
2021 Ford Bronco residual values can be better than the Jeep Wrangler, our analysis of dealer leasing bulletins reveals. Apart from some quirks based on configuration, high residual values could enable the all-new SUV to better compete with Jeep and potentially even help offset the Bronco's awful lease rates.
At the entry-level, Ford Credit's residual value for the 2-door Bronco Base is listed at 67%, while the 4-door comes in at 72%. That's better than both the 2021 Wrangler Sport (62%) and its 4-door variant, the Wrangler Unlimited (71%). The figures are based on a 36-month lease with an allowance of 15,000 miles/year.
The Bronco with the best residual is the 4-door Base on a 24-month lease at 77%. You can actually boost that to as high as 80% when opting for Ford's often-used 10,500 mile-per-year lease option. The closest match from Jeep, a 24-month, 10,000-mile lease on the Wrangler Unlimited Sport, comes in at 77%.
High residual values often help make leases more affordable for consumers. That certainly proved to be the case with early leases on the Jeep Gladiator, which at one point offered up to an 89% residual and leases from just $143/month. For now, the Bronco appears to be a much closer match compared to the Wrangler.
There are some quirks worth knowing about. For example, the now-sold-out Bronco First Edition is listed with a 36-month, 15,000-mile residual of 58% for the 4-door. That's significantly less than the base trim (72%). Similarly, the Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon is listed at 61% versus 71% for the entry-level Sport.
Based on the figures below, you'll also notice that the 4-door has better residual values than the 2-door. That's actually something we've observed for some time now on the Wrangler. In the case of Jeep's leases, this has often made the Wrangler Unlimited a significantly better value than the standard 2-door.
Sadly, residual values alone don't tell us everything we need to know to decide if the Bronco will be good (or bad) to lease. However, considering we recently learned that lease rates exceed 6% and there are no discounts we know of, it's possible that early Bronco leases could prove to be prohibitively expensive.
Here are residual values for all versions of the Bronco. Note that these are based on a 15,000-mile lease. Opting for a 12,000-mile lease can boost these numbers by 2%, while a 10,500-mile lease will increase them by 3%.
Bronco 2-Door Residual Values
Trim | 24 months | 36 months | 39 months | 48 months |
Base | 72% | 67% | 66% | 62% |
Big Bend | 67% | 62% | 61% | 57% |
Black Diamond | 63% | 58% | 57% | 53% |
Outer Banks | 61% | 56% | 55% | 51% |
Badlands | 62% | 57% | 56% | 52% |
Wildtrak | 64% | 59% | 58% | 54% |
First Edition | 59% | 54% | 53% | 49% |
Heritage | 59% | 54% | 53% | 49% |
Bronco 4-Door Residual Values
Trim | 24 months | 36 months | 39 months | 48 months |
Base | 77% | 72% | 71% | 67% |
Big Bend | 74% | 69% | 68% | 64% |
Black Diamond | 70% | 65% | 64% | 60% |
Outer Banks | 68% | 63% | 62% | 58% |
Badlands | 67% | 62% | 61% | 57% |
Wildtrak | 68% | 63% | 62% | 58% |
First Edition | 63% | 58% | 57% | 53% |
Heritage | 64% | 59% | 58% | 54% |
Current Ford offers end on March 31, 2021.