4x4 Torture Test: Defender v. Bronco v. Wrangler - Which Is the BEST Off-Roader?
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- Опубликовано: 20 янв 2025
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But diagonal has an o in it.
I hope you guys buy extended warranties on all your personal vehicles. And I hope you are selling your Ram with the website you push. I get advertising, but you have to cut these scams out of your advertising repertoire. It’s ridiculous how hard these are peddled.
I guarantee nobody there buys an aftermarket warranty. Lol.
The secret number 1 offroad vehicle is the Toyota Yaris rental car.
With the Ultimate Insurance Package😂
Had a Yaris since 06. It took me on many road trips, from Newfoundland to Bc, traveled with 2 kayaks, 12 ft and 9 foot, drove up a few off road mountain roads to alpine backpack, was told the yaris wouldn't make it, but it always did. Used it for renovating my home and too much to mention here. Now my father in law has it and loves it, I own a wrangler and my wife miss’s the Yaris, LOL. You might have been joking but that Yaris was and is still a absolute beast!
Better Baja vehicle 😂
Why not a test drive?
'75 Honda civic cvcc runs through snowmobile trails in winter like a champ.
Being older than modes, I think the BEST modes have always been Front and Rear Locker mode. Also ground clearance mode and appropriate tire mode are pretty much fool proof.
Yep. YOU know where you're going and what's in front of you; you should have control.
Gotta love all the Wrangler grannies.
You’re in sass mode
SHOVEL MODE
@ not entirely true. They’ve made drastic changes with some brands and they do really well.
Had a wrangler but I’m getting older and my back doesn’t tolerate it so well. So I bought a bronco wildtrack. I am happy so far.
I remember being absolutely in love with Wranglers when I was younger. Recently, I test drove one and nearly cried after getting out. Guess being older means you need Classic Wagoneer or a real Full Sized Truck with bench seats!
People talk a lot of crap about Broncos, but I’ve had a great experience with my badlands
@@bawintermage8351 Or IFS.
I once bought a 1993 wrangler with the leaf spring suspension and a lift and my (much younger) back tolerated it for 3 days before i put it up for sale. I'm now in a JL 4xe and the suspension is definitely stiff, esp at max tire pressure, but the seats are so good i don;t really mind it.
@@Papershields001 I'm not sure who talks bad about the Bronco. They are pretty heavily praised. Many point out areas where the Wrangler is better like in this video. But they are pretty highly regarded.
as a convert from jeep to bronco, i can tell you it does NOT flex as well as the jeep. However, on-trail and on-road comfort is hands down better!
I have a Jeep because for the same equipment I paid $15k less. Rides just fine on and off road.
@csuengr eventually it won't. I got tired of being literally tired on road trips. The constant wandering was irritating. All 3 of my jeeps did it. The bronco just tracks straight as an arrow for hours on end at 80 mph down the highway!
Had an ‘18 Wrangler JLU…will probably never own another Stellantis product as a result. I traded it for a ‘23 Ranger. I miss my ‘98 Wrangler, though, and may get an older Jeep in the future!
@@chriscon8463 before i got the bronco i seriously thought about holding out for a ranger raptor. though i think with all the little electronic/software gremlins the bronco has, my next offroader may be a classic. thinking K5 Blazer.
@@JustinKingOffroad I hate all this electronic stuff on modern vehicles! My Jeep had electrical gremlins from the start. I haven’t had any problems with my Ranger (16K miles) & hopefully it’ll be ok. I got an XL, though, so it doesn’t have a ton of stuff on it to begin with.
Bronco is the middle road of everything in a good way, with better on-road performance without losing much off-road performance than the Jeep and the opposite to the Defender. I spent months trying to figure out which way I would go, and I decided on the Bronco SAS and was happy I did. For some reason, people care about what I drive when they don't make the payments. I'm not mad at you if I see you driving a Jeep. We both share the same love for the same hobby.
still, the 3-way fail is mind blowing, to me. Seems like that would be a software update, yet 3 years after introduction and it still can't FrontWD its way out?
Well said friend.
@@robsolf I don't know if it can now. That one they tested was not a '24 like mine. That part doesn't matter to me since I have front and rear lockers with the stab bar disconnect.
@@ScottM436 correct, you need to spec that up to defender costs to defeat that test.
@@mrsethatwood It's not quite there, but it's close, yeah. I could have gotten a Defender for what I paid for my Badlands SAS, but I still prefer the Bronco for the reasons I stated.
The “BEST” is the one you (1) Love, (2) Can Afford, & (3) Use. Thank you TFL for the comparison so we can make those decisions in a MORE INFORMED MINDSET.
Just objectively, the bronco failed the hardest test. Buy what you want, but there clearly were two superior performers within the parameters of this test.
I think you have #1 and #3 mixed up..an object you can't or won't use should never be purchased
Bravo!
I like all 3 of these. The Bronco looks awesome. I went with a new Jeep Wrangler. I live in WA, Jeep-country. Also, I didn't want all the "mode" selections. But the main reason- the 392 V8 in the Wrangler was the no-crap selling feature!
