20 REASONS WHY THE FORD BRONCO IS BETTER THAN THE JEEP WRANGLER

For many years now, if you wanted an old-school SUV that could tackle the country's most challenging trails, your only option was the Jeep Wrangler. Sure, there are other capable 4x4s on the market, but nothing offers the exceptional off-road abilities the Jeep does. It is a toy made specifically for rugged off-road trails. Models such as the Chevy Blazer, the Dodge Ram Charger, the Nissan Pathfinder, the Toyota 4 Runner, and the Ford Bronco all took a crack at de-throning the top dog of the off-road world. Some had fleeting success throughout the years, but Jeep always seemed to regain its spot in the limelight.

That is until now. Ford has come out of hiding and revived one of the best off-road SUVs of all time, the mighty Ford Bronco. But they did not bring it back to just be the basic Bronco that you are all used to from the past. This one is loaded with all the new innovative technology of today, the aggressive futuristic looks of tomorrow, and the reliability of the Ford name now.

Let's take a little closer look at why the Ford Bronco is better than the Jeep Wrangler, on paper, anyway. To find out for sure, you will have to go out for a drive in one, off the beaten path, of course, so you can really test your new Bronco out.

Updated July 21, 2023: The Bronco has been out for a few years now, so you have had time to take it out into the great unknown and put it to the test. If not, then this updated and refreshed article will get your blood pumping so you jump behind the wheel of your Ford and get to it. If you don't have one yet, here's why it's maybe time to get one.

Related: 2022 Ford Bronco Badlands 4-Door Review: The Off-Roading SUV You Can Daily Drive

The Bronco Is More Spacious

It is no secret that the cabin of the Wrangler isn't the most spacious nor the most comfortable. It is a vehicle built with off-roading in mind; therefore, the cab sits inside the wheels to protect it when off-roading. This leads to a more cramped interior. If you have a look at the Bronco, you will realize that it is shaped more like a conventional SUV. The body is wider, and it follows the width of the wheels. This means more interior space, which to some people may be a big selling point ­­– especially if they have a large family. In fact, the Bronco has up to 77.6 cubic feet, which is the largest capacity in the compact SUV class.

The Ford Bronco Is Easier To Use Off Road

If you want an SUV that can take you off-road without making many decisions on driving modes, then the Bronco may be the better choice. First and foremost, its transfer box is electronic; therefore, instead of fighting with a lever, you just turn a dial, and you are in four low. Also, it has an automatic setting that lets the vehicle make all the decisions for you. The only thing you need to do is drive. For beginners, this is perfect. However, it must be said that the electronic transfer box dial is not as reliable and durable as the standard shifter in the Wrangler.

The Ford Bronco Does High-Speed Off-Roading Extremely Well

Both the Jeep and Ford are great off-road in their own kind of way. The different suspension systems mean the Wrangler is better at rock crawling while the Bronco is better at high-speed desert bashing. When driving fast over dirt, the Bronco remains composed and rarely bottoms out its suspension. Also, the ride is certainly smoother, both when going slow or fast. Best of all, you can improve it even further with an aftermarket suspension system. So, the Bronco is the way to go if your off-road adventures are primarily on dirt roads and challenging but not extreme trails.

Related: Top 10 Off-Road Upgrades And Modifications For Your 4x4

The Bronco Has A Great Infotainment Screen

Ford has been pumping out great infotainment screens lately, which have made their way into the Bronco, which now rocks a 12-inch display. Aside from a usable menu with great graphics and response, the Bronco also has an excellent front-facing camera that makes off-roading much easier. Especially when driving up steep hills, which lead to a huge blind spot in front of your wheels. The Wrangler also has a front-facing camera, but the screen is much smaller and dated. Therefore, it is harder to read, and it isn't as clear. It is an older model; therefore, differences like these are expected.

The Ford Is A Better Drive On Road

It is no secret that the Wrangler isn't the best vehicle for on-road manners. The design of the solid front axle means that the vehicle gets death wobble easily. Death wobble means that a loose bolt or bushing leads to a violent wobble of the whole front axle, ultimately shaking the entire cabin. It is not a pleasant feeling, and it certainly is a common problem with Jeeps. Since the Bronco has an independent front suspension, it won't have issues with death wobble; also, it will ride and handle better. So, if you value on-road manners, the Bronco is the way to go.

The Ford Bronco Has A Better Road Rating From Consumer Reports

The people at Consumer Reports put the Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler to the test and found that the Wrangler was far behind the Bronco. That is not to say that the Bronco did great because the 51 out of 100 that the Bronco received on the driving scores shows that it still has some issues to work out. However, on the other side of the coin, you have the Jeep Wrangler, which could only achieve a score of 24 out of 100, losing massive points because of handling and braking. Emergency braking is one of the most significant issues found on the Jeep Wrangler, so to say that the Jeep is not as safe as the Ford is not a far stretch from proven facts.

