The comparison between the 2023 Ford Bronco and the 2023 Jeep Wrangler is a classic Hollywood story. In one corner, the reigning champion—the Jeep Wrangler—has ruled the segment for approximately forever. And in the other corner, you have the young and talented upstart—the Ford Bronco—desirous of knocking the champ off its pedestal.
The Jeep Wrangler needs no introduction. It is the vehicle most people think of when they hear the word "Jeep." It has a heritage that dates back well before its current manufacturer to American Bantam, Willys, and World War II. To most Americans, it is the quintessential off-road vehicle. To Stellantis, the current manufacturer of Jeep vehicles worldwide, it is the crown jewel. The Wrangler is the vehicle that validates every Jeep product as a bona fide off-roader. And the executives at Jeep know that the Wrangler is, in sports terms, a franchise player. They want to do everything they can to maintain the Jeep Wrangler's position as the pre-eminent all-terrain vehicle in the world. It is the champion, my friend.
Of course, the fate of every champion is to face challengers. That goes with the territory. And the Ford Bronco represents the latest challenge to the Jeep Wrangler's championship reign.
Those with long memories will recall the Ford Bronco has a lengthy heritage of its own. Introduced in the 1966 model year, the original Ford Bronco competed against the Jeep CJ—the spiritual ancestor of the Wrangler—and the International Harvester Scout. Ford continued to build and sell Broncos through five generations before sunsetting the model at the close of the 1996 model year. But the legion of Bronco fans never gave up on reviving it. Seeing the immense popularity of the Jeep Wrangler through the first two decades of the 21st century, Ford executives decided to bring the Bronco back. And it returned as a direct competitor to the Jeep Wrangler for the 2021 model year.
This brings us to the current day, where the 2023 Ford Bronco and 2023 Jeep Wrangler compete for the same off-road enthusiast buyers and those who want to look like they are. Both automakers offer 2- and 4-door versions of these popular SUV models. Both offer a choice of powertrains. And both have wildly partisan supporters who consider their vehicle of choice more than just a transportation device.
2023 Ford Bronco Heritage Limited Edition
Ford re-launched the Bronco as a 2021 model with an abbreviated lineup, but the brand's success has spawned new variants. The 2023 Ford Bronco is available in 10 trim levels: Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Badlands, Heritage, Wildtrak, Everglades, Heritage Limited, and Raptor. Most trims are available in 2- and 4-door body styles. The swamp-fording Everglades trim and the desert-running Raptor are only available as 4-doors.
The Base model ($32,295) is the most inexpensive way to join the Bronco brigade. Like all Broncos, it offers part-time 4-wheel-drive (4WD) and a terrain-management system with individual driving modes. It has 16-inch steel wheels and 30-inch all-season tires, but you can also purchase it with the Sasquatch off-road package.
The Big Bend ($36,285) adds some creature comforts to the base Bronco and has 17-inch aluminum wheels. The Black Diamond ($38,950) steps up the vehicle's off-road abilities with added modes in the terrain-management system, 17-inch black steel wheels, rock rails, and bash plates.
The Outer Banks ($41,855) is much posher, with 18-inch black aluminum wheels, LED lighting, and powder-coated tube steps. The Badlands ($45,095) emphasizes off-roading with 33-inch all-terrain tires on 17-inch aluminum wheels. Ford designed the Wildtrak ($52,780) for high-speed off-roading with the 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine standard.
The signature item of the Everglades ($53,895) is its snorkel intake system. The Raptor ($73,780) is the highest performer, with a 3.0-liter V6 and semi-active dampers among its many features. The two Heritage editions—Heritage ($44,305) and Heritage Limited ($66,895)—feature classic Bronco details like a white-painted grille, white wheels, and plaid seats.
All 2023 Ford Bronco prices listed above exclude the $1,595 destination charge.
Compared to the Ford Bronco lineup, the 2023 Jeep Wrangler trim hierarchy is more concise and easier to grasp. Jeep offers the Wrangler 2-door in three trims: Sport, Sport S, and Rubicon. Jeep builds the 4-door Wrangler Unlimited in five trims: Sport, Sport S, Sahara, Rubicon, and Rubicon 392. Jeep treats the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid (PHEV) as a separate model in Willys ($54,735), Sahara ($56,845), and Rubicon ($60,980) trims.
