How much wider is Bronco than Wrangler?

The Bronco is the more refined vehicle of the two. It’s quieter and in terms of the vehicle’s structure, feels more solid. Thanks to that independent front suspension, the Bronco steers with more precision too. The Bronco rides and drives more like a conventional SUV than the specialized trail machine that it is. The Wrangler’s suspension isn’t rougher riding per se, but you do feel more vibration from the road coming up through the wheel and you can hear the chassis creak as it twists over big bumps. Plus, the steering inputs feels less precise.

When it comes to power and torque, the Bronco comes up on top—but those numbers translate into barely quicker acceleration times. Still, both vehicles are very quick. Our friends at Car and Driver tested similar versions of the Jeep and Ford to 60 mph and found the Wrangler to hit 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and the Bronco to arrive in 6.3 seconds. That’s virtually a tie. The Bronco has more power and torque, but that advantage is likely offset by the added weight. In our own informal drag race, the Wildtrak was able to pull ahead of the Rubicon by about a car length in a sprint to 70 mph. The difference around town is that the Bronco has a bit more low-end torque. Plus, Ford offers both “Sport” and “Eco” modes as well as a “Slippery” mode for wet weather to tailor the throttle, transfer case and transmission performance for the road conditions. The Wrangler is fleet-footed but you do notice that the turbo lags a bit more when building torque. And Jeep doesn’t offer specific modes suited to the terrain or road condition.

When it comes to fuel economy, the Wrangler pulls way ahead with an EPA rating of 22 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. The Bronco is rated at 17 mpg for both city and highway.

Low Range Crawling

Out in the desert and locked in low range, both of these trail champs were definitely in their element. The Wrangler is easier to drive out in the dirt here simply because the outward visibility is better. The Jeep’s low hood and front fenders provide a great view of the trail ahead. And you sit physically lower in the Jeep too, which combined with its tighter wheelbase makes it feel a bit more nimble. All of this makes the driver feel more connected to both the Jeep and the trail.

The Rubicon is well-suited for steep and loose dirt climbs. And this one has a series of moguls toward the top that really tested traction. The Jeep easily crawled up the hill and with the swaybar disconnected – flexed its way through the most difficult section with a little sawing of the wheel and a touch of traction control. We never came close to needing the lockers here and the whole experience was smooth, controlled and confidence inspiring. It could have easily handled a tougher climb.

How much wider is Bronco than Wrangler?

The Bronco had more difficulty here than the Jeep. The Ford crawled most of the way up smoothly but when the front tires dipped into those divots and moguls, it became a little unstable. Then, as the front tires began to lose traction, the driver’s side front wheel began to sky high into the air—it looked and felt a little dicey, if we’re honest. We fed in more throttle, sawed the wheel back and forth and the Bronco made it to the top (see accompanying video). We tried the run again with the rear locker engaged and there was far less drama, although it still struggled in that difficult section. The smoothest attempt was the third, where we drove the hill with both lockers engaged.

Fire Road Fishtails

How much wider is Bronco than Wrangler?

The fire road for this section of the test was a snaky, bumpy, undulating ribbon of dirt. The one-lane dirt track twists up and around miles of high voltage powerline towers that dot the landscape. The road was a perfect test for both vehicle’s suspensions at higher speeds. And here, the Bronco felt more composed. The suspension did an excellent job soaking up the jolts from bigger rocks. And the steering was very direct, making the truck easy to drive quickly. The potent V6 hits with plenty of torque and power anytime it’s needed. And that’s especially true when you click the G.O.A.T. mode selector over to “Baja”. Downsides? You could definitely feel the heft of the Bronco here. The Jeep was nimbler. Still, the Bronco’s structure felt stiffer and more robust hammering along this road.

How much wider is Bronco than Wrangler?

The Rubicon’s lighter weight was a clear advantage here. The Jeep was easy and fun to flick through the corners. And the Rubicon’s soft suspension did a good job absorbing the big bumps. However, the Wrangler’s structure felt like it had a bit more twist and quake when we hit a really rough patch. You could feel the vibrations coming up through the steering wheel. And the Rubicon’s steering was less precise, slower to react and had more play in it than the Bronco, too.

The Bottom Line

In this test, it’s really a battle of strengths. The “best” one is really dependent upon the terrain. It also depends upon how you plan to use the vehicle and what attributes are the most valuable. The Bronco is fun, capable and packs all the retro style one could want. This particular model just wasn’t as adept at the low speed, high-articulation crawling or hill climb chores as the Rubicon. Still, it was better to drive over higher speed terrain and it was much more civilized and refined on the tarmac. Plus, the extra cargo capacity and general comfort might make it a great choice for overlanding.

How much wider is Bronco than Wrangler?

The Wrangler was the clear slow-speed champ. The solid axle suspension flex, gearing and impressive traction control system make the Jeep massively capable for a stock vehicle. It feels purpose-built to elegantly excel at all types of four-wheeling. But on the street and over higher-speed terrain, the Wrangler feels more primitive, less refined and a little compromised. But Wrangler owners are happy to sacrifice some on-road driving dynamics for all that trail prowess.

The good news is that there’s an amazing abundance of aftermarket parts for both vehicles to make them more useful, look tougher and perform much better in the dirt. So, it’s possible to customize a Bronco or Wrangler into the exact type of four-wheeler that best suits your needs.

Is Ford Bronco bigger than a Jeep Rubicon?

The Jeep's 270-hp turbo 2.0-liter is the best matchup for the Bronco's 2.3-liter. Paired with an eight-speed automatic, it took the Wrangler to 60 mph in a quick 5.8 seconds. Although its wheelbase is 2.3 inches longer than the Ford's, this Jeep is 2.0 inches narrower and weighs 444 pounds less.

Does the Bronco ride like the Wrangler?

The ride is as civilized as the Wrangler four-door — the two-door is bouncier due to the short wheelbase — but on paved roads, the Bronco tracks better with less of the “sailboat in a windstorm” instability that's always plagued the Wrangler.

Is Ford Bronco safer than Jeep Wrangler?

The area that makes impact must be biased towards the driver's side, which helps simulate hitting another vehicle, or an object like a telephone pole. As the IIHS has previously reported, the Ford Bronco received a Good rating for its efforts in this area, whereas the Wrangler pulled away with only a Marginal score.

Does the Bronco drive like a Jeep?

The Bronco comes standard with four-wheel drive, just like the Wrangler. And, like the Wrangler, it offers all sorts of off-roading equipment like a forward-facing camera, a disconnecting stabilizer bar and knobby off-road tires. The differences in their standard and available equipment are minor.