2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs 2021 Ford Bronco

The 2021 Ford Bronco was a long-awaited revival of a classic, with Ford teasing its return since 2004. The new Bronco drew inspiration from its 1966 predecessor, embodying a "Retrofuturism" design that combined nostalgic elements with modern technology. Its 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. The Bronco was available in two-door and four-door configurations, offering a range of wheelbase and length options. Inside, the Bronco blended retro styling with contemporary tech, including a color touchscreen and a digitized instrument cluster. The interior was designed for durability, with reinforced metal and rubber-lined grab handles, and offered practical features like stretchy mesh door pockets.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, presenting a traditional SUV design with a tall hood and broad shoulders. It distinguished itself with a black roof, model-specific hood, and a forward-leaning grille with laser-etched knurling. The Grand Wagoneer boasted a luxurious interior with high-quality materials, including Nappa leather upholstery and American Walnut wood trim. It offered 24-way power front seats with massage and memory functions, heated and ventilated seats, and a heated steering wheel. The cabin was spacious, with more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than its competitors, although it offered less cargo space when all seats were folded. The Grand Wagoneer also featured a standard sunroof and four-zone automatic climate control.

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 V6 with 310 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The 2.3-liter engine came with a seven-speed manual transmission, while the 2.7-liter was paired with a 10-speed automatic. All models featured standard four-wheel drive. During testing in challenging weather conditions, the Bronco demonstrated its off-road prowess, handling mud, slick rocks, and treacherous trails with ease. The First Edition model, equipped with the Sasquatch package and 35-inch tires, provided a noisy but capable ride on pavement and excelled off-road, offering excellent traction and balance.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in six seconds. The Grand Wagoneer featured standard four-wheel drive with the Quadra-Drive II system, offering five drive modes and a two-speed transfer case. It also included the Quadra-Lift air suspension system, providing adjustable ride height for various driving conditions. With 10 inches of ground clearance and the ability to ford up to 24 inches of water, the Grand Wagoneer was equipped for off-road adventures. However, its size and weight made it less agile on the road, with a bouncy ride and imprecise steering at higher speeds.

The 2021 Ford Bronco emphasized modularity, with removable doors and fenders designed for easy storage and replacement. The doors featured integrated grip handles and protective storage bags, while the electrical connections were simple to disconnect. The Bronco's cargo hold accommodated the stored doors, and the vehicle included standard underbody protection and optional skid plates. The interior featured practical touches like trail sights on the hood for managing roof-mounted cargo and a row of buttons for suspension settings. The Bronco's design prioritized functionality, making it easy to customize and repair after off-road excursions.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard captain's chairs or eight with an optional bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than its competitors, although it had less cargo space when all seats were folded. The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 9,850 pounds, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its additional weight. Standard features included a sunroof, four-zone climate control, and large storage bins. The Grand Wagoneer's hood limited forward visibility, but the standard 360-degree camera system helped mitigate this issue.

The 2021 Ford Bronco featured the G.O.A.T. system for off-road traction control, with up to seven drive modes available. It used Ford's SYNC 4 infotainment system with an 8-inch standard touchscreen, upgradeable to a 12-inch screen. The Lux Package added a 10-speaker B&O sound system, navigation, and wireless charging. The Bronco also offered position-sensitive Bilstein shock absorbers as part of the Sasquatch Package, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and had a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch touchscreen, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer used the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, featuring an Android-based operating system and over-the-air updates. It also offered Amazon Alexa connectivity and Fire TV for Auto, allowing passengers to stream content and share screens.

The 2021 Ford Bronco offered a range of safety features, with more available as you moved up the trim levels. The Base model included airbags, while higher trims added Ford Co-Pilot 360 with pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping systems. 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, considering factors like lean angle and roll speed.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer included standard safety features like a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included a driver-attention monitor, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. Active Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, with a hands-free version planned for future release. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of launch.