SUVs Comparison: 2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Ford Bronco

The Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler have been long-time favorites of adventurous people.

These vehicles are the ones that come to mind when you think about driving in off-road situations, or rock crawling, crossing streams, and seeing the less-populated areas of the country.

If you are considering a vehicle that will let you go fishing, hunting, hiking, skiing, and to any other remote locations then comparing the Bronco with the Wrangler is a smart idea.

Back History of Bronco and Wrangler

First, we will take a look at the back history of the two vehicles. Neither of these automobiles is new to the marketplace.

Ford introduced the world to their Bronco with the 1966 model that debuted in 1965. The Wrangler did not make its debut until 1986.

The Bronco quickly became the vehicle of choice for anyone who wanted to do off-road activities. The manufacturer equipped the auto with a citizen’s band radio, a spare gas tank so you could go farther without fear of running out of fuel, a winch to help pull you out of trouble spots, and a post-hole digger.

The Wrangler was designed to look like the tough-as-nails Jeep that was used in WWII. In 1986 the Jeep that debuted as a Wrangler looked a lot like the 1940’s version called the CJ.

The vehicles came with removable tops so adventure seekers could enjoy the fresh air and sunshine while they were in the vehicle.

Wrangler was a new version of the CJ in that it was designed to be a little more comfortable to ride in so that it could be used as a family vehicle and an off-road entertainment vehicle.

Ford Bronco vs Jeep Wrangler Pros and Cons

Pros of the 2021 Ford Bronco

• Acceptable levels of road noise so it can be driven daily
• Equipped with Go Over Any Type of Terrain mode selector
• When the G.O.A.T. modes are selected, the Bronco optimizes steering and shift points automatically to get you ready for the terrain you are about to cover
• The 2021 comes with a choice of two engines. The standard engine is the 2.3 liter that has 275 HP, or you can upgrade with the 2.7 liter that offers 310 HP
• You have a choice of a 7-speed standard transmission (which uses less gas, costs less, and gives you greater control) or the 10-speed automatic transmission
• This Ford offers good fuel economy and averages about 25 miles-per-gallon
• Includes the high-performance stability suspension system designed by the manufacturer to make the vehicle better for off-road travel
• Great ground clearance of 8.8” so you can travel over rougher areas and through deeper waters. The 2021 Bronco can be driven through waters that are as much as 23.6” in depth.
• Has a maximum towing capacity of 2,205 pounds
• Incredible cargo space is part of Bronco’s appeal. With the seats in an upright position, the cargo space measures 32.5 cubic feet, but when you lay the seats flat, the cargo space increases to 65.2 cubic feet.
• Has four smart-charging USB ports for all those phones, tablets, and more
• Has Bluetooth technology
• Underinflated tire warning sensor
• Automatic braking during an emergency situation
• Pedestrian detection
• Available in a four-door version 
• 8” touch screen
• 16” silver painted wheels
• Tow hooks in front and rear
• LED headlamps
• Mirror caps
• Push-button start
• Fender tie-down hooks
• Fender flares
• Black door-handles

The Cons of the 2021 Ford Bronco

Every vehicle on the road has some cons or some reasons why it is not the best car for certain driving types. The Bronco cons include:

• Drives more like a truck, so the ride is rougher than you might expect.
• The higher trim levels are pretty pricey
• You do not have the option of getting a V8 engine.
• The tow rating is pretty low.
• Has big blind spots
• Easy to roll over when you take curves and turns too quickly
• Cloth seats
• Carpeted flooring

Pros of the 2021 Jeep Wrangler

• Can have full-time 4×4 or part-time 4×4
• Traction control puts the power in the right wheels according to the terrain
• You get four engine options, including a hybrid option. You can also get diesel-powered versions of this vehicle.
• You choose between soft top or hard-top
• Removable doors
• Good for daily driving or for adventure driving
• Comfortable front seats with added lumbar support
• Streaming Bluetooth music
• Has a fabulous navigation system
• Comes with an Alpine stereo and nine speakers
• High-strength steel frame construction
• Steel side beams for added strength
• Four-wheel ABS braking system
• An anti-theft alarm system that can immobilize the engine to stop a would-be car thief
• Traction control
• Stability control that has built-in anti-roll technology
• Can hit sixty miles per hour in as little as 4.5 seconds
• Rated best in crawl class due to a 6-speed manual transmission and the low gearing
• High ground clearance
• Has a slower cost depreciation. Most vehicles depreciate about 50% in their first five years but the Wrangler depreciates about 30% in the same amount of time.
• Available right-hand driver option for mail carriers
• Blind-spot monitoring
• The rear detector senses cross traffic
• Forward facing camera
• Park assist
• Backup camera
• Towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds

Cons of the 2021 Jeep Wrangler

• Can be noisy for on-road driving
• Does not have really great cargo space
• Some of the higher trim levels can cost close to 50,000
• Does not offer great fuel economy
• More comfortable than a Bronco but not smooth like a sedan
• Colder in the winter due to a lack of insulation
• Hotter in the summer due to a lack of insulation

Quick video comparisons

Ford Bronco vs Jeep Wrangler Specs Comparison

Ford Bronco Or Jeep Wrangler Price, Safety, Reliability, and Others Comparison

The biggest consideration between these two powerful SUVs is the manufacturer who made them. Some people have a greater amount of confidence in one manufacturer over another, and you should put that into your consideration.

Price

The two vehicles start with standard packages at relatively the same price. There are slight differences but not enough to make a big change.

The real price considerations will happen when you begin looking at the more expensive trim packages and upgrades available.

The Jeep Wrangler called the Rubicon can run close to 50,000 after customization, and upgrade choices.

Fuel Economy

The Ford Bronco offers slightly better fuel economy, but you have to realize that these larger off-road capable machines do not offer the best fuel economy.

Typically, if one of the big SUVs gets 20 miles per gallon, it is getting about the maximum number of gallons per mile that you can expect.

Safety Features

The standard safety features offered on the basic Bronco and the basic Wrangler are pretty similar. There are not a lot of fabulous differences. With that said, we must remind you that the Jeep Wrangler has anti-roll technology that helps it not be turned over when you take a curve too fast or drive across rougher terrains.

The majority of the new safety features people want on their vehicles are available with either of these machines. There are some minute differences, but they are not big enough to do any screaming about.

Reliability

These manufacturers both have excellent reputations for designing and maintaining reliable vehicle production.

Ford and Jeep are two of the top name manufacturers for SUVs, and if you look closely they were the first two manufacturers to develop vehicles that were capable of off-road adventure driving.

Clearance

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has about 2 additional inches of road clearance than the Ford Bronco. That should not be a great deciding factor, though.

If you want increased ground clearance, you can always have a lift kit installed to give you the added height.

Warranty

The warranties offered by the two manufacturers are almost identical in length and protection. Once again, these two manufacturers have stood the test of time and know how to protect their buyers.

Final Thoughts

Both the Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler are SUVs that are great for adventure driving, can carry at least five passengers, are close in price, high in quality, and simply fun to drive. Either of these vehicles will give you the option to go farther and enjoy more activities.