2021 Ford Bronco Badlands vs. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon: Can You Beat the Bronco??

2021 Ford Bronco Badlands

2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

2021 Ford Bronco Badlands Release Date

The new 2021 Ford Bronco is set to release and hit dealerships by Spring 2021. Get ready for a rivalry of the ages. Among the top Jeep Wrangler competitors, the 2021 Bronco Badlands is making its claim for number one.

2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Release Date

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon was released shortly before Fall 2020 alongside other Wrangler models. The Wrangler will be a carryover model, but there is a new 4xE plug-in hybrid coming December 2020.

2021 Ford Bronco Badlands Price & Packages

The 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands starts at $42,095 for the two-door model and $44,590 for the four-door SUV. The Sasquatch package adds 35-inch tires, 17-inch Beadlock Capable wheels, front-and-rear locking differentials, Bilstein position-sensitive monotube shocks, a 4.7 final drive ratio, and high-clearance fender flares. There isn't official pricing on the Sasquatch package yet, but by December 2020, online reservations will convert into orders, and package pricing should be available. There may be other exterior appearance packages or performance-enhanced packages in the works, but only time will tell.

2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Price & Packages

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2-door SUV starts at $38,695, while the 4-door Rubicon MSRP is $42,195. Most upgrades for the Wrangler exist outside of bundled packages as singular line items. The most notable package is the 8.4-inch Radio and Premium Audio Group ($1,895), which overhauls interior tech, providing a larger touchscreen display, navigation, Wi-Fi Hot Spot, Alpine audio system, and HD Radio. The other seven packages add in features like LED lighting ($1,295), steel bumpers ($1,695), and pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking ($795) for an additional price that otherwise comes as standard equipment on the 2021 Bronco Badlands.

2021 Ford Bronco Badlands Exterior Design, Dimensions, Body Styles

The 2021 Ford Bronco features a length of 173.7-189.4 inches, a wheelbase of 100.4-116.1 inches, a width of 75.9 inches, and stands 71.9-73.9 inches high. The 2021 Bronco Badlands trim includes 17-inch aluminum wheels mounted with 33-inch all-terrain tires and can be configured as either a 2-door or 4-door SUV. New Bronco buyers can choose from ten exterior colors, including Cyber Orange, Antimatter Blue, Shadow Black, Iconic Silver, Area 51, Rapid Red, Carbonized Gray, Cactus Gay, Oxford White, and Race Red.

2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Exterior Design, Dimensions, Body Styles

Looking at the Ford Bronco vs. Jeep Wrangler, we see this model is a bit smaller. It measures 166.8-188.4" L x 73.8" W x 73.6" H. Plus, it has a wheelbase of 96.8-118.4 inches depending on which door configuration is chosen (2-door vs. 4-door). The 2021 Wrangler Rubicon comes standard with 33-inch tires. It offers eight colors, including Black Clear-Coat, Granite Crystal Metallic Clear-Coat, Sting-Gray Clear-Coat, Billet Silver Metallic Clear-Coat, Snazzberry Pearl-Coat, Firecracker Red Clear-Coat, Hellayella Clear-Coat, and Sarge Green Clear-Coat.

2021 Ford Bronco Badlands Interior Design & Features

All 2021 Ford Bronco models come equipped with the SYNC 4 infotainment system and an eight-inch touch screen. However, a 12-inch touch screen is available. The Badlands trim also comes equipped with vinyl seats, washable seats, and upfitter switches. Two-door models have 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, with 52.3 cubic feet with those seats down. A four-door Bronco provides 77.6 cubic feet of room when the seats are down.

2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Interior Design & Features

All 2021 Jeep Wrangler models above the S trim receive a standard seven-inch touch screen, automatic climate control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a seven-inch gauge display, and SiriusXM. The two-door Jeep Wrangler also offers 12.9 cubic feet of cargo room behind the back seats and 31.7 cubic feet when those seats are folded down. When comparing the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco, it's clear that the Badlands offers more space inside.

2021 Ford Bronco Badlands Engines & Powertrain

The 2021 BroncoBadlands comes standard with a 270-horsepower 2.3-liter EcoBoost I4 and 310 lb-ft. of torque, or a 310-horsepower 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 with 400 lb-ft. of torque. Even though there are fewer engine options, horsepower and torque ratings are much more impressive. The base 2.3L engine comes with the choice of a seven-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission, while the upgraded 2.7L engine only includes the automatic gearbox. The Bronco Badlands can tow up to 3,500 pounds with the Class II Trailer Tow Package.

2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Engines & Powertrain

There are three engine options with the Rubicon. Choose the 285-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, 270-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, the 260-horsepower 3.0-liter diesel V6, or the upcoming Wrangler 4xe PHEV with 375-horsepower and 470 lb-ft. of torque. Aside from the 4xe, the 3-liter Ecodiesel engine has 442 lb-ft. of torque, but all other Wrangler engines have less than 300 lb-ft. of torque. There is also a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. The 4-door Wrangler Rubicon can tow up to 3,500 pounds with the Trailer-Tow and Heavy-Duty Electrical Group package.

2021 Ford Bronco Badlands Off-Road Capability

Determining the most capable off-road SUV between the Bronco vs. Jeep is simple. The Bronco Badlands adds Rock Crawl to the model's G.O.A.T. drive modes, while also gaining a steel rear bumper and heavy-duty front bumpers. This model also comes with a Badlands-exclusive suspension and hydraulic front sway-bar disconnect. With 35-inch tires included in the Sasquatch package, the Bronco has 11.5-inches of ground clearance.

2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Off-Road Capability

With the 33-inch tires, the Wrangler has a ground clearance of 10.8-inches. It also includes Off-Road Plus, which is a feature that allows you to drive at higher speeds than an average Rock Crawl speed while the rear-locking differential is engaged. On top of smaller ground clearance, it doesn't look like the Rubicon's break-over angles, departure angles, or water fording will match the Bronco Badlands either.

2021 Ford Bronco Badlands Safety & Reliability

There aren't any safety ratings yet, but the new Bronco comes with plenty of safety equipment. The 2021 Bronco Badlands comes standard with LED headlamps, auto high-beam headlamps, a rear-view camera, a 180-degree camera, matching spare wheel and tire, a safety canopy side-curtain with rollover sensor on both rows, and AdvanceTrac with RSC (Roll Stability Control), to name just a couple.

2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Safety & Reliability

There are no safety ratings for the 2021 Jeep Wrangler yet. Additionally, the Wrangler doesn't come with many standard safety features but does offer some optional equipment for an extra price. Customers can choose to add blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors, among a few others.