2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was introduced as a smaller sibling to the much-anticipated Bronco, capturing some of the classic styling cues of its larger counterpart. It was designed as a unibody crossover with a focus on everyday driving, yet ready for weekend adventures. The Bronco Sport boasted a modern retro aesthetic, reminiscent of a Land Rover, with short front and rear overhangs for improved approach angles. Its design was tailored for trail driving, featuring tall fender wells and a tucked-in body to minimize snagging on obstacles. The vehicle's bold "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, along with a modest Ford badge, added to its distinctive look.

Inside, the Bronco Sport offered a rugged yet tasteful interior, with a unique design for the HVAC vents and an 8-inch infotainment screen. The interior trim varied across models, from cloth to leather-trimmed seats, with options for heated and power-adjustable seats. The vehicle also featured a rotary gear selector and ample storage options, including open cubbies and a rubberized cargo floor in higher trims.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic status with its timeless design, featuring circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, and exposed bolts and hinges. The Wrangler's appearance varied with trim levels, offering options like painted or exposed fenders and different roof styles, but always retained its unmistakable identity. The Wrangler was known for its upright seating position and limited legroom, which some drivers found charming rather than inconvenient.

The Wrangler's trims included the Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, with special editions like the Willys and 80th Anniversary. The Sport trim was basic, with manual features, while the Sport S added power conveniences and optional packages. The Sahara was more street-oriented, offering dual-zone climate control and a 7-inch touchscreen. The Rubicon was tailored for off-road enthusiasts, with enhanced suspension and running gear, and the Rubicon 392 featured a powerful Hemi V8 engine.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine options, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims were equipped with a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands and First Edition models featured a more robust 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and generous ground clearance. It also offered a terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler's powertrain lineup included a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, with a choice of a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Other options included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant, a 270-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. The Wrangler's 4WD systems varied by trim, with the Rubicon featuring the advanced Rock-Trac system and front-and-rear locking differentials. The Rubicon 392 stood out with its 6.4-liter V8 engine, generating 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, making it a powerful off-road performer.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was designed with active buyers in mind, offering cargo space capable of accommodating two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes. It featured over 100 factory and aftermarket accessories for transporting outdoor gear. The roof could support up to 150 pounds, and the vehicle could tow up to 2,200 pounds with the 2.0-liter engine. The cargo area included a flip-up rear glass and an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin offered ample storage compartments, though some drivers found visibility challenging due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered various roof options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top and the Freedom hardtop with removable panels. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, providing a convenient open-air experience. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets. It also included drain plugs for easy cleaning. The Wrangler Unlimited provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, though the wheel-wells and roll-bars could limit space for larger items.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It offered FordConnect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and an optional Bang & Olufsen sound system. The terrain management system included up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, and trail control technology was available for off-roading. Higher trims included a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel and heated, leather-wrapped steering wheels.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler's Sport trim came with a basic 5-inch screen, while higher trims offered a 7-inch or 8.4-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Rubicon 392 featured a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera nestled in the front grille. The larger screens provided crisp graphics and intuitive controls, enhancing the Wrangler's tech offerings.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist. All models featured AWD and a terrain management system with traction control and electronic stability control. However, crash-worthiness ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered optional safety features like forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. A backup camera with dynamic guidelines was standard, but lane-departure warning was not available. The Wrangler also featured a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading.