Ford Bronco vs. Jeep Wrangler: Compare Trucks

• Jeep Wrangler set the bar for off-roading capability
• Ford Bronco is slightly larger, has a more modern suspension
• Both have removable doors and tops

The Jeep Wrangler has been the American benchmark for off-roading capability in the 80-plus years since it was developed for World War II military duty. It had the market to itself for much of that time, but Ford took aim at it for the 2021 model year with a reborn Bronco and hit the mark.

Like the Wrangler, the Ford Bronco sports retro styling, removable doors, a tall ground clearance, and a design optimized for off-roading. However, the Bronco is a more modern vehicle in some ways, with an independent front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, and more safety features. It also follows the Wrangler in offering a wide array of models to choose from, so buyers can tailor their choices to the type of off-roading they do. 

Both models are rivaled by the Land Rover Defender, as well as off-road versions of midsize pickups, including entries from Jeep and Ford. Still, the Bronco and Wrangler remain the de facto choices for anyone who wants a highly capable off-roader right out of the box. Which one is the best choice for you? Let’s take a deep dive to find out. 

Bronco vs. Wrangler prices and features

• Base Wrangler costs about $34,000

• Base Bronco costs about $41,000

• Best picks: Bronco Black Diamond and Badlands, Wrangler 4xe Sport S, Willys, and Rubicon

How much is a Ford Bronco?

The Bronco comes in nine models: Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Heritage Edition, Badlands, Everglades, Wildtrak, Heritage Limited Edition, and Raptor. The $41,000 Big Bend comes standard with marine-grade vinyl upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power accessories, an 8.0-inch digital gauge cluster, a 12.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, power accessories, a six-mode terrain response system, removable doors and top (hard top for the two-door, soft top for the four-door), LED fog lights, two front tow hooks and one rear, and 32-inch all-terrain tires on 17-inch alloy wheels. The four-door body style adds just $740, and the warranty is 3 years or 36,000 miles.

A good starting point for those who want to go off-road is the roughly $45,000 Black Diamond. It adds rock rails, powder-coated steel bumpers, an additional drive mode, rubberized flooring with drain plugs, and full underbody skid plates. It also gets Molle storage panels on the front seat backs and satellite radio. To that we’d add the Sasquatch package for almost $9,000. It adds an advanced on-demand four-wheel-drive system, a high-clearance suspension with Bilstein dampers, high-clearance fenders, front and rear locking differentials, and 35-inch all-terrain tires on beadlock-capable 17-inch wheels.

The Badlands costs $52,000 or so and comes with the full-time 4WD system, a disconnecting front sway bar, auxiliary switches, a trailer tow prep package, and 33-inch all-terrain tires. 

At the top of the lineup, the Bronco Raptor runs more than $90,000 and comes with Fox internal bypass-valve dampers, 37-inch tires, heavy-duty skid plates, heavy-duty bumpers, Rigid fog lights, a surround-view camera system, removable running boards, heated front seats, a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, remote start, Trail Turn Assist, Trail One-Pedal Driving, and Trail Control off-road cruise control. 

How much is a Jeep Wrangler?

Jeep sells the Wrangler in Sport, Willys, Sahara, High Altitude, Rubicon, and Rubicon 392 models, as well as some sub-models based on some of those versions. The base Wrangler Sport starts at about $34,000, much cheaper than the Bronco, but it also has less equipment. It comes standard with cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, a urethane steering wheel, manual windows and locks, a soft top, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, fuel tank and transfer case skid plates, front and rear tow hooks, removable doors, a fold-down windshield, and 17-inch steel wheels. The four-door body style adds $4,000, and the Sahara and Rubicon 392 only come as four-doors. 

The Wrangler comes with a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty that includes three years of scheduled maintenance.

The Wrangler’s varied lineup has at least three models we would recommend based on buyer preference. For a road-going Wrangler with better fuel economy, go for the plug-in hybrid 4xe Sport S model at about $52,000. Compared to the Sport, it gets power doors and locks, keyless entry, a vinyl-wrapped steering wheel, automatic headlights, an additional front tow hook, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a tougher, lighter Gorilla glass windshield.

For about $41,000, the Willys is a Rubicon-light. It raises the ground clearance from 9.7 to 10.8 inches, and adds a locking rear differential, rock rails, and 33-inch all-terrain tires on 17-inch alloy wheels. It also gets a trailer tow package, LED headlights and fog lights, and all-weather floor mats. 

The Rubicon itself is the best off-roader. It starts around $49,000 and adds heavy-duty axles, front and rear locking differentials, a disconnecting front sway bar, and Jeep’s Rock-Trac transfer case with a 4:1 low-gear ratio for slower off-roading.

