2025 Ford Bronco vs the Competition

As Jeep will always remind you, the Wrangler descends from the original that was developed for military service in World War II. After CJ (Civilian Jeep) models 1 through 7, the Wrangler name was introduced in 2007 alongside its first-ever four-door model. The model has retained its basic shape and off-road focus from its wartime days, even as it has grown, evolved, and adapted to government regulations and consumer expectations. The primary Wrangler engine is a 3.6-liter V6, while a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four and a plug-in hybrid using the 2.0-liter powertrain (4xe) are also available. The Wrangler comes in eight trim levels, with prices ranging from $31,995 to just under $100,000.  

• The Bronco’s standard engine has slightly less horsepower than the Jeep’s V6 (275 vs. 285 hp) but significantly more pound-feet of torque (315 vs. 260 lb-ft). 

• The Wrangler’s no-cost 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four option offers more torque than its V6, but it still falls short of the Bronco’s base engine in both torque (295 vs. 315 lb-ft) and horsepower (270 vs. 275 hp). 

• Both models are distinctive in providing manual transmissions, especially in the lower variants. The Bronco features a seven-speed manual, while the Wrangler has a six-speed manual. 

• A ten-speed automatic transmission is available on the Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, and Badlands Bronco models, while it comes standard on the rest. The Wrangler again comes up short in ratios with an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

• In four-door form, both models have the same height (6-foot 1-inch) and are within an inch in length (15-feet 9-inches vs. 15-feet 8-inches) and have a two-inch difference in wheelbase (9-feet 8-inches vs. 9-feet 10-inches). The big difference is in width, where the Bronco is over a foot wider (7-feet 2-inches vs. 6-feet 1-inch, including mirrors). 

• When comparing four-door models, the Bronco offers more cargo space behind the rear seats (38.3 vs. 31.7 cubic feet), with an even greater difference when the rear seatbacks are folded (83.0 vs. 72.4 cubic feet). 

• Both models with the base engine have a 3,500-pound maximum towing capacity, but the Bronco has a higher payload capacity (1,423 vs. 1,218 pounds). 

• As expected from its increased width, the Bronco offers more front and rear shoulder room (57.1/56.5 vs. 55.8/55.8 inches).

Originally designed to replace the Jeep Cherokee XJ, which helped spur the popularity of SUVs, the Grand Cherokee instead became an addition to the Jeep model line when it debuted as a 1993 model. Now in its fifth generation, the Grand Cherokee is Jeep’s best-selling model, combining off-road capability with on-road functionality. The Grand Cherokee is available in rear- or four-wheel drive, and there are three 4×4 systems across the model line. Like the Wrangler, the Grand Cherokee’s core engine is a 3.6-liter V6, with a 4xe hybrid variant powered by the same 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four plus electric motor found in the Wrangler 4xe. The closest price-competitive Bronco to the least expensive 4×4 Grand Cherokee is the $39,785 Laredo X, while the Bronco Big Bend four-door is priced at $40,370.   

• The Bronco’s standard engine produces less horsepower than the Grand Cherokee’s V6 (275 vs. 293 hp), but it offers significantly more pound-feet of torque (315 vs. 260 lb-ft). 

• The Bronco provides a choice between a seven-speed manual and a ten-speed automatic transmission. All Grand Cherokees come with eight-speed automatic transmissions. 

• The Bronco provides slightly more cargo space when the rear seats are up (38.3 vs. 37.7 cubic feet). 

•  The Bronco offers significantly more cargo space when the rear seatbacks are folded (80.3 vs. 70.8 cubic feet). 

• With the base trims, the Bronco provides greater ground clearance than the Grand Cherokee (9.4 vs. 8.4 inches). 

• The mainstream Bronco models offer significantly greater approach/breakover/departure angles than the Grand Cherokee (38.3/22.1/32.1 vs. 20.5/19.1/26.6 degrees). 

• The Bronco has a greater payload capacity (1,453 vs. 1,240 pounds). 

• The Bronco is available with locking front and rear differentials, three skid plates, and front bumper protectors on the Big Bend model, which are unavailable on the similarly priced Grand Cherokee Laredo X. 

• The Bronco’s removable soft roof and available removable hard roof are not available on any Grand Cherokee.

Toyota’s Land Cruiser is another example of an original SUV that left the U.S. market only to be brought back. Popular in the rural areas of many countries with poor roads, the model steadily grew until it became too big, expensive, and ill-designed for the U.S. market. Toyota returned the Land Cruiser to the U.S. in a smaller, more affordable form for the 2024 model year. Derived from the Toyota Prado, which has been sold in other countries since 1984, the model’s proportions and design recall its ancestor. All-new, however, is the hybrid drivetrain used across the model line. It is the same 2.4-liter turbocharged hybrid system found in the upper 4Runner and Tacoma models. Strictly a five-seater, the model is positioned as an upscale yet similarly off-road-capable SUV above the 4Runner, with a starting MSRP of $56,700 for the “1958” model. At $53,530, the Bronco Badlands with the optional 2.7-liter engine is the closest trim to this lowest-priced Land Cruiser. 

• Although the Land Cruiser’s hybrid drivetrain is more powerful (326 vs. 315 hp) than the Bronco Badlands 2.7-liter engine option, the Land Cruiser weighs almost 400 more pounds (5,360 vs. 4,945 pounds), resulting in a better power-to-weight ratio for the Bronco. 

• The Bronco provides a choice between a seven-speed manual and a ten-speed automatic transmission. All new Land Cruisers come with eight-speed automatics. 

• The Bronco surpasses the Land Cruiser in cargo space with the rear seatbacks up, offering 38.3 cubic feet compared to 37.5 cubic feet. 

• The Bronco Badlands features a 12.0-inch center touchscreen, significantly larger than the 8.0-inch screen in the Land Cruiser.  

• The Bronco Badlands features a ground clearance of 10.5 inches, significantly higher than the Land Cruiser’s 8.0-inch ground clearance. 

• The Bronco Badlands has significantly greater approach/breakover/departure angles than the Land Cruiser (41.3/24.1/34.5 vs. 31.0/ 23.0/17.0 degrees). 

• The Bronco’s removable soft roof and optional hard roof are not available on any Land Cruiser.

The original 4Runner debuted as a late 1984 model. With a removable fiberglass top behind the front doors, it resembled a Toyota pickup with a cap over the bed. As other SUVs transitioned into crossovers, the 4Runner remained true to its roots as a genuine truck-based SUV, featuring solid off-road capability and good towing capacity.  

After the previous model went largely unchanged for 15 years, Toyota introduced the sixth-generation 4Runner for the 2025 model year. It continues to use the Tacoma platform and the truck’s 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four engine or a hybrid powertrain based on the same engine. There are nine 4Runner trim levels, some with rear-wheel drive only, others with four-wheel drive only, and some offering a choice of both. The two TRD Off-Road trims cater to occasional off-roaders, while dedicated off-roaders will gravitate to the TRD Pro or the newly introduced Trailhunter for overlanding enthusiasts. The closest Bronco to the 4Runner SR5 4×4’s starting MSRP of $42,770 is the Bronco Big Bend at $40,370. 

• Similarly sized and turbocharged, the standard engines for the Bronco and 4Runner are closely matched. The 4Runner has a slight lead in both horsepower (278 vs. 275 hp) and torque (317 vs. 315 lb-ft), but it also weighs over 200 pounds less. 

• The Bronco offers a choice between a seven-speed manual and a ten-speed automatic transmission, while the 4Runner no longer provides a manual transmission and instead features an eight-speed automatic across all models. 

• The Bronco Big Bend features a higher ground clearance compared to the 4Runner SR5, measuring 9.4 inches versus 8.1 inches. 

• The Bronco Big Bend generally has greater approach, breakover, and departure angles than the 4Runner SR5 (38.3/ 24.1/32.1 vs. 18.0/23.0/ 22.0 degrees). 

• Locking front and rear differentials are offered on the Bronco Big Bend but are not available on the 4Runner SR5. 

• The Bronco has three different axle ratios from which to choose. The 4Runner has a fixed ratio. 

• Second-row passengers enjoy more legroom in the Bronco (36.3 vs. 34.8 inches). 

• Front/rear headroom is also significantly greater in the Bronco (43.3/41.1 vs. 39.7/37.8 inches). 

• The Bronco has a significantly higher maximum payload than the 4Runner (1,453 vs. 895 pounds). 

• Dual climate control is standard on the Bronco Big Bend but is unavailable on the more expensive 4Runner SR5. 

• The Bronco Big Bend features a 12.0-inch center touchscreen, which is significantly larger than the 8.0-inch screen in the 4Runner SR5.