Stick with It: Manual transmission popular on Bronco

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In the face of changing road habits and overall customer tastes, the crew at Driving is always glad to learn of manual transmission availability. According to Ford, a large percentage of those ponying up for a new Bronco are selecting the row-yer-own gearbox.

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Just how many? About 25 per cent, according to Bronco Brand Chief, Mark Grueber, in an interview with the Blue Oval folks at Ford Authority . That’s a staggering number, especially considering its main rival, the Jeep Wrangler, is rumoured to have a stickshift take rate of somewhere between 10 and 20 per cent. There’s a case to be made that the majority of first-in-line Bronco owners are hardcore off-road gearheads, a segment of the population more likely to spec a manual when compared with Jane and Joe Public. Still, that’s a heady number which requires parsing rather than parroting.

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Using numbers widely cited by Ford, roughly two-thirds of the 190,000 Bronco reservations were converted into actual orders. Assuming the 25 per cent figure applies to the total number of Bronco SUVs ordered (the exact quote from FA is “2021 Ford Bronco owners”, so this is assumption is logical), then about 31,250 Bronco trucks were spec’d with a stick.

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Here’s the kicker: a manual is not available on every Bronco. Not even close, in fact. It’s not able to be paired with the V6 nor, until next year, the popular Sasquatch package. Ford has also stated that 60 per cent of orders have been for six-pot engines, meaning that about 50,000 orders are for four bangers — the only mill able to be paired with a manual. Some back-of-napkin math with those numbers suggest a whopping 62.5 per cent of four cylinder Bronco SUVs have the seven-speed stick. That’s an enormous number on which we are seeking some clarity.

While its rollout hasn’t exactly been billiard table smooth, the new Bronco has received very positive reviews from both automotive press and new owners. The company has already announced plans for the 2022 model year, including jazzy new colours and a raft of accessories .