Ford Bronco Vs. Jeep Wrangler: How The Off-Road Specs Compare

[UncleBrad]

Stellantis still have not addressed the Pentastar engine's oil cooler / filter housing Leaks nor the cooling system failures. Issues that they have known about for years. But conveniently only surface after the 60K warranty limit has been passed.

Agreed. I put over 150K on a 2012 JK with a PentaStar and never experienced that problem, but there WAS a serious problem with the valve needle bearing in the port side head that required a head replacement - damaged the cam as well. The PentaStar was better in the Wrangler than the old pushrod minivan engine preceding it, but Ford's 2.3L four trounces the PentaStar. But if Stellantis puts the new inline six Hurricane in the Wrangler, that would be a game changer.

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[crenca]

On the flip side, the ride quality is trash. You're probably thinking...dude you drive a Wrangler. No, seriously, the ride quality on the Bronco is TRASH. My Rubicon rides like a dream compared to that Bronco. The Bronco reminded me of my former F-250. The suspension, especially in the rear, has a harshness to it. It almost feels like it's riding on the bump stops. I checked the tire pressure and they were all upper 30s, so it's not the tires. The suspension is just not good.

Me thinks your exaggerating just a wee bit . That said there is real truth to what you say here. Most (but not all) of what your feeling can be attributed to the shock choices that Ford makes compared to Jeep. The yellow bilstein's on your parents Bronco are digressive. Not everyone likes this, especially in the off-road world where softly damped linear's (such as on your jeep) are the norm. Like everything else it's pros vs cons. I like the bilsteins digressive valving, as it helps stabilize the Bronco in on-road curvy/agressive/highway driving, though I admit I'm probably in the minority.

Also, what can not be attributed to the shocks can in large part (thick anti-sway bars being the rest) to your parents choice of tire pressure. Even lowering to mid 30's makes a very noticeable difference. I keep mine at 32ish (big difference) under all circumstances excepting a several hundred mile + interstate drive.

But it became very clear very quickly that the Bronco doesn't hold a candle to the Wrangler on trail systems. Articulation is much greater on the Wrangler. Places where a Bronco looked like it was about to tip my Rubicon would crawl through almost not even lifting a tire. There's just a huge difference in flex between the two vehicles and that makes all the difference on a trail. Tires and lockers can only do so much.

This is about right, though I think you exaggerate the practical implications on the trails. Still, articulation matters. More limited articulation (especially in cross axle unloading situations) is the trade off for IFS and more stable/modern on road handling/ride.

 

[WXman]

Stellantis still have not addressed the Pentastar engine's oil cooler / filter housing Leaks nor the cooling system failures. Issues that they have known about for years. But conveniently only surface after the 60K warranty limit has been passed.

I've had five of the Pentastar engines in five separate vehicles. Challenger, Grand Cherokee, Gladiator, Wranglers mostly. My 2020 Grand Cherokee had 202,000 miles on it the day I traded it in and the only repair it ever got was a water pump around 180k.

I have no idea what people are doing to ruin the oil coolers but I suspect they are over-torquing the filter cap. I have never seen these cooler leaks, cam issues, or anything else that people claim is common on these engines.

The Pentastar is one of the best V6 engines ever made. It's been on Ward's Best Engines list in multiple years. Today it's the only one I know of without direct injection. I love it.

Its Achilles heel is torque output. It's very low on torque and you can feel that when you drive it.

 

[WXman]

Me thinks your exaggerating just a wee bit . That said there is real truth to what you say here. Most (but not all) of what your feeling can be attributed to the shock choices that Ford makes compared to Jeep. The yellow bilstein's on your parents Bronco are digressive.




This is about right, though I think you exaggerate the practical implications on the trails. Still, articulation matters. More limited articulation (especially in cross axle unloading situations) is the trade off for IFS and more stable/modern on road handling/ride.

