2021 Ford Bronco vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

Ford had been teasing the public with the new Bronco since 2004, and the anticipation culminated with the release of the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, a compact crossover SUV built on the Ford Escape platform but enhanced with standard all-wheel drive and adventure-friendly styling. The original Bronco, which debuted in 1966 and continued through five generations until 1996, established a solid reputation for off-road capability. The 2021 Bronco drew heavily from this heritage, embodying a design ethos known as “Retrofuturism.” This approach modernized the classic lines, seamlessly blending the old with the new, akin to the success seen with the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger. The 2021 Bronco featured a single-piece grille, round headlights connected by bold B-R-O-N-C-O lettering, and distinctive removable off-road sights on the hood. Its body was flat and simple, accented with fender flares and standard 32-inch tires, which could be upgraded to 35-inch tires with the Sasquatch package. Around the back, the Bronco sported a full-size spare tire mounted on a rack that swung away to access the side-hinged half tailgate and flip-up back glass. The Bronco came in two-door models with a 100.4-inch wheelbase and four-door models with a 116.1-inch wheelbase. It could be equipped with either a soft-top or a modular removable hardtop and was available in eleven paint colors, including eye-catching options like Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat and Antimatter Blue. Inside, the Bronco’s dashboard design was rooted in the original, but modernized with advanced technology like a color touchscreen and a digitized instrument cluster. The interior used a mix of plastic, rubber, and metal, reinforcing areas of heavy use and integrating practical features like stretchy mesh door pockets and sturdy overhead grab handles for rear passengers. In contrast, the 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its distinctive, boxy profile featuring a tailgate-mounted spare tire and flat hood, visually linking it to the original Defender and the classic Series Land Rovers. Despite the retro elements, the Defender’s design was thoroughly modern, with rounded corners for better aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights adding a unique character. The modern Defender was significantly larger than its predecessor, enhancing interior space and ergonomics. The Defender’s interior mixed rugged charm with practical function, leaving some bare metal and exposed screws in the doors, juxtaposed with leather and suede in high-end models. This was a deliberate choice to maintain durability and handle tougher environments better than traditional all-leather interiors. The driving position was more comfortable than the original Defender while still offering excellent outward visibility.

The 2021 Ford Bronco offered a standard 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine with 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, and an optional 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The 2.3-liter engine came with a seven-speed manual transmission (six gears plus a crawler gear), while the 2.7-liter engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission (optional with the 2.3-liter). All Bronco models featured standard four-wheel drive. In testing, the Bronco performed commendably on both paved and off-road conditions. The First Edition trim, equipped with the 2.7-liter engine and 35-inch tires from the Sasquatch package, provided a noisy but manageable drive on pavement. The 10-speed automatic transmission delivered smooth power transitions, with a quick response to throttle inputs. Off-road, the Bronco demonstrated impressive capability. The two-door, base-model Bronco with the 2.7-liter engine and 35-inch tires tackled challenging terrain with ease. The combination of flexible suspension, smart electronics, and excellent traction control made it suitable for both novice and experienced off-roaders. For the 2022 Land Rover Defender, engine choices included a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid producing 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, and a V8 engine producing 518 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque. The V8 could accelerate the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds with a top speed of 149 mph. All powertrains were mated to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission with standard four-wheel drive. On the road, the Defender provided a smooth and comfortable ride, absorbing bumps effectively and handling crosswinds better than its Jeep Wrangler competitor. The Defender’s suspension offered a balance of comfort and off-road readiness. Though the V8 model had sportier handling characteristics, it felt less composed than the six-cylinder model during aggressive cornering. Off-road, the Defender lived up to Land Rover’s heritage, featuring a low-range 4WD system, excellent approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance. The optional Terrain Response 2 system and All-Terrain Progress Control further enhanced its capability.

The 2021 Ford Bronco excelled in practical design elements influenced by consumer and aftermarket feedback. Notably, it featured modularity across components such as removable doors, which could be stored in dedicated protective bags in the cargo hold. This was complemented by the ease of electrical disconnection and simple hardware for removal. The chassis featured standard protection, with accessory skid plates for additional security, while fenders and bumpers were easily replaceable for cost-effective repairs. The Bronco’s interior design ensured practical use of space with well-placed switches for off-road control and auxiliary toggles for additional equipment. Amenities such as stretchy mesh door pockets and integrated grab handles highlighted its user-centric design. Meanwhile, the 2022 Land Rover Defender offered a well-thought-out interior with flexible seating configurations. The two-door Defender 90 had 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats that were fairly comfortable but required effort to access. The four-door Defender 110, available in two-row and three-row configurations, provided up to 70.4 cubic feet of cargo space with seats folded. The extended dashboard shelf housed the shifter and climate-control knobs, leaving ample space for a large storage caged area below. Additionally, a massive center-console bin, which could be refrigerated, added to the convenience. The Defender's exterior offered functional design choices, such as an optional basket-style roof rack and cargo boxes for additional storage in the wilderness.

The 2021 Bronco featured SYNC 4 with enhanced voice recognition, and an 8-inch standard touchscreen, upgradeable to a 12-inch screen with the High Package. Further upgrades included a 10-speaker B&O sound system, voice-activated touchscreen navigation, and wireless device charging in the Lux Package. The G.O.A.T. (Go Over Any Terrain) system provided up to seven drive modes, facilitating a versatile driving experience. For the 2022 Defender, the standard Pivi Pro infotainment system included a 10-inch central touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, except on the base model. An optional 11.4-inch touchscreen was available for 2022, complemented by well-designed graphics and menu layouts. Additional options included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and surround-view camera system, which was particularly beneficial for off-roading.

The 2021 Ford Bronco’s safety features varied with trim levels, starting with basic standard features such as airbags. Higher trims offered packages like the Mid Package, which included Ford Co-Pilot 360 with additional features like blind-spot information, lane-keeping systems, and auto high-beam headlamps. The side curtain airbags were engineered to address the unique needs of off-road scenarios. The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with standard driver-assist technologies such as lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. Neither vehicle had crash-test ratings from NHTSA or IIHS at the time.