2024 Ford Bronco vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Ford Bronco embraced a retro design reminiscent of the 1960s, particularly in its two-door variant, which was more successful in capturing the nostalgic aesthetic than the four-door model. The Sasquatch Package, a notable upgrade, enhanced the Bronco's rugged appearance with a suspension lift and 35-inch mud-terrain tires, giving it a wide stance and a purposeful look. Without this package, the Bronco's standard tires appeared awkwardly small within the fender flares. The Bronco offered nine trim levels, including the Raptor performance model, with prices ranging from $41,525 to $91,930, including destination charges. Our test vehicle, a four-door Big Bend trim with the Sasquatch Package, was priced at $55,415. Inside, the Bronco featured an 8-inch digital display and a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with a design that paid homage to the original 1960s Bronco. The interior was more refined than its primary rival, the Jeep Wrangler, offering better visibility and a more comfortable driving experience.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender, particularly in its 110 four-door configuration, struck a balance between ruggedness and visual appeal. The Defender 130, however, appeared visually heavy over its rear wheels. Base prices ranged from $58,525 to $120,525, with the new Defender OCTA priced at $153,625. Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, included the Extended Black Exterior Pack and off-roading technology, priced at $106,092. The Defender X featured premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, with a choice of Ebony or Caraway colors. The interior had an industrial theme, focusing on quality materials and a purposeful design. Despite its rugged appearance, the Defender was not a traditional luxury SUV, but it offered a comfortable and functional cabin.

The 2024 Ford Bronco offered a range of engines, starting with a standard turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed manual transmission was available for rock crawling, while a 10-speed automatic was optional. The Bronco's towing capacity was 3,500 pounds. An optional 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine delivered 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, requiring the automatic transmission. The Raptor model featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 with 418 hp and 440 lb-ft, boasting a 4,500-pound tow rating. The Bronco's part-time 4WD system was standard, with an advanced automatic 4WD system available. Off-roading technologies included Trail Control, Trail One-Pedal Drive, and Trail Turn Assist. The Bronco's fuel economy was not its strong suit, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg combined for the Big Bend Sasquatch. During testing, it averaged 16.9 mpg. The Bronco excelled off-road, handling trails with ease, but its on-road performance was less refined, with noticeable wind and tire noise.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission with Sport and manual shift modes connected to a standard AWD system with a low-range setting. The Defender's maximum tow rating was 8,200 pounds, and it accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. The Defender X came with an adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes. Off-road capabilities were enhanced by the Off-Road Pack and Advanced Off-Road Pack. The Defender excelled off-road, but during testing, it was primarily driven on pavement. The Defender 130's ground clearance was 11.4 inches, with a 37.5-degree approach angle and a 28.8-degree departure angle. The six-cylinder engine provided ample power, but the Defender's handling on twisty roads was less engaging. The Defender's fuel economy was rated at 19 mpg combined, but it averaged 16.2 mpg during testing.

The 2024 Ford Bronco, particularly in the Big Bend Sasquatch trim, required some effort to enter and exit due to its lifted stance and lack of running boards. Inside, the Bronco was comfortable, accommodating four adults in both two-door and four-door configurations. The four-door model offered more space than a Jeep Wrangler, with no rollbar obstructing rear-seat passengers. The marine-grade vinyl upholstery was durable but trapped moisture, making cloth seats a preferable option. The Bronco's roof and doors were removable, allowing for an open-air experience. Cargo space in the two-door model was 22.4 cubic feet, expanding to 53.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The four-door model offered 38.3 cubic feet with the soft top and 83 cubic feet with the seats down, slightly reduced with the optional hardtop.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 provided three rows of seating, with 12-way power-adjustable front seats offering heating and ventilation. The Defender's tall seating position and large windows provided excellent visibility, though the square side mirrors were undersized. The Defender X featured a panoramic sunroof and a fixed glass panel over the third row, creating an open and airy feel. Storage space was ample in the front, but less accommodating in the rear. The second-row captain's chairs were heated and ventilated, with a four-zone climate control system available. The Defender 130's third-row seat was spacious and comfortable, with a side-hinged cargo door providing access to 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Folding the third row expanded the space to 43.7 cubic feet, with a maximum of 89 cubic feet with all rear seats folded.

The 2024 Ford Bronco came standard with a 12-inch touchscreen Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, FordPass Connect, SiriusXM 360L, and a seven-speaker stereo. Higher trims offered a Bang & Olufsen sound system with 10 speakers. However, the Sync 4 system experienced connectivity issues with Apple CarPlay and inconsistent voice recognition. The Bronco Trail App provided access to trail maps and information. The 8-inch digital instrumentation panel required a short learning curve, but the steering wheel controls were somewhat distracting.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system with an 11.4-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The system's response to voice commands was slower than desired, but its accuracy was impressive. The user interface was more intuitive than previous versions, and programming radio stations was straightforward. The Defender's Meridian premium sound system delivered excellent audio quality. Additional features included a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system. The Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend included standard safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, and a backup camera. The Mid Package added Ford Co-Pilot360 technologies, including lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera system were optional. The Bronco received favorable crash-test ratings from the IIHS, except for its headlight performance. NHTSA ratings were incomplete, with a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with driver aids such as automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. A Driver Assistance Mode menu allowed customization of assistance levels. The lane-keep assist was decisive, though it occasionally attempted to steer the Defender into a turnout area. Crash-test ratings for the Defender were unavailable at press time.