Pushing the Boundaries
New trucks and SUVS will redefine the off-roading space in 2021, hitting new milestones in performance, efficiency … and just how much buyers are willing to pay to get a little rugged.
Ford Bronco
Ford first announced a new Bronco back in January 2017. After a protracted wait (including pandemic-related delays), the Jeep Wrangler–fighting SUV finally arrives at dealers this summer. The resurrected Bronco packs the best looks since its first-generation model, serious off-road capability, an impressive array of customization options and accessories, and removable roof and doors for that open-air feel. And it will also offer what may be the rarest sight in modern motoring: a manual transmission. We can’t wait to drive it… and neither can the nearly 200,000 reservation holders.
Ford F-150 Raptor
Last year, the Ram 1500 TRX supplanted Ford’s F-150 Raptor as the preeminent badass off-road pickup. Ford’s response, starting in 2021, will be two-pronged. First, a facelifted F-150 Raptor that packs significant upgrades, like a five-link coil-spring rear suspension, better wheel articulation and ride quality, and massive available 37-inch tires. The bigger threat to Ram’s supremacy comes next year, when a V8-powered Raptor R — with an engine that should exceed the TRX’S 702 horsepower — should arrive.
Specs
Base Price (estimated): ~$55,000
Horsepower (estimated): ~475
Torque (estimated): ~540 lb-ft
* Price and power figures not available at press time. Estimates made by extrapolating specs from other 2021 F-150 models to the 2020 F-150 Raptor.
GMC Hummer EV Edition 1
GM is reviving the discontinued Hummer nameplate, but the new versions arriving this fall will be a far cry from those plodding, overgrown gas guzzlers of yore. The new Hummer will be all-electric and capable of jaw-dropping performance, thanks to a tri-motor drivetrain making up to 1,000 horsepower in Edition 1 launch form. The Hummer EV will offer up to 15.9 inches of ground clearance, be able to conquer steeper off-road angles than a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, be all but able to drive itself on highways using Super Cruise, and pack up to 350 miles of range — more than the Hummer H1 managed with a 28.5-gallon gas tank. Plus, in Watts To Freedom mode (which sounds better as an acronym), the Hummer EV will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a Porsche-like 3.0 seconds.
Specs
Base Price: $112,595
Horsepower: 1,000
Torque: 11,500 lb-ft
* Torque figure measured at the wheels, not the motor as with most
vehicles.
Jeep Wagoneer / Grand Wagoneer
The Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer return late this year, sadly without the wood paneling of yore. Built on the excellent Ram 1500 pickup platform, they will be the fanciest and flashiest of the three-row SUVS Jeep adds to the lineup this year. Dive in past the elegant (and Jeep badge-free) exterior, and you’ll find opulent finishes, elegant materials and a bountiful load of advanced tech, including a Mcintosh sound system. V8s are standard, but a plug-in hybrid version will be available soon after launcg. Can Jeep’s brand identity extend itself into the high-luxury bracket? With Grand Wagoneer trims surpassing $100,000, we’re about to find out.
Specs
Base Price: $59,995
Horsepower: 392 / 471
Torque: 404 lb-ft / 455 lb-ft
Rivian R1T / R1S
It’s typical to compare EV startups to Tesla, but new electric car maker Rivian will offer something different and more in tune with broader market trends when its wares hit the streets this year. Launching as a high-end adventure brand — picture Patagonia for cars — Rivian’s R1T pickup and R1T three-row SUV are gunning for two very profitable and practical segments. The vehicles’ capabilities will be formidable, with a quad-motor setup producing up to 800 horsepower and 300 miles of range. And with eventual prices starting around $70,000, the R1T and R1S won’t cost that much more than buyers already pay for lux trucks and plush threerow people movers.
Specs
Base Price: $67,500 (R1T), $70,000 (R1S)
Horsepower: 800
Torque: 900+ lb-ft
Jeep Wrangler 4xe
Pronounced “4-by-eee” (Valley-girl lilt optional), the Wrangler 4xe will bring the SUV icon into a new era this spring, thanks to its first plug-in hybrid powertrain. The 4xe will feature unheard-of efficiency for a Wrangler, with a 50 MPGE rating and 25 miles of electric-only range. And you sacrifice little for that efficiency; 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque will make the Wrangler 4xe the most potent non-v8 Wrangler, and it’ll be just as capable off-road as the gas-powered versions. The rub is, it’ll be a bit more expensive.
Specs
Base Price: $49,490
Horsepower: 375
Torque: 470 lb-ft
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392
Jeep preempted the Bronco reveal last summer by announcing a maniacal V8 Wrangler concept. But it wasn’t just a fantasy; the production version, the Wrangler Rubicon 392, heads to dealers this year. “392” stands for cubic inches — the displacement of the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that puts out 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. On the road, the Wrangler Rubicon 392 will rocket from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds, faster than a Volkswagen Golf R. On the trail, it will provide modders with the extra oomph to offset adding bigger tires. The Wrangler Rubicon 392 will set a new bar for Wrangler pricing, too, with a starting price of nearly $75,000.
Specs
Base Price: $74,995
Horsepower: 470
Torque: 470 lb-ft
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
The Wrangler and Gladiator may hog enthusiasts’ attention, but the Grand Cherokee is Jeep’s best-selling — and most important — vehicle, and it’s all-new for 2021. The critical change is the new Grand Cherokee L model, which offers third-row seating to challenge rivals like the Kia Telluride. A two-row Grand Cherokee will follow later this year. The SUV should still boast broad appeal, thanks to its popular formula of letting buyers build the SUV they want — whether that’s a trail-ready off-roader, a luxury cruiser, a tire-shredding track monster or simply a relatively affordable family car. This time around, it should even be efficient, thanks to an eventual plug-in hybrid option.
Specs
Base Price: $38,690
Horsepower: 290 / 357
Torque: 257 lb-ft / 390 lb-ft