Ford Bronco vs. Jeep Wrangler

If you’re in the market for an off-road vehicle, you’ve likely come across the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler. These two off-road warriors have received accolades from industry professionals and drivers everywhere, and for a good reason. They both pack plenty of power with some serious off-road capability, plus the latest tech to keep you connected and safe. Choosing between them can be daunting. That’s why we created this head-to-head comparison of their best features to help you decide.

Bronco Trim Options

Image via Flickr by dave_7

Ford offers the 2021 Bronco in seven distinct trims. The Base trim features only the bare essentials, making it ripe for customization. It comes with 30-inch all-season tires wrapping 16-inch polished aluminum wheels, a traction management system, and the Sync 4 technology suite. The Big Bend Bronco was designed for mainstream off-roading with 32-inch all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels to go along with some creature comfort packages that include heated seats, leather appointments, and more.

Adventure seekers love the Black Diamond Bronco for its heavy-duty construction with steel bumpers, skid plates, and rock rails, plus it features seven selectable G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Terrain) modes. The Outer Banks Bronco takes a stylish approach to your adventures with 18-inch High-Gloss Black wheels, powder-coated steps, body-colored fender flares, and an upscale interior.

What better vehicle could you want for extreme off-road capability than the aptly named Badlands Bronco? You get your choice of 33- or 35-inch all-terrain tires to go along with Bilstein position-sensitive shocks, a disconnecting stabilizer bar, and front and rear locking differentials. The Wildtrak Bronco has your high-speed off-roading covered with the standard Sasquatch Package that includes 35-inch tires wrapped on 17-inch bead-lock capable wheels and a 2.7-liter twin-turbo engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

If you want it all, the First Edition Bronco has the best of all the Bronco trims rolled into one. The First Edition has the Badlands’ mechanicals, the interior comfort of the Outer Banks, and the exterior style of the Wildtrak, creating the ultimate, fully-loaded Bronco.

Wrangler Trim Options

Every Wrangler has the same unique Jeep style. The Willys and Willys Sport trims come ready for anything with 32-inch mud-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels, heavy-duty rock rails, skid plates, and high-performance shocks. The High Altitude Wrangler has all the luxury appointments you love, plus the capability of a Jeep, while the Islander Wrangler will take you to the sands with signature beach styling.

The Freedom Wrangler comes with signature “Oscar-Mike” badging, which stands for on-the-move in military jargon, paying homage to its service roots. Jeep offers Sport Altitude and Sahara Altitude models with unique styling points on the outside and upscale interiors. An 80th Anniversary Edition celebrates this iconic vehicle’s long and storied history with distinctive badging inside and out. 

The Bronco and Wrangler both offer signature design cues up and down the trim levels. The Bronco has more customization for both powertrain and comfort and convenience features, giving the Bronco the edge when it comes to choice.

Powerful Performance

The Bronco has two engines from which to choose. A 2.3-liter inline four-cylinder EcoBoost engine paired with a seven-speed manual transmission comes standard on the lower trims. This powertrain puts out 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This manual transmission has a crawler gear and a selectable part-time 4×4 system you can upgrade to full-time, automatic on-demand 4×4 capability. It also features six G.O.A.T. modes: Sand, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, Sport, Eco, and Rock Crawl.

The Bronco’s 2.7-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine mates to a 10-speed automatic transmission with Trail Control and comes standard on the Wildtrak and First Edition trims, but available on every trim. This powertrain adds a seventh G.O.A.T. mode, Baja, and puts out an impressive 310 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. The independent front axle with disconnecting sway bar and locking front and rear differentials are also standard on the upper trims and available on every model as part of the Sasquatch Package.

Jeep also offers two gas-powered engines, starting with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 that puts out 260 horsepower and 285 pound-feet of torque. The 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine delivers 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Jeep does offer a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine that puts out a respectable 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque.

Every Jeep Wrangler trim earned the coveted Trail Rated badge for passing a series of rugged, off-road challenges. The Wrangler offers three 4×4 systems that all deliver exceptional off-road performance. 

When comparing the performance features of the Bronco to the Wrangler, they match up surprisingly even. The slight edge goes to the Bronco for its V-6 power numbers, clearly out-performing the Wrangler.

Driver-Assist Technology

The Bronco can be equipped with Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of driver-assist systems designed to keep you safer when you have to drive on the road. The suite includes forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection capability and automatic emergency braking. You receive alerts when the system detects a possible collision. Should you fail to react, the system will engage emergency brake support to help mitigate or avoid a potential accident. 

You also get Ford’s lane-keeping system that uses subtle steering correction to keep you centered in your lane. It also detects unintentional drifts, alerting you to help you return you to your lane. Ford’s BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with rear cross-traffic alert gives you eyes where you normally can’t see, alerting you when cars enter your blind spots or approach from the sides while in reverse.

The Jeep Wrangler also has a suite of driver-assist systems, including blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, and emergency braking. These systems work the same, alerting you to potential situations and intervening when necessary.

Since both the Bronco and Wrangler offer similar driver-assist packages, the edge here goes to both.

At Oxmoor Ford, we know what off-road enthusiasts want. That’s why we have an expansive inventory of Bronco SUVs ready for any adventure. We invite you to browse our inventory online or visit our dealership. One of our friendly, knowledgeable staff will happily answer any questions you have. They’ll show you the best the Bronco has to offer and even let you take your favorite for a test drive.