2021 Ford Bronco vs 2020 Jeep Wrangler

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler had a design that was unmistakable on the road. Known for its circular headlights, seven-slat grille, and boxy styling, it exuded an industrial look complemented by exposed hinges and bolts. The ability to fold down the windshield, remove the doors, and the optional removable top contributed to its rugged, "recreational utility vehicle" persona rather than a typical commuter car. Inside, Jeep worked hard to keep the cabin fresh while maintaining a retro feel with circular climate vents and gauges. Despite its ergonomic shortcomings, the cabin was designed to balance brutish utility with a hint of style.

The Wrangler Unlimited, used in this comparison, came in several trims: Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon. Each had its levels of comfort and technology, with the Sport S and Sahara offering more creature comforts while the Rubicon was built for off-road prowess, identifiable by its higher ride, mud-terrain tires, and lifted suspension. The variety of styles and special editions such as the Willys, Black and Tan, and others showcased Jeep's ability to maintain multiple versions under one iconic design.

The 2021 Ford Bronco revived a legendary nameplate with a distinctive design that paid homage to its 1966 roots while incorporating modern elements. The new Bronco adopted a single-piece grille flanked by round headlights and bold B-R-O-N-C-O lettering. Its body featured flat and simple sides accented by fender flares. The hood's modest bulge and removable off-road sights added a rugged touch. With standard 32-inch tires and 35-inch tires available in the Sasquatch package across all trims, as well as a choice of either a black soft-top or a modular hardtop, the Bronco combined retro styling with versatile configurations.

The Bronco was available in two-door and four-door variants, with the two-door model using a 100.4-inch wheelbase and the four-door stretching to 116.1 inches. The chosen paint colors were varied and included eye-catching options like Rapid Red and Antimatter Blue. Inside, the Bronco featured modern technology with a color touchscreen (8-inch standard, 12-inch available) and digitized gauges. The use of plastic with metal-reinforced functionalities ensured a rugged and tough feel while remaining stylish. Stretchy mesh door pockets and grab handles integrated into the dash reflected a well-thought-out interior design.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangle offered several engine options. The base engine was a 3.6-liter V6 producing 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, paired with a standard 6-speed manual or an optional 8-speed automatic. An alternative was the turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, generating 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. New for 2020 was the 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel, delivering 260 hp but a remarkable 442 lb-ft of torque. This diesel engine shined on trails and provided excellent precision when climbing over rocks. However, highway driving was noisy, and the steering had some play due to the off-road tires and narrow track. The Wrangler Unlimited was more suited for trails than highway comfort, with the diesel engine yielding fuel economy figures of 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined.

The 2021 Ford Bronco launched with two engine choices. The standard was a turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four with 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, available with a seven-speed manual transmission. An optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, delivering 310 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, came paired with a 10-speed automatic, which was also available for the 2.3-liter engine. Both engines with standard four-wheel-drive. The Bronco handled on both paved and dirt roads with a truck-like feel. The 35-inch tires of the Sasquatch package, while great off-road, caused a noisy, wiggly ride on pavement. With the 2.7-liter engine and 10-speed automatic, the power delivery was smooth and well-matched, making for an enjoyable driving experience on the streets. Off-road, the Bronco was remarkably sure-footed, balancing well, and providing an engaging experience across varying trail conditions.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the four-door version, allowed owners to experience its off-road capabilities with practical modularity. Owners could remove the doors, fold the windshield down, and choose from various roof options, including a soft top that could retract all the way, a hardtop, or the new Sky One-Touch retractable cloth roof. Cargo capacity with the top on and the rear bench folded flat totaled about 72 cubic feet, which was less than the more traditional SUVs like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Bronco designers put significant thought into modularity and repairability. The Bronco included removable, frameless doors stored in protective bags marked by QR codes leading to instructional videos. The doors could be stored inside the vehicle itself. Ford also planned for off-road disruptions with standard underneath the chassis protection, easy-to-remove and replace fenders, bumpers, and grilles, all aimed to make minor repairs field-manageable. Clever features like trail sights on the hood for managing roof-mounted cargo further demonstrated practical, user-friendly design.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler's technology stack started basic but offered improvements via trim levels and packages. The Sport and Sport S trims came with a 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including USB and Bluetooth connectivity. The Rubicon and Sahara featured a 7-inch screen with Uconnect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. An 8.4-inch Uconnect system available in higher trims or as an option on the Sport S added navigation, real-time traffic updates, and more. The top-end Uconnect package included a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, HD Radio, and an Alpine premium sound system with a large subwoofer placed strategically to produce excellent sound quality at highway speeds.

The 2021 Ford Bronco's tech suite included the SYNC 4 infotainment system with an 8-inch standard touchscreen and an upgrade option to a 12-inch screen. The G.O.A.T. system for off-road traction control came with five to seven drive modes depending on the trim. The High Package offered a 12-inch touchscreen with a 10-speaker B&O sound system, voice-activated navigation, and wireless charging. Standard features like push-button start could be upgraded to proximity key entry, while the Mid Package added a rear-view camera with backup assist lines and auto high beams. The Sasquatch Package brought Bilstein shock absorbers for enhanced off-road capability.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler's standard safety equipment included airbags, electronic roll mitigation, and a backup camera cleverly located on the spare tire hub. Optional safety packages added rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, adaptive cruise control, and full-speed forward collision warning, all of which improved the Wrangler's awkward sightlines and enhanced safety.

For the 2021 Ford Bronco, safety features scaled with trim levels. The base level included airbags, while higher trims could opt for the Mid Package, adding features like a reverse sensing system, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping system, and auto high-beam headlamps. The High Package added a 360-degree camera, forward-sensing system, and side-view mirror LED approach lamps. Uniquely, the Bronco's safety design included side curtain airbags that adapted to off-road situations by measuring lean angle and roll speed to ensure appropriate deployment.