Jeep Wrangler vs Ford Bronco | Which Should a Family Buy?

We review cars as a family. Right now we're driving a 2024 Jeep Wrangler. And here we are in its number one competitor, the Ford Bronco. This is actually the Bronco we bought back in 2021. It's lightly modified, but the fundamentals are representative of what you find in a 2024 Bronco. And before you ask, yes, this will be a fair comparison. Not a Bronco love fest, though we do love our Bronco. We recently reviewed the 2024 Wrangler and a 2024 Bronco two-door, so we're up to speed on the current state of each. The question we want to answer here is, is the four-door Bronco or Wrangler better for a family? Both interiors have classic charm and strong functionality. We like the Bronco's larger cargo area and easier to fold seats. In the Wrangler, Jeep has updated the interior for 2024. It looks nice and increased soft-touch materials give it a more premium feel. Each interior has pros and cons, but neither is radically superior. That's a tie. The door's just locked for some reason. I, the ultimate average American male, 5'10", long torso, fit in every seat in both the Bronco and in the Wrangler. That said, with slightly more shoulder space and rear seats that recline, the Bronco has a slight edge in passenger comfort. Both SUVs offer respectable cargo space with supplemental underfloor areas, but with more cargo space and easier to fold seats, we've got to give the cargo win to Bronco. For 2024, the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler each offer standard approximately 12-inch infotainment displays. We'd happily use either. In the Bronco's favor, its soft top is exceptionally easy to use, and a frameless design makes the doors easy to remove and store. On the Wrangler's side, Jeep offers a soft top, hard tops in black and body color, this sky one-touch roof, half doors, and full doors. Since the Bronco's launch, Ford has struggled to deliver hard tops without flaws, and the ones they do are limited in their color choices and features. Where features are concerned, Wrangler takes the win. Style is subjective. Obviously, we love the Bronco. We also love the classic style of the Wrangler. Whichever moves you emotionally, we support you. Kiddo, can I ask, which one do you like the look of, the Wrangler or the Bronco? Bronco. We support you. Neither SUV has been crash tested by the NHTSA nor IIHS. Annoyingly, automatic emergency braking isn't standard on either. But starting in 2024, automatic emergency braking comes on all but the base Wrangler trim, and on the Ford side, automatic emergency braking is optionally available on the two lowest Bronco trims but standard on the rest. For 2024, Jeep has finally added side curtain airbags, making that a total of six airbags for both the Wrangler and the Bronco. These days, lane-keeping assist is basic safety tech. It comes standard on a Honda Civic, and it really should be standard here. Instead, it's optionally available on the Bronco, and the Wrangler doesn't offer lane-keeping assist at all. That being the case, the safety win goes to Bronco. The Bronco offers more power from its base engine, but neither is particularly efficient. The Bronco also offers more powerful turbocharged V6 options. But the Wrangler gives buyers even more choices, including a raucous V8 and the plug-in hybrid we're driving that can run 22 miles on electric power alone. More engine choices, plus a plug-in hybrid option, advantage for Wrangler. The Bronco is a capable off-roader, especially with the Sasquatch package that's offered on every trim. It adds front and rear locking differentials, 35-inch tires, and a more capable off-road suspension. Depending on the trim, you can get all those features on a Wrangler, too. Where the Wrangler distinguishes itself is its front suspension. That is a five-link live axle, imparting the Wrangler with exceptional robustness and articulation. For mainstream off-roading, either choice is great. But if you've got gnarly aspirations, the Wrangler is the right choice. Unlike the Wrangler, the Bronco has an independent front suspension that helps it perform notably better on road. The steering is far more precise than the loose, vague-feeling Wrangler. Ride quality is fine in each, but body motions are better controlled in the Bronco, yielding more confident handling. Especially for long freeway drives, we would much rather steer the Bronco. The 2024 Wrangler has a significantly lower base price than the Bronco. However, most families will want a four-door, and moving from the two-door to the four-door Wrangler costs $4,000 or more. The Bronco four-door upgrade is much cheaper. It's only $740 to turn a two-door Big Bend trim into a four-door. Also, in our reviews, we always share a trim recommendation, which includes the essential features you'd regret not getting, but at the lowest possible price. For our recommended four-door automatic transmission trims, the Bronco is actually slightly cheaper. We'll count the price category as a tie. Depending on your use case, either SUV could be a great choice. In fact, if Ford hadn't brought back the Bronco, we'd probably own a Wrangler. But because it offers more room, somewhat better safety tech, and a significantly better on-road experience while still being a capable off-roader, we think the Bronco is better aligned with the needs of a family. But we would love to have you tell us that we're wrong. Feel free to do so in the comments. Family, I think we've done a good job comparing the Bronco and the Wrangler. May I have a five? And a five. And you, come get your high five. Bam!