Which midsize SUV is right for your adventures, the 2025 Ford Bronco or the 2025 Jeep Wrangler? Our comparison guide takes a closer look at these iconic American off-roaders.
Key Takeaways
- Shopping for a deal? The base 2025 Wrangler comes at the best price.
- When it comes to high-speed off-roading, not even the Wrangler can beat the Bronco!
- With more ride comfort and interior luxury, the Bronco is also the preferred daily driver.
- Choose the Bronco for a longer list of cutting-edge features!
Best Price: 2025 Jeep Wrangler
Thanks to a sparse entry-level trim model, the Wrangler starts at the lowest price: $32,690. If you’re looking for an off-road SUV without any bells or whistles, the base Sport should suit you just fine. In fact, the latest version of this trim model is more fully loaded than ever (though that’s a low bar). It even comes with power windows and door locks!
Next to the Wrangler Sport, the entry-level Ford Bronco Base is downright luxurious. It’s more expensive, starting at $37,995, but it also delivers a more robust list of modern conveniences. Unlike the base Wrangler, the Bronco Base comes with LED headlamps, a digital instrument panel, and hill-start assist, among other amenities.
Comfort & Convenience Features: 2025 Ford Bronco
Modern drivers appreciate the Bronco’s exclusive performance features. Whether you’re cruising the highway or navigating tough terrain, Ford’s SUV helps you enjoy the best possible performance. For instance, every Bronco with an automatic transmission includes Trail Turn Assist, helping you make a tight turn on a narrow trail. With the available Trail 1-Pedal Drive system, you can use one foot to start and stop, buying crucial seconds as you steer through difficult terrain.
Of course, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler delivers plenty of its own technology — it just doesn’t really offer much that you can’t get from the Bronco. While this SUV doesn’t come standard with any driving aids, the Sport S and up add adaptive cruise control and forward collision mitigation. Higher trims offer the usual luxury tech features, such as premium audio and wireless smartphone integration.
Off-Road Capabilities: 2025 Ford Bronco
With a Baja 1000 win for its stock class, the Bronco Raptor proved its supremacy in off-road terrain! Back in the North Carolina woodlands, Ford’s off-roading SUV offers different grades of its HOSS suspension system to help you create the performance you crave. Upgrade to the HOSS 3.0 or HOSS 4.0 setup to add speed to your Bronco’s list of off-road capabilities! We’re also big fans of Ford’s advanced terrain management system, a.k.a. G.O.A.T. Modes. This technology alters suspension settings to suit your current environment, with fun options like Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl. And we can’t forget the Sasquatch Package, which not only adds rugged hardware upgrades but also gives your Bronco a total of 11.6 inches of ground clearance, outmaneuvering even the Wrangler Rubicon’s 10.8 inches!
2025 Ford Bronco Powertrain Options
- Standard 2.3L turbocharged four-cylinder engine (300 hp, 325 lb-ft) with seven-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission
- Available 2.7L turbo V6 (330 hp, 415 lb-ft) and 10-speed automatic
- Raptor-specific 3.0L turbo V6 (418 hp, 440 lb-ft) and 10-speed automatic
- Four-wheel drive
Compared to the Bronco’s high-tech adventures, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler keeps things simple. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, its off-road adventures require a little more work and know-how. Like the Bronco, the Wrangler offers your choice of rugged upgrades, like the Xtreme off-road package or the top-tier Rubicon trim model. However, there are times when the Wrangler’s steering feels pretty vague, making us wish this Jeep offered a terrain management system to rival that of the Bronco! And while the Wrangler offers more power than the Bronco with its 392 V8 engine, this stunner can only be found on top-trim Rubicon Unlimited models equipped with the automatic transmission.
2025 Jeep Wrangler Powertrain Options
- Standard 3.6L V6 (285 hp, 260 lb-ft)
- Available 2.0L turbo four-cylinder (270 hp, 295 lb-ft)
- Rubicon Unlimited-specific 6.4L V8, aka the 392 (470 hp, 470 lb-ft)
- Plug-in hybrid powertrain, aka the 4xe (375 hp, 470 lb-ft)
- Six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission
Everyday Driving: 2025 Ford Bronco
For such a rugged SUV, the Bronco feels shockingly comfortable on the pavement! Compared to the Wrangler’s stiff ride, the Bronco’s smooth power makes you feel like you’re cruising in a luxury sedan. Inside, its cushy, supportive seats also outshine the competition. The available dual-zone climate control system creates two separate temperate zones, catering to personal comfort, and heated seats tune out the winter chill. Still, the Bronco’s truck-based chassis will feel firmer, and sometimes a little bouncier, than the car-like chassis of a crossover SUV. It may take a little getting used to!
In terms of ride comfort, recent Wrangler model years are far more accommodating than earlier versions of this SUV. That said, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler feels very stiff on the pavement, and you can feel most bumps in the road from inside the cabin. And if it were up to us, we’d stuff the Wrangler’s seats with a little more cushion to increase support. Like the Wrangler’s ride, they’re a little too firm. Drivers have always paid for the Wrangler’s off-road precision with some ride discomfort — just know that you can reduce the pain by choosing the Bronco!
North Carolina’s Off-Road All-Star
Not only is the Ford Bronco the best off-road SUV for weekend trips in Fayetteville, NC, for 2025, but it’s also the most comfortable daily driver. Ready to head into the wild west behind the wheel of a new Bronco? Visit us at Lafayette Ford to make the most of your adventures!