The Sport trim in both 2- ($31,195) and 4-door ($35,590) variants is the most basic. It has 17-inch steel wheels, all-season tires, manual climate control, cloth seats, and a fold-and-tumble rear bench seat that is removable. The Sport S trim ($34,790 and $38,395) dials things up a notch with aluminum wheels, remote keyless entry, and the availability of Uconnect 4C Nav with the larger 8.4-inch touchscreen and integral navigation.
The heavy-duty off-road Rubicon trim ($43,295 and $47,890) offers standard sway bar disconnect, the choice of two transfer cases, a lower rear-axle ratio, and all-terrain tires on 17-inch aluminum wheels. Inside, leather seats are optional, but the driver and front passenger seats have manual adjustments. (This is, after all, a Jeep.)
The 4-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is also available in a cushier Sahara ($46,020) trim and the V8-powered Rubicon 392 ($82,495). The standard engine in the Sahara is a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. The trim includes the Command-Trac shift-on-the-fly transfer case and the availability of the Selec-Trac full-time transfer case, special body-color grille, and all-terrain tires on 18-inch aluminum wheels. Inside, leatherette-trimmed seats are optional, and nine Alpine speakers are standard. So is Uconnect 4C Nav with the 8.4-inch touchscreen.
The Rubicon 392 emphasizes its 392 cubic-inch V8 engine. Jeep teams its engine with the Selec-Trac full-time transfer case. It has LED headlights, all-terrain tires, 17-inch aluminum beadlock-capable wheels, and interior niceties like heated leather seats and nine Alpine speakers.
All 2023 Jeep Wrangler prices listed above exclude the $1,795 destination charge.
Advantage: Jeep Wrangler
2023 Jeep Wrangler Sahara EcoDiesel
The Ford Bronco does not rank among the top three models in the Midsize SUV segment in either the JD Power 2022 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) or the JD Power 2022 Initial Quality Study(IQS).
The 2023 Ford Bronco has the following warranty and roadside assistance coverage:
Like the Bronco, the Jeep Wrangler does not rank among the top three models in its segment in either the 2022 VDS or the 2022 IQS.
The 2023 Jeep Wrangler has the following warranty coverage:
Advantage: Jeep Wrangler
2023 Ford Bronco Heritage Limited Edition
The 2023 Ford Bronco offers buyers three engine choices, with the highest-performing engine reserved for the specialty Bronco Raptor. The base engine is a 2.3-liter 4-cylinder with direct injection and turbocharging. It delivers 275 horsepower and 315 pound-feet of torque on regular-grade fuel. Using premium gas ups those figures to 300 hp and 325 pound-feet of torque. Optional in many Bronco trims is a 2.7-liter V6 with direct injection and turbocharging. On regular fuel, it offers 315 hp and 410 pound-feet of torque. The numbers climb to 330 hp and 415 pound-feet of torque using premium.
Ford offers a 7-speed manual transmission with a super-low "crawler" first gear with the 4-cylinder engine in addition to a 10-speed automatic. Ford backs the V6 with the 10-speed automatic only. The standard 4x4 transfer case is part-time with shift-on-the-fly capability. An optional automatic 4WD system is optional. Ford also offers a sway bar disconnect on some trims.
Ford equips the high-performance Bronco Raptor with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. It delivers 418 hp and 440 pound-feet of torque. Ford mates it with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The 4WD system uses a 2-speed transfer case with automatic engagement. Both front and rear axles have electronic differential locking.
Interestingly, the Bronco's 2.3-liter 4-cylinder and 2.7-liter V6 offer very similar fuel economy. With the 7-speed manual transmission, the 4-cylinder is EPA-rated at 20 mpg city/21 mpg highway/20 mpg combined. Sure enough, the EPA ratings are identical for the 10-speed automatic. The V6 is not quite a mirror image, but close. It is EPA-rated at 19 mpg city/21 mpg highway/20 mpg combined. As you might surmise, the performance-oriented Raptor is the least fuel efficient. Its EPA ratings are 15 mpg city/16 mpg highway/15 mpg combined.
