Looking for the perfect off-road vehicle? Check out our comparison of the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler to help you decide which one is right for you! Read now and make an informed decision.
Value Comparison
Ford re-released the Bronco as a 2021 model with a condensed portfolio, but the success of the brand has led to the creation of new versions. Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Badlands, Heritage, Wildtrak, Everglades, Heritage Limited, and Raptor are the 10 trim levels that the 2023 Ford Bronco is offered in. The majority of trims come in 2- and 4-door body designs. Only 4-door versions of the desert-driving Raptor and swamp-fording Everglades trims are offered.
The most affordable way to join the Bronco brigade is to purchase the Base model ($32,295). It has individual driving modes for its terrain-management system and part-time 4-wheel drive (4WD), which are features shared by all Broncos. It comes with 30-inch all-season tyres and 16-inch steel wheels, but you can also get it with the Sasquatch off-road kit.
With 18-inch black metal wheels, LED lighting, and powder-coated tube steps, The Outer Banks ($41,855) is substantially more upscale. The Badlands ($45,095) focuses off-roading and sports 17-inch aluminium wheels with 33-inch all-terrain rubber. Ford built the $52,780 Wildtrak with a 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine as standard for off-roading at high speeds.
The snorkel intake system is the Everglades’ defining feature, costing $53,895. The Raptor ($73,780), which has a 3.0 litre V6 and semi-active dampers among its numerous attributes, is the most effective model. A white-painted grille, white wheels, and plaid seats are just a few of the vintage Bronco elements found on the two Heritage models, the Heritage ($44,305) and Heritage Limited ($66,895).
Prices for the 2023 Ford Bronco shown above do not include the $1,595 destination fee.
The 2023 Jeep Wrangler trim hierarchy is more condensed and simpler to understand than the Ford Bronco selection. Sport, Sport S, and Rubicon are the three trim levels available for Jeep’s Wrangler 2-door. Jeep offers five trim levels for the four-door Wrangler Unlimited: Sport, Sport S, Sahara, Rubicon, and Rubicon 392. In the Willys ($54,735), Sahara ($56,845), and Rubicon ($60,980) trims, Jeep treats the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid (PHEV) as a different model.
The heavy-duty off-road Rubicon model ($43,295 and $47,890) comes with all-terrain tyres mounted on 17-inch aluminium wheels, a standard sway bar disconnect, a choice of two transfer cases, and a lower rear-axle ratio. Although leather interior seats are available, the front passenger and driver’s chairs can be manually adjusted, because it is a jeep after all.
In addition to the V8-powered Rubicon 392 ($82,495) and the cosier Sahara ($46,020) trims, the 4-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is also offered in a Sahara trim. A 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine is the Sahara’s standard powerplant. The trim comes with a distinctive body-color grille, an all-terrain tyre on an 18-inch aluminium wheel, the Command-Trac shift-on-the-fly transfer case, and the option of the Selec-Trac full-time transfer case. Nine Alpine speakers are standard, and leatherette-trimmed seats are optional.
The 392 cubic-inch V8 engine of the Rubicon 392 is highlighted. Jeep combines the Selec-Trac full-time transfer case with its powertrain. It features nine Alpine speakers, heated leather seats, all-terrain tyres, and 17-inch aluminium beadlock wheels. It also has LED headlights.
Prices for the 2023 Jeep Wrangler stated above do not include the $1,795 destination fee.
2023 Quality Comparison
Neither the J.D. Power 2022 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) nor the J.D. Power 2022 Initial Quality Study place the Ford Bronco among the top three cars in the Midsize SUV category (IQS).
The 2023 Ford Bronco comes with the following warranties and coverage for roadside assistance:
- Warranty minimum: three years or 36,000 miles
- Warranty on the engine is five years or 60,000 miles.
- 5 years or 60,000 miles of roadside support
- Maintenance as scheduled: not free
In either the 2022 VDS or the 2022 IQS, the Jeep Wrangler does not place among the top three models in its group, similar to the Bronco.
The following warranties are offered with the 2023 Jeep Wrangler:
- Warranty minimum: three years or 36,000 miles
- Warranty on the engine is five years or 60,000 miles.
- Warranty on hybrid systems: 8 years or 100,000 miles
- Warranty for hybrid batteries: 8 years or 100,000 miles (10 years or 150,000 miles in California emissions states)
- 5 years or 60,000 miles of roadside support (5 years or 100,000 miles with diesel engine)
- scheduled upkeep: free for three years
Performance Parallel
Three different engines are available for the 2023 Ford Bronco, with the Bronco Raptor’s top performance engine being reserved for that model. A 2.3-liter 4-cylinder with direct injection and turbocharging serves as the base powerplant. On normal fuel, it produces 315 pound-feet of torque and 275 horsepower. The numbers increase to 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque when premium petrol is used. The 2.7-liter V6 with direct injection and turbocharging is an option in various Bronco variants. It has 410 pound-feet of torque and 315 horsepower on standard fuel. With premium, the figures go to 330 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque.
