Which Drivetrain to choose

[MNBigfoot]

A manual and a four banger in a new Bronco, no thank you, that would've been a deal breaker.

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[MillerAndCheeto]

I drove manual vehicles for many many years. They can be fun. But now that I'm older, I couldn't imagine driving a manual transmission again.

Also consider that with a manual transmission any amount of stop-and-go traffic is brutal. So if you DD the bronco and it's not mostly highway I'd steer clear. I still have nightmares of driving my '94 Cavalier manual in rush hour. Absolutely horrendous. Would have loved a manual transmission but couldn't afford one of those at the time.

 

[AZ_Liberty]

I'm in the "no manual, no Bronco" club. If I couldn't get a manual on the Bronco I'd have bought a stupid Taco, and I hate Toyotas. (I just hate automatics more)

 

[BroncoAZ]

This manual transmission is the easiest I've ever driven and would be great to learn on. Even stalling it is no big deal as it simply restarts when you put the clutch in. This may be your last chance to own a manual, so if you have an actual interest I would do it.

I agree, the manual in the Bronco is probably the easiest to drive manual I’ve ever owned. Stall it and it automatically restarts, don’t give it enough throttle it adds throttle, roll up a driveway slow enough most manuals would stall it adds throttle, etc. I took one of my coworkers for a spin in mine the other day, I missed C and put it in second gear and let the clutch out with no throttle, it did stall but it almost got going.

I was in the “no manual, no Bronco” club as well. I do drive in a fair amount of stop and go traffic, crawler gear can be very useful there. I used to commute in Phoenix traffic in a Passat TDI 6MT, I never hated the manual in traffic.

As for the power on the 2.3L, there is no lack of power. I did a full throttle third gear pull from 30-80 with my coworker, once it was in boost it pulled well and still had more to go when I backed out of it. I’m also beating the 17 mpg from the window sticker, hand calced on the last tank was 18.25 mpg.

 

[JT58Bronc]

A manual in the 2 door and if it base will be fun to drive. If you plan on keeping it base, including the stock and "smaller" tires, the 2.3 and 7 speed will be fine. You can learn to drive manual BUT find a good teacher. I find that even though everyone days they can drive a manual, there is debate on how to drive it properly. I also feel that if MPG is a concern the one trim to get the best MPG if you really drive it properly is the base, stock tires, 2.3 and 7 speed manual. I have read where some get 28-30 on the highway- and I believe it.

If you elect to go with larger tires on the base, I would go with the the 2.7. Or go with Base and Sasquatch- which is what I have- with the 2.7- and love it.

 

[BluebroncoNC]

The Bronco manual two door I drove shifted better than my Focus RS. I enjoyed driving the Bronco in standard form. That being said I was staring down right shoulder rotator cuff surgery. Therefore I went Automatic. Now that I'm in the middle of rehab... hmmm.

 

[extra_prolific]

Easy. No manual, no Bronco.

 

[mikec426]

I recommend the 4x4 drivetrain

 

[RoLyMa27]

I ordered a base 2 door with the 2.7 in February’22. I’m pretty sure I’ll have to reorder in August but I’m not sure if I should keep the 2.7 or go for the 6speed manual. I’ve never driven a manual transmission before but after watching videos on it it seems so fun. Should I keep the 2.7 for the extra power or go manual?

If you commute in stop and go traffic you're not going to like a manual. If this is a second "weekend" type vehicle then by all means get the manual. It is by far the best shifting MT I have ever owned. My wife and I argue over who gets to drive!

 

[BlueBronco]

I’ve never driven a manual transmission before but after watching videos on it it seems so fun. Should I keep the 2.7 for the extra power or go manual?

Maybe learn to drive one first before ordering one?

And ask yourself what your Bronco is truly going to be used for? Daily driver? Weekend fun vehicle? Dedicated off-roader?

Might be best to buy an old beater manual to learn on and not a $40k vehicle and having to replace the clutch in a few months. You might like driving it around on the weekend but maybe not so much when sitting in LA traffic. There is also a learning curve for off-roading a manual. Learn to drive one first before making that big of a decision.

 

[RoLyMa27]

has a better center console setup

I concur my fellow East Texan, except for the center console part! The MT console setup is far superior to the AT console!

 

[F150rubyred]

The Bronco manual two door I drove shifted better than my Focus RS. I enjoyed driving the Bronco in standard form. That being said I was staring down right shoulder rotator cuff surgery. Therefore I went Automatic. Now that I'm in the middle of rehab... hmmm.

Good luck with the shoulder I hear that sucks!

To OP I always go with the bigger motor and so I am waiting on the 2.7 automatic.
I had a chance to buy a Black Diamond with 2.3 automatic and it has exceeded my expectations. I like to shift gears and love it driving my wifes Mustang GT but you cannot go wrong with the automatic in the Bronco!

 

[Joez60421]

I ordered a base 2 door with the 2.7 in February’22. I’m pretty sure I’ll have to reorder in August but I’m not sure if I should keep the 2.7 or go for the 6speed manual. I’ve never driven a manual transmission before but after watching videos on it it seems so fun. Should I keep the 2.7 for the extra power or go manual?

We have a 2 door Badlands with the 2.3 and manual. Absolutely love the power train combo. Especially with the 4.70 gears in the diffs with the 33's, it's very lively and fun to drive. You are shifting a lot, but it's a "slow car fast" kind of fun experience. It's my wife's first time driving anything manual more than around the farm roads, and she picked it up quick and is enjoying it a lot now that she's comfortable with it. The crawler gear is like cheating when in heavy traffic or a Costco parking lot for her, helped instill more confidence faster. And even with some spirited driving and her not trying for economy, we are still averaging 21mpg out of it combined. So far so good, and absolutely zero regrets about getting the 2.3/manual.

 

[greenmachine343]

OP the 2.7 is a very powerful engine but without a tune that eliminates torque control you will never feel it on the road in the first 2 gears.

The benefit of the 2.3 in my opinion is better winch mounting options aftermarket. You can really tuck that winch into the car.

Also you can get it in manual

 

[KyTruckPlant]

Love my manual 2.3 and couldn’t pay me to swap for an auto.

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