The 2023 Jeep Wrangler offers a multiplicity of engines and powertrains. The base engine is the venerable, normally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 rated at 285 hp and 260 pound-feet of torque. A turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine is widely available. It delivers 270 hp and 295 pound-feet of torque. Another interesting choice is the 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel, rated at 260 hp and 442 pound-feet of torque. Jeep equips the top-dog Rubicon 392 with the 6.4-liter Hemi V8. It cranks out 470 hp and 470 pound-feet of torque.
Arguably the most interesting powertrain in the comparison is the PHEV system in the Jeep Wrangler 4xe. It combines a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, a starter-generator electric motor, and an electric traction motor. The combined power output is 375 hp and 470 pound-feet of torque. The electric motors draw power from a 17.3-kWh lithium-ion battery. Jeep says the Wrangler 4xe offers 21 miles of all-electric range.
The 3.6-liter V6 delivers fuel economy of 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway/20 mpg combined. Those V6 engines with mild-hybrid assist are EPA-rated at 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway/20 mpg combined (2-door) or 19/22/20 mpg (Unlimited). The top EPA rating for the 2.0-liter turbo engine is 22 mpg city/24 mpg highway/23 mpg combined. The 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 is EPA-rated at 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway/25 mpg combined. And the high-powered 6.4-liter V8 offers 13 mpg city/17 mpg highway/14 mpg combined fuel economy.
The Wrangler 4xe is the fuel economy champ in this comparison. It offers 49 MPGe (the EPA's electric fuel-economy equivalent that enables comparisons to conventional vehicles' combined mileage numbers), clearly better than the Ford Bronco or any other version of the Wrangler.
Advantage: Jeep Wrangler
2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Both the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler offer the availability of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Many of the most advanced features are not standard equipment, but buyers can purchase them through option packages.
For ADAS, the 2023 Ford Bronco offers Ford Co-Pilot 360 technology. In base form, it includes automatic high-beam headlights, hill-start assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and hill-descent control (the latter on Broncos with manual transmission only). Several trims offer an optional package that adds blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Those ADAS are standard on the majority of the more expensive Bronco trims.
As of this writing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not issued an overall safety rating for the 2023 Ford Bronco. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not rated the 2023 Ford Bronco, either. However, the structurally similar 2022 Bronco received Good ratings in six of seven crashworthiness categories.
Compared to many passenger cars and SUVs, the 2023 Jeep Wrangler is light on ADAS. Jeep packages hill-descent control with the 8-speed automatic transmission, and hill-start assist is standard. Systems that buyers typically regard as "advanced driver assistance" are available in packages on all but the base Sport trim. The Jeep Active Safety group includes rear park assist, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. The Jeep Advanced Safety group includes adaptive cruise control and forward-collision warning.
At publication time, neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has issued an overall safety rating for the 2023 Jeep Wrangler. However, the structurally similar 2022 Wrangler Unlimited 4-door model received Good ratings in four of six crashworthiness categories.
Advantage: Ford Bronco
2023 Ford Bronco Raptor
Both the 2023 Ford Bronco and 2023 Jeep Wrangler have consumer-friendly infotainment and vehicle technology. Ford Sync and Jeep Uconnect are among the top-rated infotainment systems in the industry.
The Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, and Badlands trims of the 2023 Bronco offer the Sync 4 system with an 8-inch touchscreen. It features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L, and AM/FM radio. The audio system has seven speakers. It uses FordPass Connect—the brand's connected services app—and has AppLink with an applications catalog built-in. The Outer Banks, Heritage, and Wildtrak trims add a voice- and touchscreen-activated navigation system with enhanced voice recognition. The Everglades, Heritage Limited, and Raptor have a 12-inch touchscreen and an enhanced infotainment system with navigation. The Raptor has a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, while the other Bronco trims have an 8-inch digital cluster. Ford provides a 10-speaker B&O premium audio system in the Heritage Limited trim.
The 2023 Jeep Wrangler features the automaker's well-regarded Uconnect 4 infotainment system. It is standard on all 2023 Wranglers and has a 7-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, and voice command. A six-month trial subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio, a five-year trial subscription to SiriusXM Traffic Plus, and a one-year trial subscription to Sirius XM Guardian connected services are available in a package. The Infotainment Group package, standard on Sahara, Rubicon, and Rubicon 392 trims, includes an 8.4-inch touchscreen with integrated navigation, interior electro-chromatic rearview mirror, SOS call button, and nine-speaker premium audio system with an all-weather subwoofer.
Advantage: Ford Bronco
2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
An aspect of the Wrangler and Bronco that sets them apart from virtually all other vehicles is that they both feature versions with removable tops and doors. This has always been one of the Wrangler's most distinctive—and appealing—aspects. When Ford decided to engineer a competitor, its designers made sure that the Bronco offered similar opportunities. In fact, Ford goes Jeep one better by enabling owners to remove the front doors without removing the side-view mirrors. The Bronco also has an on-board stowage system for the doors, while that's not an option with the Wrangler.
Inside, the 2023 Ford Bronco has an attractive interior that walks a tightrope between modern and retro. Of course, it is hard to maintain a thoroughly retro theme when packaging a giant touchscreen in the middle of the dash. Somehow, the Ford designers pulled it off, and the Bronco interior looks like a Bronco interior. Front seats are comfortable buckets. Ford provides rear seat belts for two passengers in the 2-door model, while the 4-door Bronco will accommodate three in the back. Some versions of the Bronco offer "marine-grade" vinyl seat upholstery and interiors that you can hose out.
The Ford Bronco 2-door is almost 7 inches longer than the standard 2-door Jeep Wrangler and uses the added length to deliver more interior space. The Bronco 2-door has more front leg-, hip-, and shoulder room than the Wrangler, while the Jeep has an edge in rear-seat space. The Bronco 2-door is the clear winner over the Wrangler on the cargo front. With both rows of seats in use, the Bronco has 22.4 cubic feet of cargo space; with the rear seat folded, it offers 52.3 cubic feet of cargo area.
If you haul people and stuff often, the 4-door versions of the Bronco and Wrangler (Wrangler Unlimited) are better choices. The two vehicles match up closely regarding passenger leg, hip, and shoulder room. However, the Ford Bronco 4-door has a substantial edge in terms of cargo space. Its rear cargo area has 38.3 cubic feet of space, and with the back seat folded, it has a cavernous 83 cubic feet of cargo area.
As you might expect, the 2023 Jeep Wrangler has a purposeful interior that stresses functionality. Strategically placed along the broad horizontal dash, the Wrangler's round air vents complement the instrument panel's round gauges. The center-mounted infotainment display is easy to see, and its controls are easy to manipulate. The climate controls sit right under the touchscreen and feature easy-to-use knobs. Immediately below are the power window switches—a better placement than putting them in the removable doors. The gearshift and transfer case lever share space on the console in front of the handbrake lever and a storage bin.
The Wrangler offers a variety of top configurations, including folding soft tops, modular hardtops, and a power top. Seat coverings include two grades of cloth, synthetic leather, and genuine leather. Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard on most of the trims and available in a package on others. However, it doesn't figure in when you have the doors off and the top removed.
The Wrangler doesn't offer as much cargo space as the comparable Bronco models. With both rows of seats in use, the Wrangler 2-door provides 12.9 cubic feet of cargo area. With the rear seat folded, it has 31.7 cubic feet of cargo room. The 4-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited has a 31.7-cubic-foot cargo area. With the back seat folded, it has 72.4 cubic feet of luggage space.
Advantage: Ford Bronco
If you'd like to learn more about these off-road-oriented SUVs, be sure to read our expert reviews of the Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler. To find out how people like you rate models in this segment, check out our ratings from verified vehicle owners.
Also, please keep in mind that while the information in this article was accurate and valid on November 29, 2022, it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker's website or your local dealership.
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