The China-only Ford Bronco EREV looks like a really promising start
- The Ford Bronco New Energy is a mid-size electrified crossover produced by JMC-Ford specifically for China.
- It will be available in full EV and EREV (with gas engine) variants.
- The Bronco New Energy will start at $32,500 for the base EREV model in China.
Ford is an odd duck these days. Amid a huge show of canceling the F-150 Lightning and other future electric vehicles, it released an electrified version of one of its most popular namesakes — but only in China.
The Bronco New Energy is set to go head-to-head with some of the biggest sellers from BYD, Nio, Jetour and more, vying for a surprisingly large number of Chinese buyers who have discovered a love for the outdoors and the cars that will get them there.
First impressions of the (so far) China-only electrified Bronco are starting to roll in from the Chinese media, and things are looking promising. YouTube Channel Telescope got their hands on one, and their impressions are from a manufacturer that is finally trying to take China seriously.
For starters, you should know that the Bronco New Energy is available as a conventional electric SUV as well as an extended-range EV (EREV) with a gas generator that powers the battery. The latter is already a popular powertrain in China and looks poised to take off elsewhere. Ford says the next F-150 Lightning will be an EREV with a 700-mile range.
This Bronco is kind of like a Ford product, but not quite. Made in China, much of its mechanical bits come from Ford’s Chinese joint venture partner, Jiangling Motors, or JMC. For many markets outside of the US and Europe, JMC makes some small crossovers with Ford badging and styling, but mostly with JMC mechanicals. It’s designed to look very similar to the full-bodied Bronco and Bronco Sport available in the States, but shares little with the Fords we have here.
Energy is provided by either a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a 43.7kWh battery in the EREV version, or only a roughly 105kWh battery in the full-size EV model. Whatever you choose, you get electric motors that spin both axles. For the Telescope video, the channel had access to the EREV model.
Telescope, whose real name is Sean Zhou, is generally positive about the Bronco New Energy’s ergonomics and features, especially its camper-style roof that can be raised. “I would buy this car just for this roof option; it’s so interesting, so Ford,” he said. Features like this facilitate a trend in China where buyers (especially young people) are camping their cars, even if just for a weekend getaway.
Zhou’s time with the Bronco EREV included some off-road stunts. Zhou was a little less positive about this, partly because his time started with the battery at a low state of charge. This meant that the Bronco’s engine was constantly on, trying to keep the battery charged and the vehicle moving. The performance of the Bronco EREV is therefore limited to the speed at which it can sustain the car’s demand for electricity. And a 150-horsepower engine simply can’t deliver as much power as the car’s 415-horsepower dual electric motor.
Zhou also felt disappointed with the Bronco EREV’s refinement when driving on regular roads. In EV mode the crossover is generally good, but in extended range mode the noise, vibration and harshness are much more pronounced than in other models.
“If you’ve been exposed to cars like Li Auto’s range of extended SUVs… I find them classy and unbeatable, but this (Bronco EREV) is a far cry from that,” he said. Still, he remained positive. The Li Auto gas engine may be almost unnoticeable, but the Bronco EREV isn’t bad.
Overall, Zhou thinks the Bronco is a good car — specifically for us Americans. He sees the Bronco EREV as a stepping stone for people who are fed up with the standard Bronco (and big trucks) but don’t like the fuel bills. This car could be the answer, especially since Ford believes its customers aren’t so willing to go all-electric.
That’s a nice thought, but I think that assumes the Bronco EREV is coming here. Since this is a car largely developed by Ford’s Chinese joint venture partner, it would be difficult to comply with the new rules for Chinese software and hardware. We know Ford wants to give us an EREV soon, but it probably won’t be this one.
On the other hand, the Bronco New Energy shows that Ford is actively trying something new in China. Rather than top global EV models that don’t resonate like the Mustang Mach-E, it starts from scratch and retains some of the signature things the brand is known for. From what I gathered from Zhou’s video, it looks like this electrified Bronco has a fighting chance in the highly competitive Chinese market.
And given how electric car plans have been lately, that’s a good thing for Ford.
Contact the author: kevin.williams@insideevs.com