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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFord’s full-size Bronco spans six generations: five from its 1966 debut through the end of production in 1996, then a return for the 2021 model year. The clearest documented milestones range from early changes in size and safety equipment to the modern Bronco’s four-door body style and the 2022 Bronco Raptor. This is a generation-by-generation overview with selected model-year updates—not a complete equipment ledger for every year or market.
Ford Bronco generations at a glance
The years below are generation spans, not a claim that every trim or feature was offered throughout each span. Ford’s historical overview establishes the five original generations and their broad boundaries; it gives selected changes rather than a specification-by-specification account of every model year.
| Generation | Model years | Documented milestones |
|---|---|---|
| First | 1966–1973 | Introduced as an off-road vehicle intended to combine capability with civilian comfort and versatility. |
| Second | 1978–1979 | Ford identifies the generation and years, but the historical account reviewed here does not detail its changes. |
| Third | 1980–1986 | Part of the Bronco’s broader evolution toward a smaller, lighter vehicle; Ford also notes independent front suspension within that evolution, without assigning its introduction to a specific year in the account. |
| Fourth | 1987–1991 | More aerodynamic front design, electronic fuel injection and rear anti-lock brakes; a five-speed manual was offered after 1988. |
| Fifth | 1992–1996 | Driver-side airbags and three-point seat belts; in 1994, air-conditioning refrigerant without CFCs. |
| Sixth | 2021–present | Returned in two-door and, for the first time, four-door full-size forms. Selected later milestones include the Bronco Raptor and Heritage editions. |
What changed in each Bronco generation?
First generation (1966–1973): the original off-road Bronco
Ford traces the Bronco to a goal of building an off-road vehicle that could also be comfortable and versatile for civilian use. Ford says its development team researched Jeep owners’ experiences. The historical overview establishes the original generation’s years, but does not provide a complete year-by-year list of engines, equipment or trim changes.
Second generation (1978–1979): a short documented span
Ford’s history identifies a second generation covering 1978 and 1979. The material available for this overview does not establish a reliable detailed change list for those two model years, so specific mechanical or equipment changes should not be inferred from the generation dates alone.
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Third generation (1980–1986): smaller and lighter over time
Ford describes the original Bronco’s overall evolution as becoming smaller and lighter, and mentions the introduction of independent front suspension as part of that broader development. Its account does not pin the suspension change to a particular model year, so it is more accurate to treat it as a generation-era milestone than to assign it to a precise year.
Fourth generation (1987–1991): design and equipment updates
Ford highlights a more aerodynamic front design, electronic fuel injection and rear anti-lock brakes for this generation. It also says five-speed manual transmissions were offered after 1988; that wording does not establish that every fourth-generation Bronco had one.
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Fifth generation (1992–1996): safety changes and the end of production
Ford identifies driver-side airbags and three-point seat belts as features of this generation. In 1994, the Bronco received air-conditioning refrigerant without CFCs. Ford says the last Bronco left the Michigan assembly line on June 12, 1996, ending the original production run.
Sixth generation (2021–present): the Bronco returns
Ford brought back the full-size Bronco for 2021 in two-door and four-door configurations; the four-door was a first for the full-size model. Ford introduced Bronco Sport alongside it as a related but separate vehicle, not as another Bronco generation. The launch announcement listed an available seven-speed manual transmission and available 35-inch tires. Those are launch-era availability claims, not statements that every configuration received that equipment.
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Selected updates by modern model year
These are milestones supported by Ford announcements and model-year materials, not a complete list of annual changes. Availability and trim names can vary by country.
2022: Bronco Raptor arrives
Ford’s 2022 materials describe the Bronco Raptor as a distinct high-performance off-road version with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6, Raptor HOSS 4.0 suspension and standard 37-inch all-terrain tires. The 2022 order guide also lists a 12-inch digital cluster and storage bags for front-row top panels. The listed equipment should not be generalized to every Bronco trim.
2023: Heritage editions look back to 1966
Ford announced Bronco Heritage and Heritage Limited editions for the Bronco family. Their styling references the 1966 original, including a white roof, grille and wheels. These editions are a design-focused link to the first generation rather than a new generation of vehicle.
2024: available information does not establish a full update list
Ford’s material for a 2024 Bronco Raptor Code Orange package describes new Raptor options. That information is not enough to establish all changes for the 2024 Bronco lineup, and it should not be treated as the sole update for that model year.
2025 in Argentina: a market-specific Badlands V6 update
Ford Argentina announced a Badlands V6 update that replaced Wildtrak in that market. The announced version retains the 2.7-liter V6 and Sasquatch package, and adds a Rock drive mode, a disconnecting front stabilizer bar, a 12-inch digital cluster and B&O audio. This is a regional announcement; it does not establish the U.S. lineup or equipment in other countries.
2026: no comprehensive U.S. change list established here
The official materials covered for this overview do not establish a comprehensive 2026 U.S. model-year update list. A complete account of that year’s changes requires current North American order guides or model-year releases.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare Broncos across years
Generation labels are useful for identifying broad redesign eras, but they do not answer every buying or restoration question. For a particular vehicle, compare its model year, body configuration, engine and transmission, off-road hardware, safety equipment, cabin technology, trim and market. A feature documented for one trim, launch announcement or country is not evidence that it was standard across the whole generation.
- Start with the generation and model year: use the six-generation timeline to narrow down the vehicle, then verify year-specific details.
- Check the configuration: distinguish two-door from four-door models and the full-size Bronco from Bronco Sport.
- Verify the exact equipment: items such as tire size, suspension, transmission and technology may be optional or trim-specific.
- Account for geography: regional announcements, including Ford Argentina’s 2025 update, should not be applied to another country’s lineup without confirmation.
Ford’s historical overview reports 1,148,926 Broncos produced across the first 31 years; that figure is Ford Argentina’s 2021 framing. It describes the original production era, not the total including the sixth-generation revival.
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