A Wrangler Owner/Enthusiast/Builder honest review of the 2021 Bronco -- long...

[ezapar]

Newbs need people to wheel with too - everyone's gotta start somewhere!

I'd rather wheel/track day with someone who drives with their head, not their ego. Knowing the vehicles limits, and more importantly your own limits is paramount.

You did read the sentence before that right?

With newbs, you spend a lot of time not in the vehicle helping them through the obstacles rather than driving on the trail. So be it. It's not about ego. I started out 20+ years ago not knowing a thing, getting stuck and not knowing what to do. If the newb has a capable rig, I just put them behind me and instruct them to follow my line.

I'm not against it, just prefer to go with an experienced group.

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[BoiseBronco]

Thank you! This was really great info and I appreciate that you were so objective about both vehicles.

 

[rugbysecondrow]

It’s not really just this thread, it’s really any enthusiast forum. People get blindsided by a product that they really love and cannot look at it objectively. I get it, the options on the market for real SUVs is extremely limited, you have the Bronco, Wrangler, 4Runner and GX, and when the choices are that few it’s much easier to pick one and hold it up as the best.

Same reason people are willing to put down $50k for a 4 cylinder Honda Civic.

It seems this forum has both extremes too. It's either sunshine and puppies or the sky is falling.

 

[guerro]

Theres no cliff-notes for this. Read it or pass.

For the last 10 years I have been a Jeep enthusiast. Starting with 2 Grand Cherokees (wk2 platform) Which I heavily modified, at least as far as was reasonable at the time. www.wk2project.com.
After that, I jumped in to JL Wranglers both as a hobby and then as a builder.
www.jlrubitron.com The 1st Wrangler Build.
www.thecustomjeepbuilder.com The Passion
www.doetschoffroad.com The Shop

I am currently building my own Bronco Badlands for SEMA 2021. I will also be building for the show a 1st edition SAS, a Wildtrak SAS and another Badlands.

My Badlands (non SAS) arrived Friday so here is the initial impression of the vehicle itself, followed by a more direct comparison to Wranglers.

Initial impression Day 1-
Looks: Looks cool. I appreciate that while they were certainly using the Wrangler as their model, there are a ton of important physical differences that give it its own personality strictly from a visual perspective. Interior is definitely nice to look at and be surrounded by while driving. Seat design and bolster are comfortable and attractive. Gauge cluster is a bit weak with top off and bright outside. Not a huge fan.
Materials: Seating, Skip the vinyl. Not impressed and gets VERY hot. Plastics in most places are very cheap (too cheap) too thin. "Oh shit" handles are too loose and flimsy to be a reassuring handle. Rear cargo plastics are very thin and off. There will be a lot of things that will come loose and make noise/rattle over the 1st few years of ownership, especially if used. Semi-normal in this segment, but if they wanted to excel they could have spent more time here.
Engine/Trans: I chose the 10spd/2.7 setup so I cannot speak to the other. While there is certainly some significant lag off the line the rest of the powertrain is quite nice. I cant imagine it with less power, (2.3) but like I said, I dont really know. It has, for its size, great around town power, passing power and fantastic gearing all around. It also really knows its place when offroading in different slow and fast situations but ill dive back in to that later.
Soft Top: I like it. I dont care for the look of the rear flap but thats my only major gripe. Taking the windows out (and back in) is straight forward. The positions of opening it are nice, and the "click" to secure it when its all the way back is nice, although it still makes some noises. Removing it completely is easy, as long as you are two tall-ish, strong-ish guys. My 5'9 16yr old kid gave it his best but scraped my roll bar on the way up and out. A bit noisier than expected.
Audio: I did not opt for the upgraded audio. BIG MISTAKE. Its really horrible. Really.

Day 1.5 real world driving
Put about 120 miles on it in the 1st day, mix of city and highway. I loved it all. Drives fantastic. It does drive BIG. If you are coming from a Jeep, a small SUV...this will feel big and wide. Bigger and wider than it really is. 1st time through tight parking lots etc youll be a bit more careful as you learn it. It felt as wide as my full size trucks. In traffic (even though it seems like it takes up the whole lane), its actually quite nimble. it glides around the road effortlessly. It likes faster. Everything with this platform seems to reward a bit of speed and momentum. Slow speed turns are a lil more awkward and require more steering effort than most in this segment. 10 spd! 10 spd! 10 spd!!!! Absolutely fantastic transmission and programmed perfectly IMO.

