2021 Ford Bronco vs 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2021 Ford Bronco was a nostalgic nod to its roots, drawing inspiration from the original 1966 model. It embraced a "Retrofuturism" design philosophy, blending classic aesthetics with modern technology. The Bronco's exterior featured a single-piece grille with bold B-R-O-N-C-O lettering, round headlights, and a rugged body with removable doors and fenders. Available in two-door and four-door configurations, it offered a range of wheel and tire options, including the off-road-ready Sasquatch package. Inside, the Bronco combined retro styling with contemporary technology, featuring a color touchscreen, digital instrument cluster, and rugged materials. The interior was designed for practicality, with features like stretchy mesh door pockets and sturdy grab handles.

In contrast, the 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar exuded luxury and sophistication. Its design was a sleek, sporty interpretation of the classic Range Rover profile, with a long wheelbase, short overhangs, and a trapezoidal roof. The Velar's exterior was characterized by flush door handles, a sweptback fascia, and distinctive taillight lenses. Inside, the Velar's cabin was a blend of high-quality materials and modern technology. The interior featured a polished black center stack, aluminum accents, and a reconfigurable instrument panel. Despite its stylish design, the Velar's interior was slightly cramped, with limited headroom and cargo space. The infotainment system, Pivi Pro, offered a user-friendly interface with voice activation and advanced navigation features.

The 2021 Ford Bronco offered two engine options: a standard 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four with 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, and an optional 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged engine with 310 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The Bronco's off-road prowess was evident during test drives in challenging conditions, where it demonstrated excellent traction and balance. The Sasquatch package, with its 35-inch tires, enhanced the Bronco's off-road capabilities. On-road, the Bronco's ride was noisy and wiggly with the larger tires, but the 2.7-liter engine provided smooth power delivery.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar shared its chassis with the Jaguar F-Pace, resulting in a lower center of gravity and improved handling. The base engine was a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 247 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Velar's ride was smooth and controlled, especially with the optional air suspension. The 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system offered more power, with up to 395 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. While the Velar excelled on the road, its off-road capabilities were limited compared to the Bronco.

The 2021 Ford Bronco emphasized modularity and practicality. Its removable doors and fenders, along with dedicated storage solutions, made it easy to customize and repair. The Bronco's interior featured smart design elements like trail sights on the hood and accessible controls for off-road settings. The spacious interior accommodated passengers comfortably, with thoughtful touches like overhead grab handles.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar prioritized style over space. Its sleek design resulted in limited headroom and cargo capacity, with 16 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 49 cubic feet with seats folded. The Velar's interior was marred by a confusing parking brake control and a bulky shifter that obstructed controls. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment system improved usability with a cleaner interface and advanced features.

The 2021 Ford Bronco featured the SYNC 4 infotainment system with enhanced voice recognition. The standard 8-inch touchscreen could be upgraded to a 12-inch display, and the Lux Package added a 10-speaker B&O sound system and wireless charging. The G.O.A.T. system offered multiple drive modes for various terrains, enhancing the Bronco's off-road capabilities.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar's Pivi Pro infotainment system was a pleasant surprise, offering a simplified layout and logical arrangements. It included features like voice activation, a PM2.5 air filter, and advanced navigation. The Velar's instrument panel could display full-width maps and reconfigure layouts, while the optional adaptive cruise control provided steering assist.

The 2021 Ford Bronco offered a range of safety features, with more options available on higher trims. The Mid Package included Ford Co-Pilot 360 with pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The High Package added a 360-degree camera and forward-sensing system. The Bronco's side curtain airbags were designed to deploy appropriately in off-road situations.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar scored well in European NCAP tests, with a five-star rating and a 93-percent score for impact tests. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included 360-degree cameras and adaptive cruise control with steering assist.