Yea, we went with Bronco. Just more room and better ride than the Jeep. I don’t really use the mode selections. I prefer to just manually select 4H or 4L, then if I need the lockers turn them on. People are foaming at the mouth wanting a V8, Bronco. Not sure why Jeep/Stellantis is discontinuing the V8 option.
@@crawdaddctyeah. I’d love love love to have a 392 jeep. But can’t give a kidney up yet!
Very nice, I really wanted a 2 door and the only 2 door v8 SUV made today is the Defender, so when I sold my 2 door Bronco I bought a 2 door v8 90 defender.
I am a huge v8 fan, also love the 392 Hemi, I have the 392 Hemi in my challenger wide body scat pack. Simply a Glorious sounding engine.
My brother has a 392 jeep, the 392 jeep is so awesome.
You might want Look up Godspeed on RUclips that guy has posted some killer 392 jeep content, he even drag races his as well as does lots of seriously off-roading in it.
i live in Wa as well, ive got a bronco, its not jeep country anymore. i think 4x4 country is the best phrase now. you got jeeps, broncos and the Toyota 4x4 which is also really good. the pnw is a place where if you dont have a truck or suv than you arent really living XD
Idk I’ve always seen Wa as Toyota and Subaru country. While there are a lot of Jeeps I just see more built Toyotas on the hard trails and Subarus on the fire roads and calling it “off roading”. I never see any broncos on the trails out here. I don’t even see them at Tahuya at all. I think maybe they are too new and too expensive maybe? I was looking at them and decided to get a 2 door JL rubicon when my LJ was taking a shit. Durable and same options as a Bronco for about $30,000 less. I do miss my LJ though.
Thanks for bringing Jen along, it helps as I have struggled with my wife to explain some differences with vehicles and she made it clear, simple, and smart in a way that I can help her find her next car.... don't mean to sound insulting, just as a fellow car nerd, I needed her to explain in a a way that can translate, thank you TFL!
This Wrangler is capable of towing only 2000 lbs... Tommy: Not a ton of weight 😂
1 ton (US) in pounds
1 ton = 2000lbs / 910kg
What Tommy was referring to was the Imperial "Shit-Ton" of weight, which is 4,376lbs...🤣🤣
@@kx8960 makes sense 😂
Yes land rover for sure for towing. But I wouldn't buy one 😂
Didn’t they recently upgrade the towing on the wrangler?
I actually like that when the Ford says traction control is off it's actually off. Sometimes you need wheelspin and this gives you the option to truly have everything off if you need it while also providing other modes that include traction control. Gives you more options & more tools to not get stuck.
You nailed it! I love and hate traction control, I love it when I'm driving on an icy road and it corrects a spin but I hate it when I want to go balls out tire spin fun.
Exactly and the tire did want to move it was probably wanting more gas
Land Rover Defender still got that Camel Trophy vibe just walking through the ruts and the least dilly dallying :)
Until you take it into REALLY hard shit. The Jeep and Bronco when locked front and rear are more capable. TFL already tested the Defender against these 2 in 4 door forms and it sucked in HARD stuff😂
@@ronaldrrootiii6040no it did not - it pinched a tire - wrong rim/rubber; That was it. Bronco/wrangler are 1 trick ponies for week end fun only (i have a Yamaha Grizzly for that). Defender tows my 3 ton horse trailer like a true work horse on my farm.
too bad reliability sucks
@chrisl6281 i am pretty sure that's not true. My lr3 has 393 thousand miles on it never had anything go wrong. My lr4 has 171 thousand never had a problem also yes both big v8s and both with the air ride. my lr3 goes places the jeep stock or for stock ford couldn't go been there many times.
@@prey4fallout90 check out the reliability on the new rovers across the board, junk
Great video. I have a 2021 2dr badlands Sasquatch w v6. Just turned 30k miles. Best vehicle I have ever owned.
Just bought a new Bronco Raptor and can’t keep a smile off my face anytime I’m driving it.
so lucky good for u bro. u plan on getting the precal tune? i wanna trade in my big bend for a braptor early next year so im wondering
@ Not sure quite yet. There aren’t very many Braptor people near me in WV. I am a member of Bronco Nation. Wanna talk to some people before doing any builds and tuning.
@@alleliteaaronstarcher9417 same here lmao im in the urban part of nyc. i heard it’s pretty good for ur car both capability and performance wise. think i’ll be doing it lmk if or when u do
Hopefully you got a good deal on it, lots of Braptors sitting on dealer lots. Awesome truck but Ford really screwed up with the pricing increase
@@superleggera1900 $20k off brand new
My wife owned a Wrangler for 3 years and really liked it. However when she test drove a Bronco she had to trade the Jeep in. After owning the bronco for 2.5 years she still could not be happier.
Yep more comfortable ride for sure and its still a convertible. I also like the frameless door windows.
Another great video. I like the fact you guys generally don’t show bias towards one brand. Truthfully I am Jeep bias, because I love their iconic history and based on my off-roading experience I believe Jeeps are just built to take way more abuse. Over the years, I have done some crazy stuff in my Jeeps and they have never let me down. One one occasion I flipped my Jeep on its side, we flipped it back over, and I drove home and then to work on Monday with no issues and only minor damage to a summer door. Another time off-roading I drove into a swamp and ended up with water waist deep inside. After I drove out, I just pulled the drain plugs and was good to go. I’m not sure you would want to do any of that in a Bronco or Defender.
