2023 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 Ford Bronco

The 2022 Ford Bronco brought a retro-inspired design that captivated many enthusiasts. With its bold, squared-off silhouette, it paid homage to its illustrious ancestors while incorporating modern touches. The Bronco was built with off-roading at its core, a fact visible in its short overhangs, low-profile bumpers, and tall ride height, all of which contributed to excellent approach and departure angles. The utilitarian exterior featured practical elements like large recovery hooks, removable fender flares, a full-size spare tire mounted on the tailgate, and a modular design that made customization straightforward.

Inside, the Bronco carried the functional theme with marine-grade vinyl upholstery, sealed switches, drain plugs in the floor, and large rubberized toggle buttons. These design features allowed for easy cleaning, making the vehicle a perfect match for rugged adventures. Technology was seamlessly integrated into the design, with a digital instrument panel and a large infotainment touchscreen. Advanced safety features and cameras were available, ensuring no challenge was too big for the Bronco.

Entering the market in 2023, the Jeep Wrangler JL continued its legacy with a rugged, uncompromising design. The Wrangler’s boxy shape, reflecting that of a brick, was purposeful and unmistakable. Its iconic seven-slot grille, round headlights, and exterior hood latches showcased its heritage, while wide fenders with American flags added a patriotic touch. The Wrangler offered flexibility through its removable doors and fold-down windshield for an enhanced open-air experience.

Inside, the Wrangler focused on practicality with easy-to-clean floor mats and straightforward controls. The flat dash and body-colored trim pieces emphasized simplicity over luxury. While lacking in high-end features like ambient lighting or massaging seats, the Jeep made up for it with a robust design. Unique features like a bin atop the dash and optional half doors broadened its appeal, although storage solutions were noticeably minimalist compared to the Bronco.

The 2022 Ford Bronco came equipped with two notable powertrains. The base option was a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine generating 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. For those seeking more power, a turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine offered 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The four-cylinder engine could be paired with a seven-speed manual transmission, featuring a unique crawl gear for low-speed, high-torque climbing. A 10-speed automatic was standard with the V6 and optional with the four-cylinder. Each Bronco had four-wheel drive with an electronic two-speed transfer case, ensuring versatility and power across the lineup.

Testing the Bronco’s capabilities in Michigan’s upper peninsula, the Everglades model proved its mettle. With features like an intake snorkel and 35-inch Goodyear mud-terrain tires, it forded water crossings up to 36.4 inches deep and easily conquered deep mud and steep rock climbs without much effort. On the road, the Bronco outperformed the Jeep Wrangler with more stable and smoother handling, making it a comfortable ride for long trips, despite some wind noise at high speeds.

For the 2023 Jeep Wrangler, a variety of engines catered to different driving preferences. The standard V6 produced 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, while a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder generated 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. A 3.0-liter Ecodiesel V6 delivered 260 hp and an impressive 442 lb-ft of torque, ideal for torque lovers. The Wrangler Rubicon 392 stole the spotlight with a 6.4-liter V8 engine producing 470 hp and an equal amount of torque, achieving 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. The Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid combined two electric motors with a 17.3 kWh battery, delivering 21 miles of electric range. Most engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic, but the V6 and four-cylinder could also be equipped with a six-speed manual transmission.

Our tester, the Wrangler Rubicon 392, offered thrilling off-road performance with its massive power output, 35-inch tires, and advanced off-road controls like the Off-Road Plus mode. Unfortunately, its on-road performance suffered due to insufficient braking power for the V8 engine and vague steering. Other Wrangler models with less powerful engines had better-balanced brakes and slightly more precise steering, but overall, the Bronco’s on-road manners were superior.

The Bronco’s interior space benefited greatly from its boxy design. Tall passengers found ample headroom, even in the rear seats, and legroom was generous. While climbing into higher trims posed a challenge, grab handles and optional side steps helped ease the process. The two-door Bronco required an awkward maneuver to access the rear seats, a common issue in this class.

Cargo capacity varied by model. The two-door hard-top version offered up to 22.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 52.3 cubic feet with seats folded. The four-door hard-top increased these figures to 35.6 cubic feet and 77.6 cubic feet, respectively. Smart storage solutions, like an armrest bin, door pockets, and dash-mounted accessory rails, added to the Bronco’s utility. Unique features included stowable doors and easily removable fender flares.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Wrangler’s interior was less accommodating. Front seats were comfortable but lacked ventilation options, and rear seating was tight, especially with the limited access provided by the small rear doors. Storage for small items was minimal, with only a small glove box and center console, and a bin on top of the dash that could overheat devices.

The Wrangler’s cargo space measured up to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, slightly less than the Bronco’s maximum capacity. However, the Wrangler offered various top configurations that increased flexibility. The hard top could be removed in pieces, with a Sunrider option for partial open-air driving, and the Sky One-Touch power soft top provided quick, hassle-free operation.

The 2022 Ford Bronco embraced technology to enhance off-road capabilities without overwhelming the driver. G.O.A.T. modes made terrain navigation easier for novices, while experienced drivers could manually configure settings. A front trail camera provided invaluable visibility on tough trails, and Trail Turn Assist helped navigate tight spots.

Inside, the Bronco featured the intuitive Sync 4 infotainment system, which included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with helpful off-road apps. The infotainment system offered quick response times and sharp graphics, complementing the Bronco’s utilitarian yet tech-savvy nature.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Wrangler relied on the Uconnect infotainment system with either a standard 7-inch or optional 8.4-inch touchscreen. The touchscreen-only design initially appeared complex, but users quickly adapted to its intuitive layout. Jeep’s off-road pages provided detailed vehicle data, enhancing the off-road experience.

However, the Wrangler did not offer cutting-edge tech features beyond what was necessary. While a forward-facing camera and auxiliary switches were included, there was no digital key or significant over-the-air updates outside of the infotainment system.

The Ford Bronco came well-equipped with standard safety features like hill-start assist, hill descent control, and trailer sway control. Optional packages added more advanced features, such as frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts. Even more advanced options like front parking sensors, surround-view cameras, adaptive cruise control, and evasive steering assist were available, all of which performed reliably during testing.

From an official safety perspective, the NHTSA awarded the four-door Bronco four stars for frontal crash protection, but only three stars for rollover protection. The IIHS rated the Bronco “Good” in most categories, with an “Acceptable” for head restraints and seats.

In comparison, the Jeep Wrangler offered fewer standard safety features. Across the board, only the mandatory rearview camera, electronic roll mitigation, and stability control were standard. Advanced safety features like blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control were standard only on the top 392 model, otherwise optional. Lane-keeping assist was not available.

The IIHS ratings for the Wrangler showed mixed results, with some Good and some Marginal scores, while the NHTSA rated the Wrangler four stars for frontal crash tests and three stars for rollover, with no side crash rating available.