Back to Basics: the 2026 Bronco Base Makes Simplicity Its Whole Point

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Ford has brought the Bronco Base back for the 2026 model year. Once again it is the cheapest version of the off-roader, and the easiest way to spot it is the front end: the entry-level Bronco gets just one grille. It is a black molded-in-color unit with white Bronco lettering. It pairs with the rest of the Base car's no-frills cues: black bumpers, door handles and fender flares made from the same unpainted plastic.

There is no charge for that grille — it is standard kit. Even if you order the Sasquatch package, the nose stays the same. For $8,460 that package adds the Advanced 4X4 system with automatic on-demand engagement, 17-inch matte-black wheels, extra ground clearance, position-sensitive Bilstein shocks and 35-inch LT315/70R17 Rugged-Terrain tires. But the grille is unchanged.

Under the hood the Bronco Base runs a 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost I4 making 300 hp and 441 Nm. A 7-speed manual is standard, while a 10-speed automatic is available for $1,795.

The 2026 Bronco lineup picked up other changes too. Ford trimmed most of the dual-top options, replacing them with a new solution, and prepared a 60th Anniversary package to mark the model's milestone. It includes A-pillar grab handles, which can also be ordered separately for every 2026 Bronco. Fitting them to older Broncos, however, is not possible.

Pricing for the 2026 Ford Bronco Base starts at $40,495 before destination. That is slightly more than the comparable version last year, but the return of the Base matters in its own right: buyers once again have a simpler way into the Bronco family.

The Bronco Base does not try to look richer than it is. A black grille, unpainted plastic, a manual gearbox as standard and the option to add Sasquatch — it is almost the perfect formula for anyone who cares more about off-road substance than decorative trim.