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Last Updated: July 15, 2020 In this article, we will go over all you need to know about Ford’s launch of the 2021 Bronco and how it Compares the Jeeps Wrangler Rubicon.
- Overview
- Angles and Clearance
- Drivetrain
- Suspension
- Comparison
Ford Bronco Vs. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, the matchup we’ve all been waiting for was finally revealed to the public in a grand announcement that so many people in the off-road and Overlanding community have been waiting for. Ford, in true Bronco fashion, held the launch of this vehicle so long that the enthusiasts of the off-road world were finally getting sick of hearing about it. The release date had been pushed back and moved around so many times that I think everyone was starting to get annoyed with Ford. But, at 8 pm on July 13th, 2020 Ford finally came through with their promise to bring this off-road beast back to life and compete in the market with none other than the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. As most of us are aware, Jeep has dominated the off-road and Overlanding space for the past several decades, and just when Ford thought they had the upper hand, Jeep came out swinging with some new concepts that will be released before 2022. The war in the off-road space has finally heated up with two iconic brands going head to head and what will surely be one of the best matchups we’ve ever seen!
Ford Bronco Vs. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Angles and Clearance
Ford specs for the approach angle, departure, break-over angle, and ground clearance; we’re one of the main topics we were interested in. Although Ford claims they have the best in class in all those categories, we did our research to find out that, in some cases, they’re entirely wrong. Ford boasts an 11.6-inch ground clearance on the 2021 Ford Bronco, which is a bit more than the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon that comes in at 10.8 inches. Ford also states it has the upper hand in approach angle at 43.2 degrees, but Jeep has them beat at 43.9 degrees. Breakover angle for the Ford Bronco is 29 degrees, and Jeep is 22.6 degrees. The departure angle for the 2021 Ford Bronco is 37.2 degrees, and the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is 37 degrees. As you can see, the fight for the top spot is coming down to mere centimeters and slight differences in degrees, which is funny because 85% of the people who purchase these two beasts of machines will never even take them down a dirt road, but I guess that doesn’t matter, does it?
Bronco Motors and Drive Train
When Ford does something big they usually default to the 2.7L EcoBoost twin-turbo motor that you will find in the Ford Raptor and that’s exactly what they did here, well, kind of. Ford announced that only 2 of the 7 different 2021 Ford Bronco models will have the 2.7L and the rest will have a 2.3L EcoBoost. None of this is a surprise, but if you want the bigger motor you will have to pay for it. All the automatic Broncos will have come with an optional 10-speed automatic transmission or a 7-speed manual, yes, 7 speeds! One of those 7 speeds will be specifically for rock crawling. All Ford Broncos in the upper tier of their models will have Several G.O.A.T modes. What is a G.O.A.T mode? Well, it’s driving modes and G.O.A.T stands for Go Over Any Terrain. Some of these modes include Slippery, Baja, Mud, Sand, and Rockcrawl. You can shift through these modes with a dial located on the center console area. In our opinion, these different modes are just a way to separate the 2021 Ford Bronco from the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. It seems to us like this is a bit of overkill because the Jeep has the traditional 4-hi, 4-lo option that has been concurring trails all over the world for that last 50 years.
Ford Bronco Suspension
The all-new Ford Bronco has a unique “HOSS” suspension system. The term “HOSS” stands for High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension and is coupled with a brand new Hydraulic Stabilizer Bar Disconnect. These two never seen before suspension systems are what the Bronco is hanging its hat on to compete with the Jeep Wrangler Rubicons’ electronic sway bar disconnect. The “HOSS” system is coupled with tried and true Bilstein Shocks and reservoirs that are sure to provide just the right amount of comfort when blasting through those long desert runs and the Hydraulic Stabilizer is said by ford to add that extra articulation when trying to scale rocks or other uneven obstacles. These two new systems have been engineered by Ford to go head to head with the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and their solid front axle. I can’t say for sure if this kind of technology is going to overcome the Rubicons’ massive flex, but it’s going to be a topic of an argument with car enthusiasts all over the world.
Ford Bronco Vs. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Comparison
Looking at these two beast machines from a birds-eye view would make it hard to decide between which one is right for you, and because only a few have driven the Ford Bronco, it’s still unclear just how capable it is off-road. With what we have now, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon still has the edge in a lot of areas, in our opinion. The new hydraulic stabilizer bar in the Ford Bronco seems to add some extra articulation to the suspension, but I’m not convinced that it will beat out Jeep with the solid front axle set up when it comes to rock crawling. Ford Broncos’ High Performace Off-Road Stability Suspension (HOSS) seems to have been well thought out, and what we do know is the Ford Raptor is a beast in the desert scene, but I would not feel overly confident taking the Raptor on serious off-road trails. That being said, until Ford puts the Bronco in the hands of the consumer, we won’t get a clear picture of what its true capabilities are, so that would keep me headed in the direction of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, for now. One thing Ford has on Jeep is technology. The new technology in the Ford Bronco is leaps and bounds ahead of Jeep and what they currently offer in the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, but to off-road enthusiasts, none of that really matters anyway. Adding 7 different “G.O.A.T” modes to the vehicle is a nice touch, but I’m not sure that’s going to be entirely necessary. The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has 2 modes, 4-Hi and 4-lo, and just like the Bronco, it has front and rear lockers to keep you climbing, so adding 7 additional options for different driving conditions seems like they’re reaching for something that few people will never need. However, they did take a page out of Jeeps playbook with the Dana Axle. Jeep has been using Dana Axles in all models for years. The quality and durability these axles provide are unmatched, but it’s still unclear which version of the axle Ford will be using to compete with Jeep. All that being said, until the Ford Bronco is in the consumers’ hands and has been tested by real-life drivers and not professionals on a closed course, we are going to stay in the Jeep family.
Want Your Very Own Bronco?
If you are like many of us in the off-road community, you’re going to seriously consider ordering one of these iconic vehicles simply because what the Bronco means to you. If that’s the case, we have added a link for you to go ahead and put your name on one for only $100. You can do that with the link below. https://www.ford.com/suvs/bronco/2021/?intcmp=brncobrand-learnmore-reveal-bronco. If you’re still a Jeep person and want to stay that way then be on the lookout for the new 392 Hemi Wrangler that Jeep announced as a concept on July 13th, 2020.