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It’s no secret that the 2021 Ford Bronco had its sights set on the Jeep Wrangler since before the rubber ever hit the road. Jeep laid claim to the off-road crown decades ago and has never really seen much competition. Now the CEO of Jeep says that a little competition from the 2021 Ford Bronco is exactly what the 2021 Jeep Wrangler needed to stay great. Game on. 

Jeep Wrangler ripping through the sand shows that its ready for some competition from the 2021 Ford Bronco
2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 | Jeep

Jeep doesn’t mind a little stiff competition from the 2021 Ford Bronco 

A year ago, the Jeep Wrangler as an SUV and as a concept would have struggled to be seen lined up against the sixth-generation Ford Bronco. However, while the Bronco has been delayed for the 9 trillionth time, the Jeep brand has come a long way in offering unique versions of the off-road experience that the Bronco currently doesn’t offer. 

According to The Detroit News, this must be what Jeep CEO Christian Meunier meant when he said “Competition is great” during a media roundtable. “There is a craving for freedom to make you go anywhere. I think the Bronco will be a good competitor, a solid competitor; we don’t deny that. At the same time, it puts us on our toes. It forces us to be better and better and better.” 

Is the 2021 Jeep Wrangler better than the 2021 Ford Bronco? 

A yellow 2021 Ford Bronco Sport kicking up dirt
2021 Ford Bronco Sport | Ford

The 2021 Ford Bronco is not only an impressive piece of off-road kit, but it has also grabbed the hearts and minds of the off-road world. Even with customers excitedly waiting for their Broncos to show up, the Jeep brand and the Jeep Wrangler, in particular, has its own throne carved from the bedrock of the SUV segment. Jeep is a tough mark to beat.

It’s fair to say that Jeep has maybe gotten a little complacent over the years. Now that the Bronco is here to give the Wrangler some competition, Jeep is stepping up. 

Meunier’s comments show that Jeep isn’t going to let the Bronco just waltz back into the 4×4 limelight without a fight. Jeep has been the segment leader for decades, and they aren’t about to let that be taken. 

Even though the Bronco is a super-strong truck, Jeep is pushing the envelope of the SUV world by adding the 392 Hemi Wrangler, the Hybrid Wrangler 4xe, and the incoming fully-electric Wrangler. As good as the Bronco is said to be, it simply doesn’t have these versions to offer yet.

Is an electric Jeep Wrangler coming soon? 

An image of a Jeep Wrangler underwater.
Jeep Wrangler underwater | Jeep

Jeep has been dropping concepts, teasers, and hints that big things are coming quickly for Jeep Wrangler. According to Ford Authority, Meunier feels pretty confident about Jeep’s positioning against the Ford Bronco. “There are a lot of things that are coming that are in the pipeline,” Meunier added. “We are going to keep our king of the hill position, for sure.” 

Aside from the V8 and electric Wranglers, the newest Jeep promotional video shows a whole host of new technologies that few would have associated with Jeep. Some of the future additions include things like biometric recognition, autonomous driving, drone connectivity, and more. 

Some of these features feel more Tesla than Wrangler, but time will tell how many of these futuristic features will come to pass. Until then, the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco battle seems to be stacking up for something more like a war. May the best rectangle on wheels win. 

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Peter Corn

Peter Corn joined MotorBiscuit as an Autos Writer in 2020 and brings his quippiest Southern drawl to our table. Having, in his words, “helped” rebuild his dad’s 1959 MGA as a small child, Peter grew up loving vintage cars and trucks, adding motorcycles and all things 4×4 as he went.

Peter earned a Bachelor of Archeology and Creative Writing from the University of Alabama and has since melded his love of driving with storytelling. His voice, full of pleasantries and witticisms, can be enjoyed in The Gentleman Racer, The Vintagent, Gear Patrol, Iron & Air Magazine, and Classic Car Club Magazine.

Peter is a co-founder of both The Colloquial Magazine and The Fire Escape, the official podcast of The Colloquial. In an effort to increase his abilities in “ramping anything with wheels,” Peter has taken track training from Classic Car Club Manhattan and attended Rally School at Monticello Motor Club, where he was coached by eight-time Performance Rally motorsport champion Chris Duplessis.

On a lucky day, we get to hear Peter tell the story of his first car, a jewel of a 1958 Ford Fairlane, into which he dumped more time and money than made sense, but he has no regrets.