2.3 or 2.7

Mikes2021Bronco

I have a 2.3, 7 speed, 4 door, non sas. It has done great, and plenty of power for such a heavy vehicle, and I'm running 315/70 Nitto Trails...

Which do you recommend 2.3 vs 2.7 and why? And please no.....just because one is 24 cubic inches bigger.. Real world experiences please...

I would like the 2.7L better because of the more effortless power and the smoothness of it. It would be hard to pick between a 2.3L 7-speed and a 2.7L though. I think the 2.7L would still be my choice.

Lolwut?

I picked the 2.3 solely because I wanted the manual tranny. If I could have gotten the 7-spd w/ the 2.7, I would have chosen the larger mill. The TQ numbers for the V6 are impressive.

Here's some "real world" info that I have that make me feel comfortable with the 2.3. My folks have a '20 Explorer & '21 Ranger both with the 2.3 EcoBoost and 10-spd Auto. Both of those vehicles preform very well. I have a '19 Explorer with the NA 3.5 V6 and those 2.3's pull WAY harder than mine.

2.3L for me.

Admittedly a lot of that is just personal preference. For example, the 2.3L has a traditional metal oil pan with a spin-on filter. The 2.7L has a plastic composite oil pan with a cartridge-style filter. It also just so happens that the 2.3L uses the same oil filter as my other two Ford vehicles, which makes maintenance super easy. The 2.3L is based largely on Ford engines of old, and I am super familiar and comfortable with those engines. The 2.7L, on the other hand, is relatively new. I will fully admit none of these are good reasons to pick the 2.3L over the 2.7L, but it's just my personal preference.

What is important, in my opinion, is the weight savings. The 2.3L is about 110 lbs lighter than the 2.7L. And given the upper trims on the Bronco are extremely heavily, it needs all of the payload it can get. The Badlands trim has 1070 lbs of payload capacity with the 2.7L engine. Once you load up a family of 4 and some dogs, you're looking at ~400-500 lbs of payload capacity left. That's basically basically nothing, so that extra ~100 lbs of payload capacity is massively important to me. (Also... because the 2.3L is a physically smaller engine, there is more room in the engine bay for modifications and aftermarket goodies.)

And obviously the 2.3L was important because of the manual transmission. But even if I was buying the automatic transmission, I likely still would have picked the 2.3L.

I have the 2.3/7. It’s plenty powerful enough for me.
One theoretical difference between the 2.3 and the 2.7 is the fuel injection. The 2.3 is direct-injection, which means that the intake valves might need to be walnut-blasted every 5 years or so.
Time will tell.

I totally would have gone with the 2.7 but I wanted the MT. Too bad the didn't offer it on the larger engine.

2.3t, because “Manual or bust”

also anyone take turns while making the tires screech or that just me?

WhiskeyCity

I picked the 2.3 solely because I wanted the manual tranny. If I could have gotten the 7-spd w/ the 2.7, I would have chosen the larger mill. The TQ numbers for the V6 are impressive.

Here's some "real world" info that I have that make me feel comfortable with the 2.3. My folks have a '20 Explorer & '21 Ranger both with the 2.3 EcoBoost and 10-spd Auto. Both of those vehicles preform very well. I have a '19 Explorer with the NA 3.5 V6 and those 2.3's pull WAY harder than mine.

Same here with the 2.7/7spd

wonder if anyones making a kit to make it work together?

I ordered the 2.7 because too many times in the past with other vehicles, I opted for the smaller engine with the hopes for increased fuel mileage, just to find that it didn't get better mileage because it was working harder to move the vehicle. Plus, the torque numbers on the 2.7 are pretty impressive. And, I don't care about manual trans

Calgecko

...I don't care about manual trans

Me thinks you doth blaspheme!

Speed Devil

Lolwut?

And.....

4dr, 2.3 with a manual here
Black Diamond, non-squach
Getting 22.9 mpg in ECO mode

Wrong question, it's 10 speed auto vs. 7 speed manual. ;)

For me it's 7 speed manual, always was, always will be... regardless of the engine.

I own a 2.7 Badlands. I have had 3 of the current gen 2.7s. All have been very reliable, powerful and efficient. I have driven and driven with a ton of 2.3l Broncos, including two last weekend with 4.27 gears and 37s (both auto). They have plenty of power and I definitely prefer the weight balance of the 2.3. I would not want a manual with either motor in an off road vehicle, but the crawler gear in the 7sp is effective and makes up for the biggest single issue with most manuals in trucks IMO. Do not expect better economy with the 2.3 in any of the heavier trims, loaded down, higher highway speeds or spirited driving. Two areas I think the 2.7 is significantly “better”. Mid range/passing power (it is shockingly fast from 30-70) and if you are operating at the upper end of capacity for either engine, like loaded and towing or deep sand. Finally, I would not have a problem with the DI motor, but all things being equal, I prefer the port/DI combo in the 2.7. There is a reason Ford and many others moved in this direction. It’s partly due to the carbon build up inherent in DI design, but some of the cold start and emissions controls also lend themselves to fuel/oil contamination. BYW, we also have a 2.3 Ranger FX4 in the stable and it’s awesome, so bottom line, I went 2.7, but if you want a MT, want the lighter weight, expecting to add a winch and other accessories on the front end or want to go with the lower cost, it’s not a bad trade off from my experience.

I put exactly zero thought into 2.3l vs 2.7l. I wanted the MT, so 2.3l it was.

Speed Devil

Same here with the 2.7/7spd

wonder if anyones making a kit to make it work together?

The aftermarket isn't going to waste time with the V-6 and a manual, the market wants a V-8 conversion.Windsor block preferably, cheaper easier and makes better power down low than the hair dryer motor.

Mikes2021Bronco

I have a 2.3, 7 speed, 4 door, non sas. It has done great, and plenty of power for such a heavy vehicle, and I'm running 315/70 Nitto Trails...

Which do you recommend 2.3 vs 2.7 and why? And please no.....just because one is 24 cubic inches bigger.. Real world experiences please...

I decided to go with the 2.7 based on what my uncle said. He is a senior master tech for Ford for over 25 years now. From what he said, less motor issues other than the bad batch of valves recently. Motor has done well in the F150. I tow a small trailer with my mower weekly during the summer 35 min away from my house to my property. I have the 2.7 in mine and you never notice the trailer at all. Knowing I will tow a small trailer some was what I based it on. My opinion is less strain on the engine with it being larger.

RWhite

I decided to go with the 2.7 based on what my uncle said. He is a senior master tech for Ford for over 25 years now. From what he said, less motor issues other than the bad batch of valves recently. Motor has done well in the F150. I tow a small trailer with my mower weekly during the summer 35 min away from my house to my property. I have the 2.7 in mine and you never notice the trailer at all. Knowing I will tow a small trailer some was what I based it on. My opinion is less strain on the engine with it being larger.

The 2.7 has been plagued with valve train issues since 2015

Scoops

4dr, 2.3 with a manual here
Black Diamond, non-squach
Getting 22.9 mpg in ECO mode

Those are great numbers..

Like I said in OP, 4 door, 2.3 7sp, 34.2" tires (as measured on the ground, lol). 4.46 gears, and it has plenty of.power, and with those tires and heavier wheels, and speedo correction( which is not perfect) I'm showing 20.5. But power wise, I'm not hurting, because I get to choose every gear every time... at the cost of high revs, and high ⛽️ consumption.. Its a blast to drive.