The 2024 Jeep Wrangler Only Has 1 Advantage Over the Ford Bronco
When it comes to being crowned the ultimate offroader, there are some heavy-hitters always battling for the title. Of course, two of the top contenders are the Jeep Wrangler and the Ford Bronco, who have both proven themselves as top-tier all-terrain SUVs over the years. While it’s stiff competition, it seems that the 2024 Jeep Wrangler has one distinct and notable advantage over the Ford Bronco. Here’s why.
A look at the 2024 Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco
The 2024 Jeep Wrangler is available in seven different trim options. According to Jeep, the baseline two-door Sport trim starts at $31,895. The Sport trim comes standard with a 285 hp 3.6L V6 engine, a 6-speed manual transmission, and 4WD. Upgrading to the 8-speed automatic transmission will add an extra $2,500 to the sales price. The fuel economy of the Sport trim averages 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined.
In contrast to the Wrangler, the 2023 Ford Bronco is available in nine various trim options. Ford offers the baseline two-door Base trim at a starting price of $34,890. Under the hood, a Base trim Bronco comes standard with a 275 hp 2.3L four-cylinder EcoBoost engine, a 7-speed manual transmission, and 4WD.
Upgrading to the 10-speed automatic transmission will add an extra $1,595 to the build price. The fuel economy on the Base trim averages 20 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined.
The one big advantage the Wrangler offers over the Bronco
When comparing the Wrangler to the Bronco, it quickly becomes evident that the two offroading SUVs are quite similar. The two offer consumers similar horsepower on the base trims, with the Wrangler providing 285 hp to the Bronco’s 275 hp. They also both come standard with manual transmission but can easily be upgraded to automatic powertrains during the build process. In addition, the two also offer similar fuel economy on their base trims, with both SUVs averaging 20 mpg combined.
While the two offroading SUVS share a lot of similarities, it seems that the one big advantage that the Wrangler wages over the Bronco is price.
Both SUVs can be purchased for under $35K for the bare-bones base models. However, the Wrangler is undeniably more affordable when comparing its $31,895 starting price to the Bronco’s $34,890 starting price. For consumers looking to get behind the wheel of an all-terrain SUV on a budget, the nearly $3K in savings could be a big motivator in choosing the Wrangler over the Bronco.
Some other considerations for potential owners
While a more affordable price is an obvious benefit of opting for the Wrangler, there are certain elements where the Bronco provides more value. According to MotorTrend, the Bronco provides more torque and towing capacity compared to the Wrangler. The Bronco provides 3,500 lbs of towing capacity and 315 lb. ft. torque. In contrast, the Wrangler only provides 2,000 lbs of towing capacity and 260 lb. ft. torque.
Another win for the Ford Bronco over the Jeep Wrangler is interior space and comfortability. While both all-terrain SUVs seat four passengers, the Bronco offers a considerable amount more cargo capacity compared to the Wrangler.
The Wrangler only provides 72.4 cu-ft of cargo capacity, compared to the Bronco’s 99 cu-ft of cargo capacity. However, the Wrangler does come out on top in the area of ground clearance as it provides 12.9 inches compared to the Bronco’s 8.4 inches. Overall, opting for one all-terrain SUV over the other might just come down to brand loyalty.
