Is Ford Bronco interior bigger than Jeep Wrangler?

Today we’re holding the Jeep Wrangler and the Ford Bronco side by side to dig into their key strengths, weaknesses, differences, and similarities. 

These comments are based on thousands of kilometres of real-world testing in highway, off-road, winter, and backroads conditions in central and northern Ontario. For more information on either machine (and plenty of photos), you can check out my full review of each here on Driving.ca. 

Below are my key impressions comparing these machines as a pair, and additional information to help you make a better purchase decision if you’re trying to decide between one or the other.

PROS: Ford Bronco

Think of the Ford Bronco as an automated off-road toolkit that’s big, tough, and highly approachable. 

Distinctively modern and rugged looks call a lunar rover to mind, and on board, the Bronco has my favourite tech suite of the pair. This is owed in no small part to the more engaging infotainment system and displays, and the twist-to-select GOAT mode dial complete with on-screen animations and explainers that pop up as drivers toggle between various drive modes. 

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As part of the user experience, drivers have fingertip access to the Bronco’s full 4×4 capabilities and drive modes, all from a handy central dial with built-in control pad. Manipulating this interface calls up numerous changes to driveline hardware and programming, optimizing the Bronco for use in specific challenging situations.

Additional functions like differential lock, traction control, sway-bar disconnect and the neat Trail Turn Assist system can be summoned at the tap of one of several additional buttons, clustered top and centre on the dashboard. 

With Trail Turn Assist engaged, the Bronco drives three wheels and locks the fourth in relation to its steering angle. The result is literal ‘turn-on-a-dime capability’ on slippery or loose surfaces. It’s a clever bit of tech that you can have a lot of fun with.

Even first-time off-roaders will find the Bronco a confidence-inspiring and easy-to-use toolkit with a highly approachable nature to its controls and on-board features.

Other key Bronco strengths include the 2.7-litre V6 powertrain with twin-turbo punch delivering strong pulling power from low revs, and plenty of grunt for passing, merging, your daily commute, or trail-bashing adventures. With 330 horsepower, drivers can expect strong throttle response and low engine-noise levels.

Finally, the Bronco delivers my favourite drive of the pair. On rougher roads, my tester’s controlled and pillowy suspension helped provide excellent body motion control for a less dramatic ride on uneven surfaces, and the ability to cover rough ground quickly and comfortably — and with a smile on your face. Like the approachable tech on board, the Bronco’s rough-road ride encourages the driver to get out and have fun.

On the road, it’s softer on rough surfaces than the Wrangler, and for more of the time. On the highway, it’s got the more precise and car-like steering and road feel of the pair. Drivers feel more connected to the road, more stable in motion, and will likely experience less workload at the steering to keep centreed within their lane, versus the Wrangler.

All said, one of the Bronco’s key strengths is the way it manages to feel consistently comfortable, controlled, and encouraging, almost regardless of the surface beneath.

All 21 Photos for Gallery

PROS: Jeep Wrangler

Off the bat, one thing I like a lot about the Jeep Wrangler is its proven platform. 

Jeep’s been building the current-generation Wrangler for a few years now, and its most popular engine for much longer than that. The iconic 3.6 litre Pentastar V6 is one of the most mass-produced engines in the world, powering a platform with plenty of real-world experience built right in. Many shoppers in the 4×4 universe tend to gravitate towards more time-tested platforms, and the Wrangler satisfies here. 

Available LED headlights deliver a knock-out performance after dark. These are among the best headlights I’ve ever used, and they’re well worth the upgrade. For nighttime driving confidence, an LED headlight-equipped Wrangler will do you very nicely on dark, two-lane rural highways.

The Wrangler’s interior is my favourite of this pair. 

The signature thin-dash look and generous use of stitching and metallic trim give it an upscale look that’s nicely finished, and to me, does a better job of supporting the machine’s pricetag by giving your eyes and fingertips something nice to look at or touch virtually anywhere they point. Much of the scenery in higher-end models is highly presentable, with glossy and metallic elements glistening before you like a Christmas turkey on the cover of Food Network Magazine.

I like the rigid ride of the Wrangler, which feels purpose-tuned to deliver a durable, rough-and-tumble truck-like ride that feels strong, tough, and confident. The Wrangler rides like a tough truck, and isn’t attempting to feel car-like. Recent improvements to the suspension and steering system for the latest generation machine turn in an even more precise highway feel.

The central infotainment screen has sharp and easy-to-read graphics, a logical and easily learned layout, and crisp backup camera graphics for more confident maneuvering in tight quarters. 

Ultimately, the Wrangler is likely to connect more readily with a shopper after a proven platform that feels durable and tough, an upscale cabin, a powerful lighting system, and strong tech suite.

CONS: Ford Bronco

Of the pair, I had the most serious complaints with my Bronco tester, many of which related to the cold. 

On my winter test drive in Northern Ontario, the Bronco’s rear swing-gate’s assist strut often froze up, making use of the heavy door more awkward and labor intensive.

The cold also brought a significant amount of chirping and rubbing sounds from the removable roof panels overhead. Though I found the Bronco’s ride on smooth pavement to be quieter than the Wrangler, the Wrangler’s roof can handle a rough road with virtually no added sound effects. In the Bronco, the near-constant roof chirping on rough roads was the biggest disappointment of the pair. 

My tester’s rear door was also easily frozen shut by snow and ice buildup (kicked up by the front tires), on colder days.

I also wished some of the Bronco’s dash controls were easier to see. The off-road equipment controls topping the dash use small and complex icons that are hard to see at a glance, and the climate controls are mounted low on the centre stack where their small graphics and dark surroundings make them a harder to read, too.

CONS: Jeep Wrangler

My Wrangler-related complaints are smaller than my Bronco-related complaints.

Key Wrangler gripes include the higher ambient cabin noise of the pair, with highway cruising resulting in a significant amount of wind noise coming aboard.

In the rear seat of my Unlimited model, the overhead cross-bar chews up some real-estate just ahead of the foreheads of rear-seat occupants, which can result in a more crowded feel. In the Bronco, there’s no cross-bar here—meaning rear seat occupants will feel less claustrophobic. The Wrangler has less cargo space and rear-seat legroom than the Bronco too.

In short, the Wrangler may leave some rear-seat passengers wishing for additional room and space.

Finally, the Wrangler’s use of a manual lever to engage its 4×4 system feels primitive in comparison to the Bronco’s electronic, animated, and fully-automatic system with built-in GOAT modes.

My Choice?

I’ve logged a lot of enjoyable (if noisy) miles in these two machines, and choosing one over the other is a difficult proposition.

I’m not a fan of the Bronco’s squeaky roof or tendency to act up in the cold, though with a 330-horsepower engine, engaging controls and a fantastic rough-surface ride, it’s the most fun-to-drive machine on this page — especially with Trail Turn Assist engaged.

I prefer the overall drive of the Bronco to that of the Wrangler, though the Jeep’s interior style and available lighting system are major considerations for me. If I’m thinking long-term, I like the Wrangler better thanks to its more proven platform and 3.6L V6 powertrain.

My pick, for my own dollars? The Wrangler. 

I’d miss the more entertaining drive and features of the Bronco, and that oh-so-good suspension. To me though, the Wrangler inspires a bit more confidence as a purchase decision, thanks to its better lighting system, more proven platform and lack of winter-related noises and quibbles. The Wrangler’s cabin gives me a nice place to take it all in from, too. 

Make no mistake though: having to choose between these two machines is a nice problem to have. 

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