Not exaggerating. Digressive, progressive, aggressive, regressive, however you slice the watermelon the ride quality is TRASH. There is no way that a midsize SUV should have the same ride quality as a F-250 Super Duty. But that's what the Bronco Sasquatch reminded me of as soon as I headed out down the road. EVERY bump, dip, railroad crossing, pot hole, or bridge joint jarred us and it feels like what you'd experience if you were riding on the bump stops all the time. It's really surprising to me that a Jeep Wrangler actually feels so much better in daily driving.

I think that for most people, the IFS in the Bronco is worth it. The average person isn't rock crawling these vehicles, and a guy could always tear out the factory suspension and replace with good aftermarket stuff to get the ride quality where it should be. THEN he'd have the best of both worlds....great handling and great ride.

 

[GoHawks63]

It's funny, but I was pleasantly surprised with the ride quality in my Bronco. Maybe it's because of the Fox shocks with the HOSS 3.0 package, and I live in SE Michigan where the roads here are terrible.

As I've mentioned in the past, the Bronco replaced a 2012 BMW X5. I prepared myself for a much harsher ride with the Bronco.

 

[Desmolicious]

Not exaggerating. Digressive, progressive, aggressive, regressive, however you slice the watermelon the ride quality is TRASH. There is no way that a midsize SUV should have the same ride quality as a F-250 Super Duty. But that's what the Bronco Sasquatch reminded me of as soon as I headed out down the road. EVERY bump, dip, railroad crossing, pot hole, or bridge joint jarred us and it feels like what you'd experience if you were riding on the bump stops all the time. It's really surprising to me that a Jeep Wrangler actually feels so much better in daily driving.

I think that for most people, the IFS in the Bronco is worth it. The average person isn't rock crawling these vehicles, and a guy could always tear out the factory suspension and replace with good aftermarket stuff to get the ride quality where it should be. THEN he'd have the best of both worlds....great handling and great ride.

My Bronco Heritage 4 dr rides worse than my old 2012 Wrangler Rubicon 2 dr. That was a shock to me actually.
The Bronco drives much better though, but the ride quality is a disappointment. I've lowered tire pressure from the stock 39 to 36 but that did not make much difference.

 

[crenca]

Not exaggerating. Digressive, progressive, aggressive, regressive, however you slice the watermelon the ride quality is TRASH.

Baloney. Your just revealing your limited experience, or you are exaggerating for effect. Even given individual preferences the Sasquatched Bronco's ride is not anything near a heavy duty pickup with a tow rating of 5+ tons. The soft spring rates compared to just about everything else on the road guarantees that.

If a F-250 is a 10, and a Toyota Highlander is a 1, a Sasquatched Bronco is about a 3...heck, it is "squishier" and "floater" than a Highlander given relative spring rates, at least in many road conditions/maneuvers, especially if your a typical off-roader and have a couple hundred pounds of recovery/tools/water/etc. in the rear.

EVERY bump, dip, railroad crossing, pot hole, or bridge joint jarred us and it feels like what you'd experience if you were riding on the bump stops all the time.

Quit your bitching and bring your parents air pressure down to something reasonable (35 or below, many of us have regularly run the OEM tires at 32, 30, even 28). Read any thread here about air pressure...

My Bronco Heritage 4 dr rides worse than my old 2012 Wrangler Rubicon 2 dr. That was a shock to me actually.
The Bronco drives much better though, but the ride quality is a disappointment. I've lowered tire pressure from the stock 39 to 36 but that did not make much difference.

Your going to have to go below that - mine and others experience put that absolute pressure at 35, but I was regularly down to 32 (yes, at highway speeds around here which are 80 in the right lane, higher in left).

OR (in-addition to) , if your wanting a Jeep like on-the-road softness, your gong to have to go with a linear valved shock (Fox to give an example) replacement as I think your heritage have the digressive bilsteins if I am not mistaken...

It's funny, but I was pleasantly surprised with the ride quality in my Bronco. Maybe it's because of the Fox shocks with the HOSS 3.0 package, and I live in SE Michigan where the roads here are terrible.

Yep, that would be it.

 

[crzyhawk]

I like the bilsteins digressive valving, as it helps stabilize the Bronco in on-road curvy/agressive/highway driving, though I admit I'm probably in the minority.

