Which Ford Bronco Trims Get a V8 Engine or Manual Transmission?
V8: none. No current Bronco trim offers one. The engines are the 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder, the 2.7L EcoBoost V6, and the Raptor's 3.0L EcoBoost V6.
Manual: four trims. The 7-speed manual with a crawler gear is offered on Base, Big Bend, Badlands and Heritage Edition, all with the 2.3L engine.
Trim by Trim
Engines and transmissions across the 2026 Bronco lineup
The manual is tied to the engine, not to the trim badge, and the 2.7L V6 is not offered on every trim either. The Base and Big Bend are 2.3L only. The Outer Banks, Badlands and Heritage Edition can take the 2.7L, which is automatic only. The Stroppe Edition comes with the 2.7L as standard.
2026 Ford Bronco
| Trim | Standard Engine | Available Engine | 7-Speed Manual | V8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 2.3L EcoBoost I4 | None, 2.3L only | Yes | No |
| Big Bend | 2.3L EcoBoost I4 | None, 2.3L only | Yes | No |
| Outer Banks | 2.3L EcoBoost I4 | 2.7L EcoBoost V6 | No | No |
| Badlands | 2.3L EcoBoost I4 | 2.7L EcoBoost V6, and included with the Wildtrak Package on the 4-door | Yes | No |
| Heritage Edition | 2.3L EcoBoost I4 | 2.7L EcoBoost V6 | Yes | No |
| Stroppe Edition | 2.7L EcoBoost V6 | Not applicable | No | No |
| Raptor | 3.0L EcoBoost V6, 418 hp | Not applicable | No | No |
Manual availability confirmed against Ford trim data and EPA test configurations in September 2026. EPA lists 2.3L manual entries for the standard 4WD, Badlands and Sasquatch configurations, and lists no manual entry for the 2.7L or the 3.0L. Confirm the build of any specific vehicle before you buy, and check EPA figures at fueleconomy.gov.
The Manual
Seven speeds, and the first one is not for the road
Ford calls it a 7-speed because there is an extra-low crawler gear sitting below the six normal ratios. On pavement you start in second and never touch first. In 4-Low, on rocks or a steep descent, that crawler gear lets you control the truck with the clutch and the throttle instead of standing on the brakes.
It costs you very little at the pump. EPA rates a 2.3L Bronco at 18 city, 22 highway and 20 combined with the 10-speed automatic, against 18, 21 and 19 with the manual. On a Badlands the gap is one mpg combined, and on a Sasquatch-equipped truck the two transmissions test identically at 18 combined.
Worth knowing before you shop: the Sasquatch Package and the manual go together. EPA lists a Sasquatch 4WD manual configuration at 17 city, 19 highway and 18 combined, the same as the automatic. Thirty-five inch tires, locking differentials front and rear, and a third pedal is one of the better combinations in the Ford lineup.
The V8 Question
The last V8 Bronco left the line in 1996
People ask this for a good reason. The full-size Bronco that ran through the eighties and into the nineties was a V8 truck, and that is the Bronco a lot of Clarksville buyers grew up with. When the nameplate came back it came back turbocharged.
What the EcoBoost engines give up in cylinder count they make back in torque, and they make it lower down. The 2.3L produces 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft on premium fuel. The 2.7L V6 makes 330 horsepower. The Raptor's 3.0L makes 418 horsepower and 440 lb-ft, which is well past what the old V8 Broncos produced.
If a V8 is the actual requirement, Ford still builds them. The F-150 offers the 5.0L Ti-VCT V8, and the F-150 Raptor R runs a 5.2L supercharged V8 rated at 720 horsepower. The Mustang GT and Dark Horse run the 5.0L Coyote.
Choosing
Which engine actually suits a week in Clarksville
Most of the Broncos we sell around here spend five days on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard and I-24 and two days somewhere more interesting. Here is the honest read on the three engines against that pattern.
- 2.3L EcoBoost, 300 hp and 325 lb-ft on premium: the volume engine and the right one for most buyers. It is the only route to the manual, and it returns the best fuel economy in the lineup at 20 mpg combined with the automatic.