Day 2 off-roading. Basic Trails. (With 12 Wranglers)
So today I took it on a couple of trails mostly rated in the 3-4.5 out of 10. I spent 7 hours wheeling around Arizona at Butcher Jones, the Rolls OHV, and Bulldog Canyon. This is mostly basic trails with loose dirt, rock, river rock, banked turns, a few hill climbs, a couple of waterfall decents and some really fun high speed sandy washes.
The Bronco really shines in this category. Again, Ill make comparisons later but just straight impressions here. The 4wd modes/GOAT is all fairly intuitive. Its nice that if you shut the Bronco off on a break, it will ask if you'd like to resume that same mode at startup. Yes, thank you I do! I spent a majority of the day in 2wd, but used 4hi/baja as well as 4low/rock crawl as well.
The Bronco soaks up everything. The IFS and Bilsteins were clearly in their element.
On the trail at and avg of 13mph things were simple, comfortable and enjoyable.
The Hill climbs I mostly used baja and momentum and it conquered them all without breaking a sweat. One hill climb had very loose rock at the top 1/4 of the hill as well as a very high angle. It did require 4lo and both lockers but once engaged it pulled up it like it was nothing. It did take a bit longer to engage than I cared for though.
The washes. Oh my. It is very hard to unsettle this Bronco! Baja engaged and foot to the floor. The electronic nannies allowed a perfect amount of "fun-having" while keeping it all well balanced. Ruts/woops were very much welcome and soaked up by the suspension much better than expected. I have a Ram TRX as well so this is high praise. The Bronco had poise throughout all of the paces I put it through. I very much want to run a wildtrak through this same section.

OK, so how does it compare to a Wrangler?!?!
Dammit...I really wish this wasnt a question, because it SHOULDNT be. Yet here we are.

-It is NOT a Wrangler. Stop the comparisons, stop the wiener measurements, stop the hate. They are different and thats a good thing! The Bronco 100% has better daily driver manners, there is no question. The Bronco definitely enjoys high speed anything more than the Wrangler. The Wrangler 100% excels in Rock Crawling. Everything else comes down to a matter of opinion. They arent the same nor were they meant to be.

-GO OUT WITH WRANGLER GROUPS! If you do not come from an offroad background, the Wrangler guys will teach you alot even though they are vastly different. Other IFS rigs (tacomas and the like) honestly do not hold a candle to the Bronco and in most cases you can run similar lines to the Wranglers. Plus theres lots of them doing lots of things. Be friendly, we do not bite. Whatever trash talking you hear at 730am at the trailhead will be gone by 9.

-The Bronco both fills a gap, and takes away some of Jeeps thunder. A large majority of Wrangler owners have Sports and Saharas. They are still very capable off-road, sans lockers and low range. They have great articulation (especially once modified) that allow them to do so fairly difficult things easily. Rubicons are a different creature and at the end of the day whatever level Sasquatch you get stock vs stock or modified vs modified will never be able to rock crawl (7 and up trails) like a Rubicon. Please do not think it will. It cannot. It isnt supposed to (yet).

-The Bronco is a better place to spend time in. It looks good, it feels good. If you are commuting a lot, or love road trips...it wins.

-The Wrangler fit & finish is better all around, and thats not saying much for either of em!

-Bronco wins the transmission war and I really love the JL 8speed.

-2.7 is > 2.0 or 3.6
-2.7 is < 3.0d or 6.4

-The power of the 2.7 and its very smart 10spd is phenomenal offroad both in slow and high speed offroading. The additional tuning changes with the GOAT modes make it enjoyable in all situations. There was really no where I was expecting or needing more power or being in the proper gear.

-Bronco braking is better.

IMO
In my opinion, most Wrangler sport/sahara owners that test drive a Bronco (if they like the looks of it) will strongly consider moving to a Bronco. Rightfully so. Rubicon owners like myself (ones that use them to the extreme) will stay put. But I sure like having the Bronco in the stable!!