Maybe you are? But I am honestly thinking something similar. I'm strongly considering the ford performance coilovers to replace my Hitachis because sharper curves at freeway speeds feel a bit sketchy to me sometimes. I'm not looking to autocross this thing, but honestly, not feeling weird coming down the backside of mountains at 75 is something I think I'd prefer after a literal lifetime of driving Mustangs. My heart wants the plush foxes, but my calibrated butt wants something a little bit firmer.

 

[crenca]

Maybe you are? But I am honestly thinking something similar. I'm strongly considering the ford performance coilovers to replace my Hitachis because sharper curves at freeway speeds feel a bit sketchy to me sometimes. I'm not looking to autocross this thing, but honestly, not feeling weird coming down the backside of mountains at 75 is something I think I'd prefer after a literal lifetime of driving Mustangs. My heart wants the plush foxes, but my calibrated butt wants something a little bit firmer.

I admit I don't know what the "ford performance coilovers" are, but if they include the OEM yellow bilsteins, or a bilstein 5100 or 6200 equivalent, you would find them much more to your liking. Not for everybody of course because many (most I believe) prefer a linear, soft-ish shock on their 4x4. Heck, even a 4000 series would probably be a real step in the direction you want to take, and those can be had for not much more than Autozone level "promaster/monroe/duralast/etc." shock $. If your not doing the work yourself, it will be labor that is the majority of the bill...

Now, a Bronco because of the tires (well, you could inflate them to 40+, but even then), the spring rates, the high center of gravity, etc. is never going to come down a pass on a Colorado interstate like a Mustang or even a Camry. That said, I don't feel a SAS bronco to be "sketchy" at all. Indeed for a 4x4, or even a typical "suv", the stability/turn in/transitions behavior Is well above average.

 

[crzyhawk]

I admit I don't know what the "ford performance coilovers" are, but if they include the OEM yellow bilsteins, or a bilstein 5100 or 6200 equivalent, you would find them much more to your liking. Not for everybody of course because many (most I believe) prefer a linear, soft-ish shock on their 4x4. Heck, even a 4000 series would probably be a real step in the direction you want to take, and those can be had for not much more than Autozone level "promaster/monroe/duralast/etc." shock $. If your not doing the work yourself, it will be labor that is the majority of the bill...

Now, a Bronco because of the tires (well, you could inflate them to 40+, but even then), the spring rates, the high center of gravity, etc. is never going to come down a pass on a Colorado interstate like a Mustang or even a Camry. That said, I don't feel a SAS bronco to be "sketchy" at all. Indeed for a 4x4, or even a typical "suv", the stability/turn in/transitions behavior Is well above average.

https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-18000-B1A

They are based on the 6100 IIRC.

 

[crenca]

https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-18000-B1A

They are based on the 6100 IIRC.

I have done business with these guys and find them bullshit free and helpful, though with points/discounts the above Ford version might be slightly cheaper for you:

https://www.shocksurplus.com/products/bronco-assembled-6112-set

Since the aftermarket is rarely transparent on exactly what spring rates they are using, I wonder if something like this might be a less risk free path:

https://www.shocksurplus.com/produc...1-2023-ford-bronco-4wd?variant=40500983562289

 

[stampede1]

Not exaggerating. Digressive, progressive, aggressive, regressive, however you slice the watermelon the ride quality is TRASH. There is no way that a midsize SUV should have the same ride quality as a F-250 Super Duty. But that's what the Bronco Sasquatch reminded me of as soon as I headed out down the road. EVERY bump, dip, railroad crossing, pot hole, or bridge joint jarred us and it feels like what you'd experience if you were riding on the bump stops all the time. It's really surprising to me that a Jeep Wrangler actually feels so much better in daily driving.

I think that for most people, the IFS in the Bronco is worth it. The average person isn't rock crawling these vehicles, and a guy could always tear out the factory suspension and replace with good aftermarket stuff to get the ride quality where it should be. THEN he'd have the best of both worlds....great handling and great ride.

Or just buy the Raptor in the first place with its great ride quality, offroad chops and factory warranty.

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