As highways grow more crowded, performance cars have fewer places where they can really show off. Maybe that’s why some driving enthusiasts are trending toward another form of showing off: offroading.
They are helped along by the rise in offroading capable vehicles. Jeep and Land Rover aren’t the only manufacturers to emphasize this. Ford, known for sensible vehicles and the best-selling F150, has ventured further and further into Jeep territory. First it was the way the manufacturer outfitted the Ford F150 Raptor. Then it added the Ford Ranger Tremer. Now it is introducing an all-new Ford Bronco.
If you were familiar with the old type of Bronco, you aren’t too offbase here. The new one is athletic and looks as sporty as it is capable. However, like all new SUVs today, it has plenty of high tech toys and helpful amenities. The question is: can this newcomer capture the Jeep Wrangler market as well as it captures the imagination of off-roading fans? For that matter, can it beat the new Land Rover Defender that has just come roaring back?
Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco Meet on the Trail
The Wrangler is an open air vehicle with soft top and hardtop configurations. The 2021 Ford Bronco meets that challenge with very similar choices. So, for the first time in forever, there will be two open-air road-worthy SUVs for shoppers to choose from.
The Bronco comes in the two-door and four-door varieties, matching the Wrangler’s offerings. That will help the Bronco encroach even further into the Wrangler’s territory.
Wranglers continue to rely on a 285-horsepower engine with 260 pound-feet of torque. The Bronco has Ford’s Ecoboost engine. So, it delivers 270 horsepower and a load-moving 310 pound-feet of torque. This would seem to swing things toward the Bronco in terms of both power and fuel economy. This efficiency may allow for longer trail rides, and it will definitely make the Bronco a better everyday commuter.
Pricing is similar at the low end of the spectrum. After that, it will take a careful observer to decide which brand is offering the best value for the money. Ford does offer a wider variety of off-roading specialities in its distinctive trim lineup.
Ford Bronco Challenges Land Rover
As the newest affordable off-road SUV, the Ford Bronco is about $15,000 USD less than the Land Rover Defender which has just returned after being discontinued in 2016. In its ads, you’ll see the Defender driving through piles of snow and fording water that is lapping at the windows. There are two-door and four-door versions, and the Defender also offers a three row. However, you won’t see an open air version yet.
Frankly, the rivalry between these two may be decided in the showroom not on the trail. You can get a well-appointed Bronco with much more off-roading equipment for less than the entry level Land Rover. Furthermore, the higher horsepower Land Rover doesn’t change the off-roading capability enough to offset the huge drop in fuel economy.
It all comes down to what you most want from an off-roader. The Bronco is due summer 2021. When it finally arrives, there’s sure to be a face-off on the trail.
