Jeep Wrangler Owner Declares Ford Bronco Superior After Trade

By Brett Foote - January 6, 2023

After spending five years with his Wrangler Rubicon, this new Ford Bronco owner is blown away by how much better it is.

From the second we learned that the Ford Bronco was making a comeback following a 25 year absence, everyone’s first thought was – how will it stack up against the Jeep Wrangler? After all, in all fairness to Jeep fans, the Wrangler has been a massive success for quite a few years now, selling like hotcakes in a segment where it has had essentially no competition for a very long time. Problem is, comparison tests and many personal opinions are just based on a short period of time spent with each vehicle, and there’s also bias involved. However, that isn’t the case with this extensive comparison recently shared with us from a former Wrangler and new Ford Bronco owner named Dennis over at Bronco6G.

Dennis owned a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon for five years, and drove it extensively both on- and off-road, but when the Bronco was announced, he reserved one and proceeded to play the waiting game, like many others. A full 2.5 years later, he took delivery, and proceeded to immediately put 750 miles on the clock. As one might imagine, a favorite between the two quickly emerged. “Even after a day of ownership I can say it is better than the Wrangler,” Dennis declared, before giving us a rundown of why that’s the case.

The first reason is a big one – ride quality, a category the Bronco has an edge in thanks to its independent front suspension. “Jeep’s ride was rough, Dennis said. “This is known. But five years of having my back bounce off every pothole made Bronco’s smooth and comfortable ride truly a joyous experience. Jeeps are still cool but I don’t think I would ever go back to the rough and tumble ride of the Jeep.” The Wrangler also has its fair share of well-documented steering issues, and Dennis admits his Rubicon received a new steering box, yet still didn’t track in the middle of the road as it should – problems the Bronco doesn’t experience.

Then there’s the lack of power from the Wrangler’s 3.6-liter V6. “Going up hills was a constant battle with my having to shift to lower gears,” Dennis said, while simply merging on the highway was also a chore – problems that the EcoBoost V6-powered Bronco doesn’t experience. Aside from that, the Bronco earns a win in every other conceivable category – seat comfort, controls, infotainment screen, and of course, the fact that the side mirrors aren’t mounted to the doors like they are on the Jeep, so they can stay on when the doors come off.

Throw in better fit, finish, and quality, and it’s easy to see why one of the Bronco’s biggest conquests in the sales room is the Wrangler. Ford set out to essentially build a better version of that particular vehicle, and for many – like Dennis – they succeeded with flying colors.

Photos: Bronco6G, Ford, Jeep