Jeep stretches the lineup all the way to $94,000 or so for a Wrangler Rubicon 392 and even tops $100,000 with a Rubicon 392 Final Edition.

Advantage: Ford Bronco for better equipment.

Bronco vs. Wrangler performance, fuel economy, and towing

• Wrangler has turbo-4, V-6, V-8, and plug-in hybrid engines

• Bronco has turbo-4, and two turbocharged V-6 engines

• Both have a manual transmission option, though an automatic is more common

How does the Jeep Wrangler perform?

The Wrangler’s base 3.6-liter V-6 produces 285 hp and teams with a 6-speed manual transmission. While the engine has decent power and we generally like manuals, the gearshift suffers from long throws and a numb overall feel, though it works well off-road. If you want an automatic, be prepared to spend $2,000-$4,500 more for the responsive 8-speed automatic. 

Buyers can pick the 2.0-liter turbo-4 at no charge. It makes 270 hp but has 295 lb-ft of torque compared to 260 lb-ft for the V-6. It’s a bit stronger and offers better fuel economy at 20/23/21 mpg compared to 18/24/20 mpg for the V-6. 

Jeep’s plug-in hybrid improves both power and fuel economy. It adds a 134-hp electric motor to the turbo-4 to increase output to 370 hp and 475 lb-ft. It offers 22 miles of electric driving and is EPA rated at 20 mpg combined when running on gas only. 

The Rubicon 392 has muscle car power, with a 470-hp 6.4-liter V-8 that enables a 4.5-second 0-60 mph time. It gulps gas, though, at 13/16/14 mpg. The Rubicon can also tow up to 5,000 pounds, but the other versions tow either 2,000 or 3,500 pounds.

The suspension Jeep uses to give the Wrangler outstanding off-road ability hurts its on-road manners. Solid front and rear axles transfer the effects of bumps from side to side, and a short wheelbase, especially for the two-door version, results in a busy ride. Recirculating-ball steering isn’t too quick off-road but feels vague and slow on-road. And a tall ride height creates lots of body lean. 

How does the Ford Bronco perform?

The Bronco’s base 2.3-liter turbo-4 makes 300 hp and 325 lb-ft on premium fuel or 275 hp and 315 lb-ft on regular. It provides adequate acceleration through either the standard 7-speed manual transmission or the 10-speed automatic, which is a $1,500 option. It’s rated as high as 20/21/20 mpg, but gets as low as 18/17/18 mpg with the Sasquatch Package.

The step-up 2.7-liter turbocharged V-6 costs $2,145 and puts out 330 hp and 415 lb-ft on premium, and it can fire off a sub-seven second run to 60 mph. It gets as high as 19/21/20 mpg.

Ford offers as many as seven drive modes, which tweak steering heft, throttle tuning, and transmission behavior. 

Bronco Raptors use a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 418 hp and 440 lb-ft. They’re noticeably quicker, though without the manic rush of power found in a Jeep Wrangler 392. It’s rated at 15/16/15 mpg.

Broncos have a comfortable ride thanks largely to their huge tires and, in most versions, sophisticated shocks and dampers. The independent front suspension and electric power steering deliver good handling and highway stability, while the coil-sprung rear end promises impressive off-road articulation. 

The Bronco can tow up to 4,500 pounds in Raptor form, though most of the lineup is rated at 3,500 pounds. 

Advantage: Ford Bronco for better steering and a smoother ride.

Bronco vs. Wrangler off-road and 4×4 systems

• Both offer part- and full-time four-wheel-drive systems

• Wrangler Rubicon is Jeep’s off-road leader

• Raptor is the ultimate Bronco off-roader

The Wrangler comes with a part-time four-wheel-drive system called Command-Trac. Also standard are rock rails, fuel tank and transfer case skid plates, and Dana front and rear axles. Move up to Selec-Trac for a full-time system with a 2-speed transfer case for low-range gearing. 

The top Rock-Trac system adds a lower 4:1 gearing reduction to the Selec-Trac features. It also gets a disconnecting front sway bar and 17-inch aluminum wheels with 33-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires. 

The Wrangler Rubicon goes above and beyond with a Dana full-float rear axle that spreads the vehicle weight along the solid axle rather than the shaft. This helps the powertrain better send power to the rear wheel hubs.

The Wrangler’s standard ground clearance is 9.7 inches, but that extends all the way up to 12.9 inches for the Rubicon.

The two-door Rubicon with the Extreme 35 package has the best combination of off-roading angles. It has a 47.2-degree approach angle, a 32.4-degree breakover angle, and a 40.4-degree departure angle. 

