The Ford Bronco family has grown to three with the addition of a new electric or range-extender plug-in hybrid 'New Energy' model for China, joining the existing Bronco and Bronco Sport available overseas since 2021.
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The 2026 Ford Bronco New Energy off-road SUV has debuted in China as the third member of the reborn family – but it is unclear if sales outside of the world's largest new-car market are planned.
Full-electric or range-extender plug-in hybrid power will be standard in the Bronco New Energy, and it will be sold in Chinese Ford showrooms alongside the Ranger-based Bronco, which features a non-hybrid 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.
A Ford Australia spokesperson told Drive there is "no news" to share about potential exports of the Bronco New Energy to other markets, such as Australia.
The electric Bronco New Energy reportedly features a 105.4kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery pack to deliver a Chinese Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC) driving range of 650 kilometres.
Meanwhile, the range-extender plug-in hybrid includes a 43.7kWh battery with an electric-only range rating of 220km and combined range of 1220km.
While it appears to be based on a unibody construction like the Focus and Escape-based Bronco Sport, the Bronco New Energy is larger – measuring five metres long – and includes a rear-mounted spare wheel similar to the ladder-frame model.
Autohome reports the Bronco New Energy is expected to be positioned between 300,000 and 400,000 yuan ($AU64,000 and $86,000), and it will rival domestic-market models such as the Jetour Shanhai.
The Shanhai, also known as the Jetour Traveller, is a similarly sized and shaped plug-in hybrid vehicle from the Chery sub-brand 'highly likely' for Australia – while other boxy large SUV rivals from China include the GWM Tank 500, Denza B5 (Fangchengbao Bao 5), and Deepal G318.
The New Energy measures 5025mm long, 1960mm wide and 1815 to 1825mm tall with a 2950mm wheelbase – 214mm longer, 32mm wider and 29mm lower than a five-door Bronco with an identical wheelbase.
Outside the new Chinese model, the Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport do not feature any form of electrification.
In 2024, Ford global CEO Jim Farley hinted the "big Bronco will do right-hand drive" to compete with Land Rover, but there has been no official confirmation from the brand.
The Ford Ranger, which uses the same T6 ladder-frame platform as the petrol-only Bronco and Bronco Raptor, is Australia's best-selling vehicle.
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Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