Related: Jeep Wrangler vs Ford Bronco: Picking the Right Off-Roader For You

The Bronco Has Mirrors Even When The Doors Are Off

You must have a vehicle with removable doors to make a proper Wrangler competitor. The Bronco has removable doors; in some ways, their design is better than the Wranglers. When you remove the doors on the Bronco, the mirror stays in place. This means that you don't have to go out and buy aftermarket mirrors. That being said, if you plan to remove the doors to protect them while off-roading, you will be destroying the mirrors since those are still in place. However, the Bronco system is better if you want to remove the doors just to cruise around town.

The Seats In The Bronco Are Much More Comfortable

If you have experience with Jeeps, you probably know the seats aren't all that comfortable. They are rigid and narrow, which can get tiring over long drives. The seats in the Bronco, however, are the exact opposite. They are wide and soft, providing a far more comfortable ride. Judging by the points so far, you may have realized that the Bronco is a more refined and comfortable vehicle in general. Everything about it reminds us of a modern SUV rather than an old-school hard-core off-roader. This may be good or bad, depending on your planned usage.

The Bronco Comes With Factory Equipped 35-Inch Tires

When off-roading, the bigger the tire, the better the abilities. Ford has taken it a step further with the Bronco and has equipped the off-road trim levels with 35-inch tires. This means you do not have to go out and fit them yourself after purchasing the vehicle. A Rubicon Wrangler only comes with 33-inch tires; therefore, a Ford Bronco may be the better choice if you want a truck to keep bone stock. It is worth mentioning that the Bronco R comes with 37-inch tires, which are massive for a factory vehicle.

Related: Here's Why The Ford Bronco Is A Legend In Its Own Right

The Bronco Is Safer

If you value safety (which you probably do), the Bronco is the better choice. It is a newer design, which - in theory - means that it could be structurally tougher. This leads to increased safety during crash tests as the cabin stays intact. The Wrangler isn't unsafe, but IIHS testing proved it isn't quite as safe as the Bronco. Also, if we put structural integrity aside, in the Bronco, you are less likely to get in a crash in the first place as it handles better. Avoiding an accident with violent steering and brake inputs is less likely to upset the vehicle's handling when compared to the Wrangler.

5 Recalls For The Bronco And Wrangler, But The Proof Is In The Details

You wouldn't think that having five recalls would be something that would be discussed, but since both the Bronco and the Wrangler have 5 recalls so far for the 2023 model year, it is essential to dig into why. What you can find is very interesting. The Bronco has had recalls for cosmetic issues and two problems that could lead to accidents. The Jeep Wrangler has had five recalls that could potentially cause you and your family to be in an accident while driving, and one that could even cause a fire while driving down the road. Not something that this author would want to be a part of.

2023 Recalls

Ford Bronco

Jeep Wrangler

seat belts

electrical system

wheels

fuel system

steering

power train

power train

engine

equipment hauling

electrical system

The Ford Bronco Has A Better Reliability Rating

Reliability is one of the most important aspects of any vehicle, but when you go off the beaten path, you want to be assured that the rig you are taking will get you back to civilization without breaking down. Nobody likes to walk out over miles of rough terrain just to call a tow truck and then have to wait for hours on end for them to find you. Consumer Reports is one of the most trusted sites for giving truthful reviews and ratings because they base their findings on honest feedback from owners. For 2023 the Jeep Wrangler only has a 2 out of 5 rating, while the Bronco has a 3 out of 5. A three is not the best, but one whole point above the Wrangler shows that it is truly the better vehicle to take off-road when you are relying on it to get you back home.

Related: Ford Pays Tribute To The Original 1966 Bronco In the Best Way Possible

The Bronco Has A Newer Design

The current generation of the Wrangler has been around for longer than the Ford Bronco. This means that the Bronco feels more modern but, at the same time stays true to its roots. This is part of why it performs better in crash tests. If you want a vehicle with more up-to-date tech, rides better on the road, can tackle some rugged trails, and is comfortable, the Bronco does the job great. It may not be the hard-core off-roader that the Wrangler is, but it does a perfect job of infusing comfort into the lifestyle aspect of owning an SUV like the Wrangler.

The Bronco Says Goodbye To Wind Noise

If you have ever owned or been inside a Jeep, you know all too well about the wind noise present when driving down the road. It is something Jeep lovers have grown to ignore because it is present every year in every new trim level. It is an issue that has always been a part of owning a Wrangler, and one that Jeep does not seem to be in a hurry to fix. Ford, with the Bronco, has designed the same type of removable top SUV without the annoying wind noise every time you get onto the highway, so it is possible to produce such a vehicle. Ford Bronco has paved the way for Jeep to follow, but maybe the wind noise is something unique to the Wrangler that they simply want to always remain the same.

