2021 Jeep Wrangler
Starting at
$28,900*
2021 Ford Bronco
Starting at
$28,500*
| 260-470 | Horsepower (HP) | 260-470 |
| 260-470 | Torque (lb-ft) | 310-415 |
| 3,500 | Max Towing (lbs) | 3,500 |
A driver who enjoys off-roading should never settle for anything other than the best, and this is something that manufacturers both know and work effortlessly to be your brand of choice. When comparing the 2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Ford Bronco, there’s only one vehicle that we can recommend to those who are in the market because while both of these vehicles are good, one stands well above the competition. The 2021 Wrangler and the 2021 Bronco have a few similarities, namely their similar price tags, but the experiences that they offer are far different from one another, and one of these vehicles suffers as a result of this.
The Bronco is a modern vehicle built off of the previously popular model that was discontinued back in the 90s. On the other hand, the Wrangler we all know and love has also been around since the late 1980s, though its history dates further back than that, and with no hiatus in between, the Wrangler has evolved gradually over time.
There are seven Bronco trims this year if you include the limited-run First Edition. There’s no shortage of options here for customers, but it pales in comparison to the 2021 Wrangler and its thirteen available configurations, including the limited 80th Anniversary edition. Undeniably, there’s plenty of room for upgrades with both of these vehicles, but the tried and true Wrangler is hard to beat.
Performance
Performance is a massive part of what makes the Wrangler and Bronco tick. Off-roading requires some serious power, and because of this, no corners can be cut. With both vehicles, you can expect to find the standard assortment of features that popular off-roading vehicles are known for, such as ample ground clearance, terrain management modes, 4x4 systems, and so on.
Wrangler vs Bronco: Which Has the Power You Need?
In regards to powertrains, there are two available engines for the Bronco, but the Wrangler can be fitted with one of five available powertrain configurations. Starting with the base engine in both vehicles, the Bronco offers a turbocharged 2.3L 4-cylinder that produces 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. By itself, this is a palpable engine that can certainly perform lighter off-roading tasks, but the Wrangler's comparable 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder is also very capable with its 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.
The Bronco also has the option of a 2.7L V6 engine that produces 310 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Again, this engine is comparable to the 3.6L V6 in the Wrangler. The Wrangler's V6 engine gets 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. While at first glance the Bronco's engines are fierce competition, it is rather disappointing that there are only two options; however, the Wrangler has a few more engine options.
Depending on the Wrangler model that you buy, you may be able to choose the EcoDiesel 3.0L V6 that will produce 260 hp and a hefty 442 lb-ft of torque. Fuel efficiency is the main selling point of this engine. With EPA-estimated ratings of 22 MPG city and 29 MPG highway, it’s easily the most efficient of powertrains unless you consider the hybrid option. This trumps even the best fuel economy of the Bronco, which is 20 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway with the 4-cylinder.
The Bronco doesn’t have a hybrid variant, but for the Wrangler, you can opt for the 4xe model and get a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder with a complementing motor that results in an incredible 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. Best of all, this is not the most powerful setup for the Wrangler, but this one is certainly the most fuel-efficient of the entire bunch with the ability to travel up to 370 miles on a full charge with a full tank of gas. In terms of fuel economy, you can expect a combined fuel economy of around 49 MPGe.
Again, while the Bronco does have some good engine options, compared to the Wrangler and the Rubicon 392 model, it simply can’t compare. Should you opt for the venerable Rubicon 392, you’ll receive a 6.4L HEMI V8 engine that produces an astonishing 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, an incomparable 51.6% increase in horsepower against the most powerful Bronco engine, and a 17.5% increase in torque output. If performance is of high importance to you, as it should with an off-roading vehicle, then the 2021 Wrangler can drive circles around the Bronco. Best of all, the Wrangler Rubicon 392 can achieve 0-60 MPH in only 4.5 seconds, according to Jeep, which is an incredible accomplishment for an off-roading-oriented vehicle.
Interior
The interior of your off-roading vehicle is something that you should pay equal attention to as you would with the performance. When riding on a rough trail, the last thing that you or your passengers will want is to constantly be hitting your head on the ceiling, so because of this, headroom and legroom are important factors to consider here.
For the Jeep Wrangler, you’ll be able to fit up to five passengers, should you purchase a trim that allows for it as the first few Wrangler models support up to four passengers. You can also choose to get the Wrangler with either two doors or four doors. Similarly, the Bronco can also support up to five passengers, no matter which trim you select. It too can be bought in a two or four-door configuration.
Space Inside the Bronco
Looking at the two-door variant, the Bronco has 41 inches of headroom in the front row, and the back row will have 39.8 inches. Legroom for the two-door model measures out at 43.1 inches in the front row and 35.7 inches in the back. Lastly, cargo space will differ greatly between the two-door and four-door models, with the two-door Bronco having 22.4 cu.ft. of space behind the back row and up to 52.3 cu.ft. of space when the seats are folded down. Four-door models will have 35.6 cu.ft. in the trunk that expands to a maximum of 77.6 cu.ft. These numbers do shift slightly depending on if you have a hard or soft top.
Space Inside the Wrangler
In comparison, the Jeep Wrangler’s interior dimensions will differ on the model that you purchase. Starting with the base model, which has two doors but seats four passengers, you’ll have 42.6 inches of headroom in the front and 41.7 inches in the back. Legroom is similar, with 41.2 inches in the front row and 35.7 inches in the rear row.
Cargo space in this model is rather limited, but stepping up to a higher-tier model is a far different experience. Within the larger four-door variant of the Wrangler, you’ll have 40.8 inches and 40.3 inches of headroom in the front and rear row, along with 40.8 inches front and 38.2 inches of legroom in the back. Cargo capacity in the Wrangler four-door is up to 72.4 cu.ft. of space with the rear-row of seats folded down. Even with the seats in the upright position, the Wrangler still gives you an impressive 31.7 cu.ft. of space to use at all times. Like the Bronco, the Wrangler's cargo capacity will vary slightly depending on if you have a hard or soft top.
Features
Interior Features and Comfort
Integrated features can be what makes the open road a more entertaining experience, and even those off-road moments while also making them safer too. Both the Wrangler and Bronco are rather comparable in regards to their available features as both vehicles come standard with an infotainment center. Within this infotainment center, you’ll find plenty of intuitive features that will help you conquer the trail, including several cameras on both vehicles to navigate the trail with a better amount of visibility. Both vehicles also offer their version of a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot so that you can connect to the internet in areas where service may be spotty at best.
Both vehicles come standard with cloth seating on the base trims along with a 6-way manually-adjustable driver’s seat. On higher-tier trims, leather comes standard, whereas expensive Bronco trims such as will still come standard with cloth seats, leaving leather seats as yet another costly upgrade. A lot of the desirable features of the Bronco are unfortunately only a part of the more expensive trims. While the Wrangler does have a large array of features that you can add, even its base model is well equipped.
