Which of these adventure SUVs will prove most reliable in your next off-road adventure, the 2023 Ford Bronco or the Jeep Wrangler? For so long, Jeep has outperformed many other vehicles like it with its history of innovation. And while both cars continue to prove spectacular, in 2023, there’s a new winner on the road. Our comparison guide will explain why going with the Bronco will prove the better choice.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- The Bronco is a direct competitor to the Wrangler.
- Gas mileage in both cars will run about the same, with the Jeep being slightly more efficient.
- More features offered in the Bronco in its many trims over the Wrangler.
- The Bronco keeps in mind on-road travel and off-roading.
- The Wrangler has a slightly more powerful engine, but better torque than the Bronco.
THE DIFFERENCE A TRIM MAKES: FORD 2023
One of the key takeaways when comparing the Bronco to the Wrangler is how much more Ford offers to buyers when keeping in mind versatility. Wranglers have always had their fair share of great choices in trims, with each one tackling a specific need. The Bronco takes this a step further. For each trim you can expect a solid four-wheel drive for every adventure. The Bronco offers nine different trim packages while the Wrangler offers 11. However, if you’re looking to go off-roading in more humid or moist environments, the Bronco has its Everglades and Raptor trims which get higher ground clearance and has a higher tolerance of water fording than the Wrangler trims.The Bronco Everglades is one of the highest trims for water fording– being able to take almost 41 inches of water. The Wrangler Rubicon is only able to take on 30 inches. Both the Bronco and the Wrangler express a similar body style across all levels of their trims, with all having removable doors and windows. Each has their version of their luxury editions upgrading their cloth interiors to different colors of leather.
OFF-ROADING CAPABILITIES: BRONCO’S TRIM WINS
What further sets the Bronco apart here, is that Ford includes their Sasquatch package with every edition of a Bronco trim. This package guarantees the best off-road tools for your Bronco such as 17-inch beadlock-compatible wheels and 35-inch mud tires. It also includes an electromechanical transfer case, locking front and rear axles, larger fender flares, more suspension clearance and heavy Bilstein locks. This huge upgrade allows any Bronco trim to be a monster of an off-roader as soon as it exits the lot. Again, the trim packages and capabilities are what really allows the Bronco to be a direct competitor to the Wrangler.
The Wrangler still keeps doing what it’s been doing in the industry for so long. It has a higher horsepower, getting up to nearly 470-hp thanks to its powerful standard engine. However, the Bronco isn’t far behind with its powertrains:
- 275-hp, 2.3-liter, 4 Cylinder Engine
- 315-hp, 2.7-liter, V6 Cylinder Engine
- 418-hp, 3.0-liter, V6 Cylinder Engine
This also comes with a higher torque than the Wrangler, offering more power to its four-wheel drive system. The Jeep Wrangler offers more of a selection than the Bronco with four powertrains:
- 260-hp, 3.0-liter, V6 Cylinder Engine (Diesel)
- 270-hp, 2.0-liter, 4 Cylinder Engine
- 285-hp, 3.6-liter, V6 Cylinder Engine
- 470-hp, 6.4-liter, 8 Cylinder Engine
While the Wrangler has the more powerful engine and continues to be a great traditional choice for adventurers, the Bronco is introducing a new way of off-roading for sport by remembering all the other features that drivers need to be successful on their excursions. Not to mention, the need to make sure the vehicle is still highly functional for everyday use, and this is where the Bronco excels.
WHAT OTHER FEATURES SHOULD YOU CONSIDER?
There are a few other differences between the Wrangler and the Bronco that convince buyers towards the new Ford. One of which is the size of the Bronco. It’s larger than the Wrangler and so offers more cubic feet of space for cargo at about 83 feet compared to the Wranglers 73. This also equates to more leg and head room for front passengers and drivers in the Bronco. The Bronco is also built Ford tough, and can tow on average a thousand pounds more than the Wrangler. The Bronco also has something the Wrangler doesn’t with Ford Co-Pilot 260 technology. While both the Bronco and the Wrangler both have their standard safety features that keep driver’s protection in mind such as rear-cross traffic warning and blind spot warning – the Ford-Pilot tech offers just a few more add-on features than the Wrangler, like automatic emergency braking and hill start assist.
FORD BRONCO VS. JEEP WRANGLER: A WORTHY COMPETITOR
It's been a long time coming, but the Bronco is one of the only directly comparable vehicles on the market to the Jeep Wranglers. And it is able to surpass most of its features. Drivers of a new Bronco are going to get everything they would love out of Wrangler, with a few new features that make it even better. Swing by for a visit today to see if the Bronco is your next adventure SUV.