiles per mile.
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Sources: Ford, EPA
