2024 Ford Bronco vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a harmonious blend of classic and contemporary design elements. Its boxy silhouette paid homage to its rugged heritage, while modern touches like angular headlights linked it to the current Land Rover lineup. Inside, the Defender diverged from its siblings, offering a more robust and adventure-ready ambiance akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, yet with superior soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each with various trims. Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, featuring the County visual package, highlighted its retro appeal with white wheels and vintage graphics, though it also catered to those preferring a modern aesthetic with aggressive styling options.

The Defender's interior was well-equipped, with standard features on the S trim including 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable and heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, and a panoramic glass roof. Additional options like premium Windsor leather upholstery and a power-retractable cloth roof were available. Higher trims like the X-Dynamic SE and X offered larger wheels and enhanced styling, while the V8 trim added luxury touches like a center console refrigerator. The Carpathian Edition and Outbound trim catered to those seeking a more aggressive look or additional cargo space, respectively. The County package, with its distinctive color combinations, was a standout feature, though some might have preferred a more cohesive color scheme to accentuate the white wheels.

The 2024 Ford Bronco embraced a retro design reminiscent of its 1960s predecessor, particularly successful in the two-door variant. The Sasquatch Package, a popular upgrade, enhanced its off-road prowess with a suspension lift and 35-inch mud-terrain tires, giving the Bronco a rugged and ready appearance. Without this package, the Bronco's stance appeared less assertive. The Bronco offered nine trims, including the Raptor performance model, with prices ranging from $41,525 to $91,930. Our test vehicle, a four-door Big Bend trim with the Sasquatch Package, was priced at $55,415 and featured Hot Pepper Red paint, LED signature lighting, and a hardtop.

Inside, the Bronco's marine-grade upholstery was practical but less breathable, making cloth seats in the Heritage Edition a preferable option for some. The Bronco's interior was spacious, especially in the four-door model, and offered a more comfortable experience than its primary rival, the Jeep Wrangler. The Bronco's design allowed for an open-air experience with removable roof panels and doors, and its interior storage was enhanced by MOLLE panels for customizable solutions. Cargo space varied with the body style, with the two-door offering up to 53.3 cubic feet and the four-door up to 83 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Defender also offered two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options, the P500 and P525, with outputs of 493 hp and 518 hp, respectively. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and V8 models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds, while the four-cylinder could tow up to 5,500 pounds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, particularly with features like the adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system, making it a formidable choice for rugged terrains.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend came standard with a turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. It offered a seven-speed manual transmission with a low first gear for rock crawling or an optional 10-speed automatic. The Bronco's towing capacity was 3,500 pounds. An optional turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine provided 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, while the Raptor's exclusive 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 delivered 418 hp and 440 lb-ft, with a higher tow rating of 4,500 pounds. The Bronco featured a part-time four-wheel-drive system, with an advanced automatic 4WD system available. Off-road technologies like Trail Control, Trail One-Pedal Drive, and Trail Turn Assist enhanced its trail capabilities. However, the Bronco's fuel efficiency was a concern, with the Big Bend Sasquatch averaging 16.9 mpg during testing.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender balanced luxury and functionality, featuring soft-touch materials alongside practical elements like grip handles and rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied, with the Defender 110 offering an optional third row for children, while the Defender 130 accommodated up to eight passengers but with limited space. Cargo capacity depended on the model, with the Defender 130 providing up to 76.1 cubic feet with seats folded, and the Defender 110 offering up to 78.8 cubic feet in the two-row version. The Defender 90, a two-door model, offered up to 58.3 cubic feet of cargo space. The interior was versatile, though the multifunctional climate control dials were a minor inconvenience.

The 2024 Ford Bronco, particularly in the four-door configuration, offered a spacious and comfortable interior, accommodating four adults in the two-door model and more in the four-door. The Bronco's marine-grade vinyl upholstery was practical but less breathable, with cloth seats available in the Heritage Edition. The Bronco's design allowed for an open-air experience with removable roof panels and doors, and its interior storage was enhanced by MOLLE panels for customizable solutions. Cargo space varied with the body style, with the two-door offering up to 53.3 cubic feet and the four-door up to 83 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, which, while smaller than some competitors, complemented its utilitarian design. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo. The straightforward setup and home buttons facilitated easy navigation, making it user-friendly for those who prefer simplicity.

The 2024 Ford Bronco came standard with a 12-inch touchscreen Sync 4 infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect services, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a seven-speaker stereo. Higher trims included a connected navigation system and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. However, the Sync 4 system experienced connectivity issues with Apple CarPlay and inconsistent voice recognition performance. The Bronco Trail App provided access to trail maps and information, enhancing its off-road utility.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender was equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. However, the lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were overly sensitive. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend included standard safety features like 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, front parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system were available as options. The IIHS rated the Bronco four-door favorably, except for its headlight performance, while the NHTSA provided a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating.