The Jeep Wrangler and the Ford Bronco have a long history. The Wrangler is the spiritual descendent of the World War II-vintage military Jeep, some of which were ironically built by Ford Motor Company. Ford entered the civilian sport-utility category by introducing the first-generation Bronco in 1965 as a 1966 model. From that point on, the Wrangler and Bronco were serious rivals until Ford pulled the plug on the Bronco—temporarily, it turns out—in 1996.
Fast-forward 20 years, and Ford execs noticed the unprecedented success of the Jeep brand and decided they again wanted a piece of that action. So, they established a team to create a heads-up competitor to the Wrangler, and the fruits of their labor first saw the light of day in 2021 with the re-introduction of the Ford Bronco.
As I wrote in my review of the 2021 revival, “Ever since the Bronco went out of production, Ford fans have been asking the brand to bring it back. To put their money where their mouths are, many have bid up the price of vintage Broncos to unheard-of levels…Ford executives saw an opportunity. With a well-known brand name, an impressive off-road heritage, and vehicle platforms that it could leverage for off-road use, Ford saw the chance not only to reintroduce a venerated model but also to establish a new sub-brand.” And that’s precisely what they did.
The Bronco Ford created matches up almost perfectly with the various Wrangler offerings. The Jeep has two- and four-door versions, and so does the Bronco. The Jeep has hardtop and soft-top versions, and so does the Bronco. Jeep offers the Wrangler only as a 4x4. Same with the Bronco.
There are some key powertrain differences, but there are also similarities under the hood. The anomaly is the Wrangler 4xe, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model that brings electrification to the segment.
The Jeep Wrangler has earned a reputation as an unparalleled off-road machine through the years. The Bronco does everything in its power to grab that reputation for itself. If you want to see the top levels of off-road tech—stabilizer-bar disconnect, locking differentials, and two-speed transfer cases—the Wrangler and Bronco are where you'll find them.
Here is a detailed comparison of the 2025 Jeep Wrangler and the 2025 Ford Bronco. The Big Sky awaits. Enjoy!
2025 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X
The 2025 Jeep Wrangler is available in six conventionally powered trim levels: Sport, Sport S, Willys, Rubicon, Sahara, and Rubicon X. The PHEV Wrangler 4xe comes in seven trims: Sport S, Willys, Sahara, Willys ’41, Rubicon, High Altitude, and Rubicon X. Each version comes with four-wheel drive (4WD), and buyers can purchase conventionally-powered trims in either two- or four-door configurations.
Pricing begins at $32,690 for the two-door Wrangler Sport, while the top-tier four-door Rubicon X 4xe starts at $70,940. Prices do not include the $1,895 destination charge.
The brand's Jeep Wave program supports Wrangler buyers by covering their first two oil changes and tire rotations during the first 24 months of ownership. It also includes five years or 60,000 miles of roadside assistance. Regarding connectivity, each new 2025 Wrangler features a 30-day trial that offers one gigabyte of Wi-Fi hotspot service, plus the Jeep Connect Safety & Security package free of charge for the first 10 years.
The 2025 Ford Bronco offers consumers a choice of seven trims: Base, Big Bend, Heritage Edition, Outer Banks, Badlands, Stroppe Edition, and Raptor. The Base and Badlands trims are available in two- and four-door body styles, while the Stroppe Edition is only two-door. The Big Bend, Outer Banks, Heritage Edition, and Raptor are exclusively four-doors. To add to the complication, buyers can equip the four-doors with a fold-away soft top or a hardtop, and the two-doors are hardtops.
Prices range from $37,995 for the Base trim to $90,035 for the high-performance Raptor. Prices do not include the $1,895 destination charge.
Ford provides all 2025 Bronco buyers access to FordPass Connect, including roadside assistance for up to five years or 60,000 miles, plus additional connected services. Ford does not offer free scheduled maintenance for the Bronco. The SUV's connected services provide various safety, security, and vehicle maintenance features. In addition, the Bronco provides a three-month, three-gigabyte trial of Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity.
Advantage: Neither
Why? Regarding pricing and features, the Wrangler and Bronco are right on top of each other.
2025 Ford Bronco Stroppe Special Edition
The Jeep Wrangler does not rank among the top three models in the Compact SUV segment in the JD Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which assesses owner-reported problems during the third year of ownership.
Additionally, the Wrangler does not rank among the top three models in its segment in the JD Power 2024 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), which tracks problems experienced by owners during the first 90 days.
The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offers a standard warranty of three years or 36,000 miles and a powertrain warranty of five years or 60,000 miles.
The Ford Bronco does not rank among the top three models in the Compact SUV segment in either the 2024 VDS or the 2024 IQS. The Bronco has warranty coverage comparable to that of the Wrangler.
Advantage: Neither
Why? As in baseball, the tie goes to the runner.
2025 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X
The 2025 Jeep Wrangler provides multiple powertrain choices. Its standard setup uses a 3.6-liter V6 engine that generates 285 horsepower and a six-speed manual transmission, though an eight-speed automatic is optional. Jeep also offers a 270-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated exclusively to an eight-speed automatic. The plug-in hybrid Wrangler 4xe combines a turbocharged 2.0-liter gas engine with two electric motors and a high-voltage battery, producing 375 hp and up to 21 miles of electric-only driving.
Per Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data, V6-powered Wranglers—both two- and four-door—are rated to achieve 19 mpg in combined driving. Versions equipped with the turbocharged four-cylinder provide an EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined, while the Wrangler 4xe PHEV boasts an EPA rating of 49 MPGe combined.
The 2025 Ford Bronco offers potential buyers three powertrain choices. The base engine is a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder that delivers 300 hp and 325 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 produces 330 hp and 415 pound-feet of torque, and the high-performance Raptor boasts a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that delivers a rousing 418 hp and 440 pound-feet of torque. Buyers can get the base engine with a seven-speed manual transmission or a 10-speed automatic, while the others offer the 10-speed auto only.
At the time of writing, the EPA has yet to publish fuel-economy figures for the 2025 Bronco. However, you can expect the various trims will deliver fuel economy similar to the 2024 versions. The federal agency estimates that the four-cylinder-equipped 2024 Bronco will achieve fuel economy as high as 20 mpg combined; it estimates the same mileage number for the best-performing 2.7-liter V6. It predicts the 2024 Bronco Raptor will achieve 15 mpg in combined urban and highway driving.
Advantage: Neither
Why? Each of the two competitors offers a fascinating range of powertrains. The Bronco Raptor is the most powerful now that Jeep has dumped the V8-powered Wrangler.
2025 Ford Bronco Stroppe Special Edition
At this point, it is reasonable for any consumer to expect a brand-new vehicle to include the following safety features:
So, how do the Wrangler and Bronco stack up? Let's take a look.
The entry-level Wrangler Sport lacks a list of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), but the rest of the 2025 Jeep Wrangler lineup includes a representative selection of standard ADAS. Adaptive cruise control is standard on every trim except the Sport, while blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warnings are optional on most versions. Depending on the trim, Jeep electronically caps some Wranglers at 97 mph while others top out at 110 mph.
Regarding safety ratings, at the time of writing, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has rated the crashworthiness of the 2025 Jeep Wrangler.
Like its arch-rival, the 2025 Bronco goes relatively light on standard ADAS. Its standard Ford Co-Pilot360 technology suite includes automatic high-beam headlights, hill-descent control, post-collision braking, and pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection. Blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and a driver monitoring system are available optionally on higher trims. Other option packages offer adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency steering, and parking sensors.
Like the Wrangler, neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has rated the 2025 Ford Bronco’s safety at the time of writing.
Advantage: Neither
Why? Both the Wrangler and Bronco have abbreviated lists of standard ADAS, but many systems are offered optionally.
2025 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X
The 2025 Jeep Wrangler has a Uconnect 5 infotainment system viewed on a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Base and mid-level trims include a system that displays audio information and climate controls and offers AM/FM radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and voice command. Higher-tier trims build on these features by adding TomTom navigation. An Alpine premium audio system and HD Radio are standard on the Rubicon X and as an option on others.
Every 2025 Wrangler features Jeep Connect, a suite of real-time safety, security, and convenience services accessible both inside the vehicle and through the Jeep app on smartphones. Buyers benefit from a three-month trial of the Assistance or the Assistance and Navigation package, up to five years of the Vehicle Performance package, and up to 10 years of the Safety and Security package.
The Wrangler’s Off-Road Pages+ integrates trail-focused navigation into the Uconnect 5 system, offering detailed Trails Offroad guides for driving scenarios ranging from relaxed sightseeing to intense rock crawling. Users can download these guides for offline access, monitor real-time trail progress, and create waypoints. Buying a two-year subscription unlocks access to over 200 trail guides, including all Badge of Honor routes, which owners can display on the Wrangler’s touchscreen.
The 2025 Ford Bronco offers buyers the Sync 4 infotainment system with a 12-inch touchscreen with swipe capability and enhanced voice recognition. The system includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, AppLink functionality, and 911 assist ability. The standard audio system uses seven speakers, and several trims offer the option of a 12-speaker B&O sound system by Bang & Olufsen. Most trims offer a standard AC power outlet.
The 2025 Bronco offers FordPass connected-vehicle features and its associated phone app. You can activate your vehicle remotely, start or stop the engine from afar, and lock or unlock the doors with just a few taps. Keeping tabs on your vehicle is easy, as FordPass offers access to its location, as well as real-time updates on fuel level and remaining oil life. In addition, through FordPass Connect, the Bronco provides a three-month, three-gigabyte trial of Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity.
The Bronco offers a variety of electronics and electronically activated mechanicals to increase its all-terrain capabilities. Several trims offer a new 4x4 system featuring an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case with four modes plus neutral. It varies power to the front wheels based on traction and will electronically lock both axles if necessary.
Advantage: Jeep Wrangler
Why? Jeep's Uconnect 5 system outpoints Sync 4, and the Wrangler offers more comprehensive connected services. Its advanced off-road gear is similar to the Bronco.
2025 Ford Bronco Stroppe Special Edition
The 2025 Jeep Wrangler two-door seats four people, while the four-door accommodates five. The cabin can range from stark in lower trims to relatively plush in the Rubicon X. While no-nonsense at heart, the Wrangler adds a modern flair with a 12.3-inch touchscreen in every trim. True to its roots, the Wrangler offers multiple configurations, such as soft-top convertible versions with removable doors.
Regarding seating materials, lower trims include cloth upholstery, mid-range versions step up to synthetic leather, and the Rubicon X uses Nappa leather. Heated front seats are widely available and become standard from the Sahara trim level upward, and only Sahara or higher trims include a power-adjustable driver's seat. The Base model uses manual heater and A/C controls, while all others benefit from single-mode automatic climate control.
Loading cargo in the Wrangler is similar to performing that same task in the Bronco. Both use a swing-out rear door that holds a full-size spare tire instead of the more common liftgate. Although it adds easy spare-tire access and rugged styling, loading and unloading the cargo area is less convenient.
The two-door's 12.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat is modest, growing to 31.7 cubic feet with the seat folded. The four-door, by contrast, provides 31.7 cubic feet behind its rear seat and 72.4 cubic feet when folded, making it the more practical option for hauling gear.
The 2025 Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler match up so well model-to-model that you might suspect Ford did a great deal of “benchmarking” against its chief rival as it developed the Bronco after its long hiatus. Like the Wrangler, the Bronco is available in two- and four-door versions. The two-door seats four, and the four-door seats five. But the two-door Bronco is seven inches longer than the Wrangler, giving it an edge in cargo space.
The Bronco and Jeep four-doors are nearly the same size as one another. Like the Jeep, the Bronco offers folding soft tops and removable doors to facilitate open-air motoring.
Many Bronco trims offer standard cloth seats, while the Raptor and Badlands have standard marine-grade vinyl seats that are also optional on the Big Bend. The Stroppe Edition has unique vinyl seats, and the Outer Banks features leather. Heated front seats are standard on all but the Base trim. Those seeking power-adjustable front seats must choose the Outer Banks trim or the leather-seat option for the Raptor. The Base model has manual heater/AC controls, while all other trims offer standard dual-zone automatic climate control.
Four-door Broncos have a 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat, while the two-doors have a 50/50 split-folding arrangement. The Bronco two-door offers 20.6 cubic feet of cargo area behind the second row and 52 cubic feet with the second row folded. The four-door Bronco hardtop has 35.6 cubic feet of space behind the second row and 77.6 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.
Advantage: Ford Bronco
Why? The Bronco has an edge in cargo space, and the four-door can transport the removable doors inside the vehicle, which is something the Jeep can't do.
If you’d like to learn more about these compact SUVs, be sure to read our expert reviews of the Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, Ford Bronco, and the Ford Bronco Raptor. To find out how people like you rate models in this segment, check out our ratings from verified vehicle owners.
Also, please remember that while the information in this article was accurate and valid on January 24, 2025, it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
Jack R. Nerad has reviewed cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs for over three decades. He also managed the editorial efforts of MotorTrend, JD Power, and Kelley Blue Book. Jack currently hosts the Sports Byline Network program "America on the Road," available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Audacy, Amazon Music, and other outlets.
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