- 2.7L EcoBoost V6, 330 hp: offered on the Outer Banks, Badlands and Heritage Edition, and standard on the Stroppe Edition. The pick if you tow near the 3,500-lb limit or spend real time at highway speed with a loaded truck. It is automatic only, so you are trading the third pedal for the pull.
- 3.0L EcoBoost V6, 418 hp and 440 lb-ft: Raptor only, with HOSS 4.0 suspension, FOX Live Valve dampers and 37-inch tires as standard. It is a desert-running truck that happens to be street legal, and it is more vehicle than most buyers will ever use.
Every engine drives all four wheels through a two-speed transfer case with a genuine low range, and every trim carries G.O.A.T. Modes. Nobody is buying their way into four-wheel drive on this vehicle.
Want the wider picture before you decide? Our Ford Bronco research page covers the full lineup, and Bronco vs Bronco Sport works through the two vehicles people most often mix up. If the trail is the whole point, Bronco Off-Roadeo is worth reading about too.
Related Questions
Bronco engine and transmission questions
Does the Ford Bronco come with a V8?
No. No trim of the current Ford Bronco offers a V8, and none has since the fifth-generation truck ended production in 1996. The range is the 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder, the 2.7L EcoBoost V6, and the 3.0L EcoBoost V6 that is exclusive to the Raptor at 418 horsepower.
Which Ford Bronco trims can I get with a manual transmission?
Base, Big Bend, Badlands and Heritage Edition. The manual only pairs with the 2.3L EcoBoost, which is why the V6-only Stroppe Edition and Raptor are automatic. The Outer Banks is the odd one out: it runs the 2.3L as standard, and Ford still does not offer the manual on it, because that trim is built around comfort rather than trail work.
What is the crawler gear in the Bronco's manual transmission?
It is an extra-low first gear below the six normal ratios, which is why the box is called a 7-speed. You do not use it on the road. You use it crawling over rocks or easing down a steep descent in 4-Low, where it lets you control speed with the clutch and throttle instead of riding the brakes.
Can I get the Sasquatch Package with the manual transmission?
Yes. EPA lists a Sasquatch 4WD configuration with the 7-speed manual at 17 city, 19 highway and 18 combined, identical to the automatic version. Getting 35-inch tires and locking differentials with a third pedal is one of the better combinations Ford builds.
Does the manual cost you fuel economy?
A little, and less than most people expect. EPA rates a 2.3L Bronco at 18 city, 22 highway and 20 combined with the 10-speed automatic, against 18, 21 and 19 with the manual. On the Badlands and Sasquatch configurations the gap narrows to one mpg or disappears entirely.
Which Ford does have a V8 today?
The F-150. The 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 is available across much of the range, and the F-150 Raptor R carries the 5.2L supercharged V8 at 720 horsepower, the most powerful engine Ford has put in an F-150. The Mustang also runs the 5.0L Coyote V8 in the GT and Dark Horse.
Is the 2.3L EcoBoost enough engine for a Bronco?
For almost everyone, yes. It makes 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft on premium fuel, which is more torque than the old 302 V8 ever made, and it arrives lower in the rev range. The 2.7L V6 is the upgrade if you tow near the 3,500-lb limit or want the extra pull at highway speed, and it is offered on the Outer Banks, Badlands and Heritage Edition.
Can I order a manual Bronco at Jenkins and Wynne Ford?
Yes. Manual-equipped Broncos are a small share of what any dealer stocks, so the usual route is a factory order built to your spec. Call 931-441-8041 or come by 2655 Trenton Rd and we will check current stock first, then start an order if the one you want is not on the ground.
A manual Bronco is worth ordering if that is what you want
Stock changes weekly and third pedals are always the first to go. Call us, tell us the trim and the package, and we will find one or build one.
Jenkins & Wynne Ford | 2655 Trenton Rd, Clarksville, TN 37040 | Serving Clarksville, Fort Campbell, Hopkinsville and Dickson since 1946