The Ford Bronco Has More Technology In The Cockpit

With all the current technology on the market, it is hard to find a new vehicle not loaded with innovative tech designed to improve safety. One of the premium safety pieces of software on the market that people are all buzzing about is Ford CoPilot, which can be found in the Ford Bronco. It contains such things as:

  • rear-cross traffic warning
  • blind-spot warning
  • lane-departure warning
  • lane-keeping assistance
  • pedestrian detection
  • hill descent and start assist
  • automatic emergency braking

Some of the high technology found in the Bronco may not be totally helpful when off the beaten path, but once in the urban jungles, they all come in extremely handy.

RELATED: The Raptor Dilemma: 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor Vs. 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor

Some Ford Bronco Trim Levels Come With Marine-Grade Interiors

The Bronco and Wrangler take the main stage to compete for the top dog position in areas where mud and dirt rule and pavement is far from sight. Many old-school off-roaders swear that the mud and the muck hold their classic trucks and SUVs together, but that is just a way to keep their rigs dirty all the time. During the week, a flashy ride such as your 2023 Bronco or Wrangler deserves to be clean and eye-catching, but that can be a chore after a weekend of hard-core fun. Some trim models designed by Ford make that easy because you can upgrade to a Bronco with marine-grade interior upholstery that can be hosed off for easier cleaning.

The Ford Bronco Is More Up To The Task Of Towing

Generally, when it comes to towing a camper or trailer filled with toys such as boats and motorcycles, an SUV is not the first thing that comes to mind. However, if it is your only off-road rig, it is important to know that the Ford Bronco is designed with towing in mind more so than the Jeep Wrangler. To put it into perspective, the Wrangler is rated to tow between 2000 and 3500 pounds, depending on the trim level and engine size. On the other hand, the Ford Bronco is rated to tow anywhere from 3340 to 4500 pounds, meaning you can pull a little bigger camper or that large speed boat you just bought from your friend that owns a Wrangler too small to tow it.

Ford Bronco Has More Ground Clearance

Jeep owners love to point out that the Wrangler has better ground clearance than the Bronco. That may very well be the case unless you consider that each trim level is a little different, and each one is designed to specialize in specific types of terrain. So, to be fair, it is necessary to take the top trim line of the 2023 Jeep Wrangler, the Rubicon, and the top trim of the 2023 Ford Bronco, the Raptor, and compare the ground clearance of the two. The Bronco has a clearance of 13.1 inches as it comes off the assembly lines, and the Rubicon measures in with a ground clearance of 12.9 inches. Two inches may not be a lot, but it is enough to get over that last little dried chunk of dirt.

RELATED: 5 Ways The Ford Bronco Raptor Is The Off-Roader Of The Moment (5 Ways The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Is Better)

Ford Bronco Has Better Water-Fording Abilities

The final aspect of any off-roading vehicle that needs to be considered is how much water it can go through without bogging out. Once that happens, irreparable damage occurs to the engine and drivetrain, which can mean needing a complete engine swap once the SUV is hauled out of the backwoods. Jeep has long been the go-to vehicle when you want to ford across some water, but the Ford Bronco comes out on top when putting the Rubicon up against the Raptor. The Ford can handle up to 37 inches of water. In comparison, the Jeep can deal with 30 to 33 inches of water, which is a substantial difference when you are out playing around in an off-the-beaten-path location.

Bottom Line Is The Ford Bronco Has Better Owner Satisfaction

Everything you have read here and elsewhere leads up to one major thing. The bottom line, so to say. What it all boils down to is which model is the most popular among the people. You can listen to personal opinions all you want, but the truth is in the numbers. When it comes to owner satisfaction, the Ford Bronco is the clear winner with a 4 out of 5 predicted rating. On the other hand, the Jeep Wrangler receives a 3 out of 5 rating for owner satisfaction because, let's face it, the only people that love to drive a Jeep is a person that is a Jeep lover faithful to the brand.

FAQ

Q: Is the Bronco better than the Wrangler?

The answer here isn't a simple yes or no. The Bronco is a better every day vehicle, but the Wrangler is certainly better on tough off-road trails

Q: Is the Bronco bigger than the Jeep Wrangler?

Yes, the Ford Bronco is more spacious than the Jeep Wrangler

Q: Which is better off road Wrangler or Bronco?

The Wrangler is certainly the better off-roader thanks to more robust suspension and more wheel articulation

Q: Are Broncos safer than Jeeps?

Yes, the Ford Bronco is safer than the Wrangler thanks to its more modern design

2023-05-27T23:05:43Z dg43tfdfdgfd