Along with a 10-speed automatic, Ford also offers a 7-speed manual with a super-low “crawler” first gear for the 4-cylinder engine. Ford only offers the 10-speed automatic to support the V6. The typical 4×4 transfer case can change on the fly and is part-time. There is an optional automated 4WD system. On some grades, Ford additionally provides a sway bar disconnect.
Ford uses a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 to power the high-performance Bronco Raptor. It has 440 pound-feet of torque and 418 horsepower. It is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission from Ford. A 2-speed transfer case with automated engagement is used by the 4WD system. Electronic differential locking is present on the front and back axles.
The Jeep Wrangler 2023 comes with a variety of powertrains and engines. The base engine is a classic 3.6-liter V6 with conventional aspiration that produces 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. There are numerous options for a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. It generates 295 pound-feet of torque and 270 horsepower. The 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel, with 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque, is another intriguing option. The 6.4-liter Hemi V8 is the engine choice for Jeep’s top-tier Rubicon 392. It produces 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque.
The Jeep Wrangler 4xe’s PHEV system is arguably the comparison’s most intriguing powertrain. It combines a starter-generator electric motor, an electric traction motor, and a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. 470 pound-feet of torque and 375 horsepower are produced collectively. A 17.3 kWh lithium-ion battery is used to power the electric motors. According to Jeep, the Wrangler 4xe has an all-electric range of 21 miles.
Fuel efficiency for the 3.6-liter V6 is 17 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg overall. The mild-hybrid assist V6 engines get an EPA rating of either 19/22/20 mpg (2-door) or 18/23/20 mpg (combined) (Unlimited). The 2.0-liter turbo engine’s maximum EPA rating is 22 mpg city/24 mpg highway/23 mpg combined. The EPA rates the 3.0 litre turbodiesel V6 at 22 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg overall. And the potent 6.4-liter V8 gives fuel economy of 14 mpg combined, 17 mpg on the interstate, and 13 mpg in the city.
In this comparison, the Wrangler 4xe is the fuel-efficient winner. It has a 49 MPGe rating, which is unquestionably better than the Ford Bronco or any other Wrangler model and allows comparisons to combined mileage figures for conventional vehicles.
Safety
Advanced driver aid technologies are available in both the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler (ADAS). The most cutting-edge features are frequently not included as standard equipment, but purchasers can add them on with option packages.
The 2023 Ford Bronco comes with Ford Co-Pilot 360 ADAS technology. Hill-start assist, forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, automatic high-beam headlamps, and hill-descent control are all standard features (the latter on Broncos with manual transmission only). The addition of blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance is available as an optional package on a number of trims. The majority of the more expensive Bronco trims come standard with those ADAS.
Advanced driver aid technologies are available in both the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler (ADAS). The most cutting-edge features are frequently not included as standard equipment, but purchasers can add them on with option packages.
The 2023 Jeep Wrangler has not received an overall safety rating from the NHTSA or the IIHS as of the time of writing. Even yet, four out of six crashworthiness categories gave the 2022 Wrangler Unlimited 4-door model, which shares the same structural design, Good grades.
Comparing Infotainment
Both the 2023 Ford Bronco and 2023 Jeep Wrangler come equipped with consumer-friendly automotive and infotainment systems. The best infotainment systems in the market include Jeep Uconnect and Ford Sync.
The Sync 4 system with an 8-inch touchscreen is available on the 2023 Bronco Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, and Badlands trims. SiriusXM 360L, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and AM/FM radio are included. There are seven speakers in the audio setup. It makes use of FordPass Connect, the company’s linked services app, and offers an integrated version of AppLink with an applications catalogue. The voice- and touchscreen-activated navigation system with improved voice recognition is available in the Outer Banks, Heritage, and Wildtrak trims.
The improved infotainment system with navigation and 12-inch touchscreen are available on the Everglades, Heritage Limited, and Raptor. The other Bronco trims have an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, however the Raptor has a 12-inch digital instrument cluster. For the Heritage Limited model, Ford includes a 10-speaker B&O premium audio system.
The well-known Uconnect 4 infotainment system from the carmaker is standard on the 2023 Jeep Wrangler. It comes with a 7-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, and voice control as standard on all 2023 Wranglers. A bundle is available that includes a five-year trial membership to SiriusXM Traffic Plus, a six-month trial subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio, and a one-year trial subscription to SiriusXM Guardian linked services.
