Ford Bronco vs Jeep Wrangler – which off-road SUV goes the extra mile?

Ford Bronco vs Jeep Wrangler – which gets your vote?

For a long time, the Jeep Wrangler was the go-to all-American off-roader.

The SUV remained a firm favorite by sticking to its ethos of providing a reliable four-wheel drive car that could handle just about anything you threw at it – on or off the road.

Of course, many other marques tried to topple the Jeep Wrangle, such as the Dodge Ram Charger, the Toyota 4 Runner, and Nissan’s Pathfinder, but none quite managed to match its popularity.

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(Re)introducing the Ford Bronco

However, in 2021, Ford took its own shot at Jeep when it relaunched the Bronco.

The Bronco first went into production all the way back in 1965 and enjoyed a successful run until the nameplate was wound down in 1996.

But in 2021, Ford announced its all-new sixth-generation models – with one being so big and powerful it needs special features to make it road-legal. 

Launching the new models, Ford promised the improved Broncos would ‘deliver thrilling off-road experiences with their heritage-inspired style, rugged engineering and smart off-road technology’.

Much like the Wrangler, the new Bronco was offered as two-door or four-door.

They also came with more optional accessories and add-ons than a Barbie doll.

Ford announced an ‘extensive lineup of more than 200 factory-backed accessories’ to allow maximum personalization.

Fancy. 

How do they compare on price?

The Bronco’s reintroduction into the market was seen as a direct competitor to the Wrangler – but how do the 4×4 cars actually stack up against each other?

First things first, let’s compare the prices.

A base Jeep Wrangler will cost around $34,000, whereas a base Ford Bronco will cost around $41,000.

These figures are just for your entry-level, factory-standard vehicle—they do not include any customization options or performance boosts, which can dramatically alter prices.

For example, the smart-looking Ford Bronco Raptor starts at $91,930, while a top-end Wrangler can go for as much as $101,890.

Ford Bronco vs Jeep Wrangler

Taking a purely cosmetic view, both SUVs are design classics and look great on or off-road.

But taking a closer look inside, the standard Jeep Wrangler has cloth-upholstered, manually adjustable seats, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple and Android play, a urethane steering wheel, manual windows, and removable doors.

It sits on 17-inch steel wheels and has a couple of tow hooks – one at the front and one at the back.

For the standard model Bronco you’ll spend a bit more but you’ll get a bit more.

It comes with marine-grade vinyl, manually adjustable seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows, and removable doors.

There’s also a decent amount of tech, including a 12-inch ‘infotainment’ touchscreen, wireless Apple and Android play, and a six-mode terrain response system.

The entry-level Bronco sits on 32-inch all-terrain tires with 17-inch alloy wheels; it also comes with three tow hooks – two on the front and one at the back.

If size matters, then you may be interested to know that the Bronco is a little more spacious than the Wrangler.

The two-door Wrangler has 12.9 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, and 31.7 cubic feet behind the front; whereas the two-door Bronco has 22.4 cubic feet behind its rear seats and 52.3 cubic feet behind the front.

How about under the hood?

Under the hood of the standard Wrangler, you’ll find a 3.6-liter V6 teamed with a six-speed manual transmission that can produce 285 horsepower.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more, there are beefier options available, including a 6.4-liter V8 that can offer 470 horsepower.

If you’d prefer an automatic transmission, over the standard manual, you’re looking at spending between $2,000 and $4,500 extra, depending on what you choose.

The basic Bronco is fitted with a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four that produces 300 horsepower.

Again, if you’re in the market for something more powerful, there are other engine sizes available if you’re willing to pay, including a 3.0-liter V6 that comes with 418 horsepower.

Ford Bronco vs Jeep Wrangler – which is more popular?

For what it’s worth, when it comes to sales, the Jeep Wrangler surpasses the Ford Bronco.

Figures shared by Autoblog from 2023 show that 84,642 Wranglers were delivered compared to 58,580 Broncos.

This trend looks set to continue, with the numbers showing 77,204 Wranglers sold in 2024 to 50,152 Broncos.

So, Ford Bronco vs Jeep Wrangler?

Ultimately, whichever SUV you plump for you can’t really go wrong with a Wrangler or a Bronco – you just need to decide if you’d rather stick with a classic or go for something a little more modern.