The Bronco offers two four-wheel-drive systems. The standard system works part time, while the Sasquatch Package, Badlands, Heritage Limited Edition, and Raptor models come with a full-time system with a 2-speed transfer case. The Bronco has a G.O.A.T. terrain management system with up to seven modes.

The Bronco gets an electronic locking rear axle starting with the Black Diamond model. A locking front axle is standard on the Heritage Edition, Badlands, Wildtrak, Heritage Limited Edition, and Raptor. The Badlands and Raptor also get a front sway bar disconnect. Trail Control off-road cruise control, a Trail One-Pedal driving mode, and Trail Turn Assist that brakes the inside rear wheel to shorten turns are also offered.

The Wildtrak and Raptor also get Fox internal bypass-valve dampers, while the Raptor has 37-inch BFGoodrich K02 all-terrain tires, heavy-duty skid plates, heavy-duty bumpers, Rigid fog lights, a surround-view camera system, and removable running boards.

With 13.1 inches of ground clearance, the Raptor has the best off-roading angles. It has a 40.5-degree approach angle, a 30.9-degree breakover angle, and a 47.2-degree departure angle.

Advantage: Ford Bronco for more off-road features.

Bronco vs. Wrangler size, dimensions, and cargo space

How big is the Jeep Wrangler?

The Jeep Wrangler is the smaller vehicle, but its four-door model has more legroom. The top and doors are removable, and the windshield can fold down. The two-door seats four and the four-door seat five. Both have a useful 41.2 inches of front legroom. Here are the rest of the stats: 

• Two-door wheelbase: 96.8 inches

• Two-door length: 166.8 inches

• Two-door rear legroom: 35.7 inches

• Four-door wheelbase: 118.4 inches

• Four-door length: 188.4 inches

• Four-door rear legroom: 38.3 inches

• Cargo capacity behind second row: 31.7 cubic feet for both body styles

• Cargo capacity behind first row: 72.4 cubic feet for both body styles

How big is the Ford Bronco?

The Bronco is slightly larger. It has 43.1 inches of front legroom, and like the Wrangler the two-door seats four and the four-door seats five. The top and doors are removable. Here are its stats: 

• Two-door wheelbase: 100.2 inches

• Two-door length: 173.7 inches

• Two-door rear legroom: 35.7 inches

• Four-door wheelbase: 116.1 inches

• Four-door length: 189.4 inches

• Four-door rear legroom: 36.3 inches

• Two-door cargo capacity behind second row: 22.4 cubic feet

• Two-door cargo capacity behind first row: 52.3 cubic feet

• Four-door cargo capacity behind second row: 38.3 cubic feet

• Four-door cargo capacity behind first row: 83.0 cubic feet

Advantage: Bronco for overall space.

Bronco vs. Wrangler infotainment, technology, and safety

• Wrangler lacks standard automatic emergency braking

• Both have good infotainment systems

• Bronco boasts better crash-test scores

Jeep outfits the Wrangler with a 12.3-inch touchscreen in every model. It comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and it adds navigation on some versions. It’s part of the Uconnect infotainment system that we find to be among the easiest to use on the market. 

The Bronco is better on almost all accounts. Its standard 12.0-inch touchscreen runs infotainment that is just as easy to use as Jeep’s, and it comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

How safe is the Jeep Wrangler?

The Wrangler is one of very few vehicles that doesn’t come standard with automatic emergency braking. However, moving from the Sport to the Sport S or above adds it. Also available are rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitors with rear-cross traffic alerts. That’s an egregious lack of safety features. 

Crash tests aren’t any better. The Wrangler gets three stars out of five from the NHTSA for rollover prevention and has scored four stars in the frontal crash test. The IIHS gives it a “Poor” score for front crash prevention due to its lack of automatic emergency braking, and it has mixed ratings in other tests. 

How safe is the Ford Bronco?

Safety is a big win for the Bronco. It comes standard with automatic emergency braking and automatic high beams. A mid-package adds active lane control and blind-spot monitors with rear cross-traffic alerts. Also available are adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system.

Crash-test scores also favor the Bronco. It got the same scores from the NHTSA, but earned “Good” scores from the IIHS in the small front overlap, original moderate front overlap, and side impact tests. 

Advantage: Bronco for better equipment, crash tests.

Which is better: Bronco or Wrangler?

The Bronco claims the win here, thanks to higher ratings for interior comfort and space, features, performance, and safety ratings. The Wrangler is still a great off-roader and it starts at a lower price, but we prefer the way the Bronco drives and applaud its better safety equipment. Its TCC Rating of 6.5 out of 10 easily bests the Wrangler’s 5.0 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

Winner: Ford Bronco.