I know, I know, you’re thinking, “Y’all are out of your goddamn minds!” and I get that. There is a $50,105 price difference between these two vehicles I’m about to compare. For the price of the V8 Wrangler, you could buy the Bronco and a pretty lovely Wrangler as well. Stick with me, though, and you’ll see there is some genius behind the idea. I know we overuse the term “genius,” particularly lately, but I figured out two articles within one defined efficiency.
Overview
I already introduced you to the $50K elephant in the room. I’m not sure if that would be a reasonable price for an elephant, but that’s not important right now. If you look through the features and options on the window stickers below or use the Edmunds “Compare” tool, you’ll see many similarities. You get the same warranty, a built-in winch, nearly the same ground clearance and tire size, seating for five, etc.
Hop inside, and you’ll notice that the Wrangler has leather upholstery and the Bronco has vinyl. Beyond that, the average person on the street would see them as basically the same thing. So, this comparison isn’t as ridiculous as it sounded initially. No, it still is? OK. Moving on.
Wrangler vs. Bronco – Exterior
Since the aforementioned average citizen would likely see these two big tyred, bewinched off-roaders as the same from the outside, let’s start there. Clearly, Ford bought a Wrangler (or three) and just said “yes, this, but more.” The dimensions in every direction are larger. The Bronco is 5.5-inches wider, a massive 10.8-inches longer, and over four inches taller.
Does that size translate into a more attractive exterior? Well, sort of. Let’s take a moment to gaze longingly at each of our contenders.
The Jeep looks purposeful. It looks svelte and athletic compared to the lumbering Bronco. The Ford looks large in regular guise. In the amped-up Everglades trim, it looks massive. The Wrangler has a less busy exterior, and there aren’t a lot of flares, racks, and such compared to the Bronco. If anything, the Wrangler looks too staid, too safe.
The Bronco, on the other hand, does not exude calm and safety. The bull bar on the front extends out a bit more menacingly as if to say, “Please GTFO out of my way.” I’m not a big fan of the “Everglades” applique. I had an old neighbor who removed it with a heat gun the first week he had his Bronco. Still, something about the Bronco takes me back to a childhood place. Playing with Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars in the dirt. It’s ridiculous and fun, so it got my vote as the winner of the first segment!
Exterior Winner – Bronco Everglades
Bronco vs. Wrangler – Interior
Moving on to the interior, it’s more of the same. The Bronco feels large and wide, while the Jeep feels a bit more cozy from the driver’s seat.
Some of the cost differences also start to show up at this point. The Bronco’s couch-like (manually adjustable) vinyl seats are reasonably comfortable and likely practical from a cleaning perspective. But so are the Wranglers, and the nicely bolstered (power) leather seats feel significantly better. Plus, that bolster will hold you in place better out on the trails.
The Wrangler feels more upscale, and I would also make that same assessment comparing a regular Rubicon vs. this Everglades Bronco. Jeep did a great job evolving the JL into a much more comfortable place to spend time. I’ve driven cross-country in two JKs, and it was fine. It wasn’t amazing, but it wasn’t bad. I spent some time owning a new JL not too long ago (I know, it’s hard to keep up with my car purchases, sorry), and I really liked it compared to the JK.
From a features perspective, both of the vehicles are reasonably similar. All Bronco models get a nicely sized 12-inch touchscreen, which gives you ready access to all the infotainment bits in an easy-to-use setup. However, Jeep has a new 12.3-inch touchscreen with one of the best infotainment systems in the business. Add a pretty sweet Alpine stereo system, and this round goes solidly to the Wrangler.
Interior Winner – Jeep Wrangler 392
Bronco vs. Wrangler – Cargo Capacity
We’re all tied up moving into round three, and it’s starting to get interesting. You’d think the much larger Bronco would mean more cargo space. And you was right! The Bronco has 35.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat compared to 27.7 cubes in the Wrangler. That’s a significant difference, and if you’re looking for more cargo capacity, the Bronco is your best bet.
Now, for some behind-the-scenes bonus stuff, I did much more hauling with the Bronco. Between a backyard tree fort project and a wall rack to store a platoon’s worth of Nerf guns, I was back and forth to the Home Depot several times. Despite the width and length superiority of the Bronco, I did have to duck on the way home with the pegboard.
Regardless, the Bronco easily wins the cargo challenge. Also, here’s a quick update: neither of these projects is finished yet.
Cargo Winner – Bronco Everglades
Wrangler vs. Bronco – On the Road
We’re down to the last round, and you’re likely thinking, “I see where this is going. You’ll give the on-road challenge to the Wrangler, and it’ll end in a tie. Lame!”
As Dwight Schrute would say, “False.” There will be a winner. Sadly I didn’t get a chance to take either off-road, but I’ve gone out in similarly spec’d Broncos and Wranglers (including the 392) and they are both damn good.
The Bronco has a 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 325 lb-ft of torque at 3,400 rpm. That’s plenty—significantly more than a normal Rubicon, which produces 285 hp and 260 lb-ft. Despite the 400 pounds of additional curb weight, the Everglades has compared to the normal Rubicon, getting up to speed from a standstill or on the highway is easy. We took the Bronco on a long highway drive, and it cruised smoothly the whole time. The wind noise is pretty spectacular, possibly due to the roof rack.
The Wrangler tho…damn. The 6.4L HEMI V8 makes 470 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and pumps out the same torques at 4,300 rpm. Jesus, it sounds good. Press the active exhaust button on the dash, and it sounds even better. Something like this shouldn’t sound like this. It feels unnatural, animalistic, primal even. It’ll dash to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and do high 12s in the quarter mile. That’s bananas. I absolutely love it.
The transmission will also keep it in just about whatever gear you want, so if you want to drive through your neighborhood in 1st gear, do it. It also feels easier to drive because of the narrower width, and the smaller the length, the easier it is to park. So you’re damn right the Wrangler wins this round.
V8 > * in any application.
On Road Winner – Jeep Wrangler 392
And The Winner Is!
Oh dang, sorry, I said there would be a winner, and we’re tied. Well, this should come down to price. It’s hard to justify a $100,000+ Wrangler in any world. Even with that engine, it’s too ridiculous to recommend to anyone except those who can easily afford it. If money is no object? The Wrangler all day. My own money, still maybe the Wrangler, and I’d eat ramen. I’m all in if Ford wants to send me a Bronco Raptor to see how it stacks up to the Wrangler!
Regardless, in this instance, the Bronco Everglades is a much better purchase and wins this comparison. For $107,880, you can buy a nicely equipped Bronco and a nicely equipped Mustang GT.
Overall Winner – Bronco Everglades
In reality, we’re saying goodbye to both of these trim levels. There is no more Everglades trim in the lineup for 2025, and this 392 Wrangler is the “Final Edition,” which means what it sounds like. Well, unless it’s like the “last V8 Charger” and is likely to return at some point now that we’re not focusing on EVs.