Now comes the fun part! I cannot wait to begin building these 4 Broncos. Each will have a different use/purpose/look. I promise to keep the forum up to date on them with much shorter posts.

I see you are in Chandler. How did the A/C manage with the soft top? Any issues getting it Ford Truck cold?

Will be following your builds.

 

[guerro]

Katzkin Drops their kits this week! I just ordered some for all 4 builds.

I wonder what pricing will look like? If it is cheaper to get MGV and add Katzkin later than getting leather from factory, I may do that.

 

[Doetsch Off-Road]

While we are in a lull from the engine drama and me catching up on replies, Ill add a bit to my initial thoughts.

Yes, 98% of Jeep Rubicon owners do not use them to their full potential.
However...(and say what you will about my opinion/experience) I do know that a stock Rubicon vs a stock Badlands SAS...the Rubicon will make it further. Its not a dig, its not a guess. It is the hundreds of vehicles I have built/driven/taken offroad. both SA AND IFS. There are simply things that in this level (road legal vehicles) that a solid front axle can accomplish that this IFS cannot.

I do believe that on trails less than a 8/10 the Bronco SAS will be able to hold its own and do it more comfortably. Different lines, different driving techniques.

 

[DoorlessDriver]

Theres no cliff-notes for this. Read it or pass.

Nice job with the impressions. Thanks!

 

[Pressurized]

Great question... Of my last 3 vehicles, pleasure or work, 2 of them were sold or traded because the A/C was less than desirable. And you guys can ridicule all you want, but nothing worked like the A/C in my 2010 Prius.

Here in AZ, you know that is a big deal...

 

[L8apex]

Great question... Of my last 3 vehicles, pleasure or work, 2 of them were sold or traded because the A/C was less than desirable. And you guys can ridicule all you want, but nothing worked like the A/C in my 2010 Prius.

Here in AZ, you know that is a big deal...

Ford generally does a good job with HVAC. Toyota as well.

I have to say VW is one of the WORST for HVAC, from a performance or reliability standpoint.

 

[Doetsch Off-Road]

I see you are in Chandler. How did the A/C manage with the soft top? Any issues getting it Ford Truck cold?

Will be following your builds.

Did just fine. The AC Fan at 7 is powerful. Good quick cooling. I had the top completely off yesterday, windows up and ac on 7. Yes it was still hot but the ac cranked.

 

[az_dirt]

My bronco A/C is super cold and fans move a lot of air. I am in Phoenix w/softop. I had dealer add ceramic film so that may help a tiny bit.

 

[Tech Tim]

Would you consider replacing it with the Bestop twill if one were available? (Can not find it listed on the Bestop website.)

Bestop is saying their tops should be available in Spring of 2022.

 

[AZBronco73]

Just did Broken Arrow, The Rolls (hard side) and the OHV area across the 87 from that area, cant remember the name. Great washes for high speed running on the north side of the highway. So far its done well but the factory steps are just a killer. You'll hear me scrape them constantly if I find my way out with you guys. PITA.

Thanks for your honest opinion! It tracks incredibly close to my own. I dont know that the Bronco will ever win out in the most extreme 1% use case when rock crawling, but everything outside of that I feel like its a contender. The faster it goes, the better it seems to get.. Same with the Tremor, actually. Hitting 60+ MPH down sand covered washes is a real rush.

Sycamore Creek is the area on the west side of the 87 across from Rolls. Great area especially when there is some water in the creek like now after all the recent rain we have had.

 

[Theherofails]

Sycamore Creek is the area on the west side of the 87 across from Rolls. Great area especially when there is some water in the creek like now after all the recent rain we have had.

I thought that was the name but didn’t wanna say it and look even more like a moron if I was wrong.

Amazing washes though, I agree.. Lots of big trucks stuck in the sand every time I go but the Ranger Tremor eats it up.

 

[Bronco4lyfe85]

It seems this forum has both extremes too. It's either sunshine and puppies or the sky is falling.

I LOVE PUPPIES!!!

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