Sahara, Rubicon, and Rubicon 392 grades come standard with the Infotainment Group package, which also includes a nine-speaker premium music system with an all-weather subwoofer, an interior electro-chromatic rearview mirror, an SOS call button, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen with integrated navigation.
What about Comfort?
The Wrangler and Bronco both come in models with removable tops and doors, which distinguishes them from practically all other automobiles. This has long been one of the most distinctive—and appealing—features of the Wrangler. When Ford made the decision to design a rival, its engineers made sure that the Bronco provided comparable opportunities. Ford actually outdoes Jeep by allowing owners to take out the front doors without taking off the sideview mirrors. The Wrangler does not have an on-board stowage system for the doors, although it is available on the Bronco.
The 2023 Ford Bronco’s beautiful interior, which balances modernity and nostalgia, is located within. Of course, packing a massive touchscreen in the centre of the dash makes it difficult to keep a firmly retro theme. The Bronco inside appears like a Bronco interior thanks to some clever design work by Ford. Bucket seats in the front are cosy. The 2-door Ford model has rear seat belts for two people, whereas the 4-door Bronco has enough for three. Some Bronco models come with interiors that you can rinse down and “marine-grade” vinyl seat upholstery.
Compared to the normal Jeep Wrangler 2-door, the Ford Bronco 2-door is over 7 inches longer, and it makes advantage of this extra length to provide a larger interior. The Jeep has an advantage in rear seat capacity, whereas the Bronco 2-door has greater front leg, hip, and shoulder room than the Wrangler. In terms of load capacity, the Bronco 2-door defeats the Wrangler handily. The Bronco has 52.3 cubic feet of cargo space when the back seat is folded and 22.4 cubic feet of room when both rows of seats are occupied.
The Bronco and Wrangler (Wrangler Unlimited) 4-door models are preferable if you frequently transport people and goods. In terms of leg, hip, and shoulder room for passengers, the two cars are very similar. Regarding load capacity, the Ford Bronco 4-door has a significant advantage. With the back seat folded down, it boasts a massive 83 cubic feet of cargo capacity in the back and a rear cargo area with 38.3 cubic feet of room.
The interior of the 2023 Jeep Wrangler is as utilitarian as possible and serves a purpose. Round air vents on the Wrangler are strategically positioned around the wide horizontal dash and match the round gauges on the instrument panel. The controls for the infotainment system’s center-mounted display are simple to use and easy to view. The touchscreen is immediately below the climate controls, which have simple-to-use knobs.
The power window switches are located just below, which is a better location than having them in the removable doors. On the console, the handbrake lever and a storage bin are placed in front of the gearshift and transfer case levers.
The Wrangler features several top options, including power tops, folding soft tops, and modular hardtops. Genuine leather, synthetic leather, and two kinds of cloth are used as seat covers. Most trims come standard with dual-zone automatic temperature control, while some offer it as part of a package. However, it only comes into play when the top and doors are off.
Comparable Bronco versions offer more cargo room than the Wrangler does. The Wrangler 2-door offers 12.9 cubic feet of cargo space when both rows of seats are occupied. It features 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the back seat folded down. The cargo compartment of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited measures 31.7 cubic feet. It offers 72.4 cubic feet of space for luggage after the back seat is folded.
In Conclusion
The Jeep Wrangler, the current market leader, has essentially owned the segment for all time in one corner. The Ford Bronco, a youthful and promising upstart, is in the other corner and wants to topple the champion.
Jeep is the iconic off-road vehicle in the eyes of the majority of Americans. It is the jewel in the crown for Stellantis, the current global maker of Jeep automobiles. The Jeep Wrangler is the model that establishes the company’s entire line of off-road vehicles as genuine. And the Jeep officials are aware that the Wrangler is a franchise player in terms of sports. To keep the Jeep Wrangler in its position as the world’s best all-terrain vehicle, they will stop at nothing.
The Ford Bronco has a rich history all of its own, as those with long memories will recall. The first Ford Bronco, which debuted in 1966, faced off against the Jeep CJ, the forerunner of the Wrangler, and the International Harvester Scout. Five generations of Broncos were produced and sold by Ford before the vehicle was discontinued at the end of the 1996 model year. However, the fervent Bronco supporters never gave up trying to revive it. Ford management made the decision to revive the Bronco after realising the Jeep Wrangler had enormous popularity throughout the first two decades of the twenty-first century.
Both the 2023 Ford Bronco and 2023 Jeep Wrangler fight for the same market of off-road enthusiasts and would-be purchasers. Both manufacturers offer these well-liked SUV vehicles in 2- and 4-door variations. Both have a range of powertrain options. And both have fiercely loyal adherents who view their preferred vehicle as more than just a mode of mobility.
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