Anyhow, a couple ideas for future video comparisons, especially in regards to off-road capability.
Jeeps are extremely easy to modify. For example, I’ve bolted lift kits on my Jeep in my garage with basic hand tools, and I’m not a mechanic. It would be interesting to see you guys do a comparison on something like that and how easy is it to lift or modify them.
Another interesting future video would be to go with of budget of say 10 to 15k to spend on each vehicle for lift, tires, lockers, winches, etc. See what you can buy aftermarket and what you can modify and then how they perform afterwards.
One of the most interesting videos I think TFL has done. Thanks guys.
The Defender really is amazing in how capable it is.
It's full time awd. They are about as reliable as a weatherman. Most come with low profile tires. Worst choice period! Did I mention reliability is even worse than Jeep? (Which are on the bottom)
@@YtRando69 What a load of utter BULLSHIT. My wrangler blew its transmission at 50000kms and gave me heaps of headaches until the day i sold it. I moved to a 2022 new defender and have put 180000kms on it and guess what 0 issues! Reliability is worse than a jeep? 🤣🤣🤣 You must be cooking!
The Land Rover has Terrible reliability and expensive to service.
The defender is amazing, don't believe all these keyboard warriors that jump on the landrover is not reliable bandwagon. I have a 2020 110 with 100k miles on I've had no issues, they are a blast to drive on and off road. I also have a 2012 Evoque that hasn't been to the shop once, I found out that most people can't afford them so they just repeat what others say by jumping on that bandwagon. It's easier to bash something to admit they like it but can't afford it.
@@Wild-BrownsLand Rover is rated last in reliability. Also can’t afford comments are hilarious. My F350 FX4 and my wife’s Suburban are close to the same price range.
Excellent video - Being a working-class man these things are so expensive I would never take them off-road, instead I'd keep them detailed with the undercarriage coated with Woolswax to prevent rust & I would limit my 4X4 to easy around town use, maybe getting to the gym in a snowstorm & that's it.
I just bought a 2 door manual Bronco a few months ago. Everything that showed up in the tests is spot on. I just flick on and off that rear locker as soon as the wheels start lifting.
Last time i looked the Defender had a much better load carrying capacity (as well as roof and towing). Cheers
I was towing a 4000 pound trailer last week like it wasn't even there except for the gas gauge sinking like a rock 😢
@raymondclark1785 hey mate. The Defender has a towing capacity of 7,716 odd pounds in Australia and they do it very easily in terms of engines and dynamics. Land Rovers here going back decades had between that and about 8,820 pounds. The legal payload of a 110 Defender is about 1873 pounds. Roof load for the 110 is 370 pounds Cheers
Really like Jen’s perspective added to Tommy and Chase’s review. This format provides nice contrast and covers all angles
Love your Channel guys. My suggestion for the Bronco would’ve been, use 4-Auto if your diffs are open. If you get stuck, activate the lockers. The lack of traction control intervention was a major selling point when I chose to purchase my 2024 Bronco. I have a 2-door Badlands Sasquatch Manual, and the thing is the best “out of the box” off road vehicle I’ve vehicle I’ve owned. I live in the mountains of New Mexico and it’s tested nearly daily. I owned a few TJ’s, a JK and a heavily modded XJ. Obviously the modded XJ was a monster off-road, but I usually trailered it because on road it was terrible.
Keep up the great work. Look forward to the next show!
Love my Defender P400! It handles everything! So far so good! 30K miles,,,been to Anza Borrego, Ocotillo Wells, Johnson Valley, Mengel Pass in Death Valley, Mojave Desert,,,super comfy and is a good camper too!
Great video Guys and gal. Been waiting for this one for a while.
Great job!
Having owned all 3 and currently have a v8 Defender 90. I really prefer the Defender overall.
The Bronco is my second pick, followed by the jeep. I do occasionally go off road, nothing too crazy.
I never took the roof off my 2dr jeeps nor my 2dr Bronco. I do push a button and open my Defenders sunroof once in a while.
Overall hated the jeeps out on the hyway, wind noise and overall comfort the Bronco was ok, not something I ever loved road tripping in.
The Defender does everything I want with ease and comfort including comfortable to road trip in. I really love the v8 in the defender and love how quiet it is on the road even with my off road tires on it.
A solid axle's main off-roading advantage is that it can articulate while maintaining ground clearance; lifting a wheel lifts the differential pumpkin, and the vehicle cannot physically lower itself lower than the solid axle (unless it's really damaged).
An independent suspension can have great articulation, but it's almost always a trade-off with ground clearance; when the suspension compresses, especially on bounce and rebound, the vehicle actually loses ground clearance - even the Humvee is not immune to this. On the other hand, you can pump your air suspension full and ride on the tallest settings, but that comes at the cost of articulation - on this mode, you're more likely to have a tire in the air.
There are ways around this. Land Rover IIRC had a system that would transfer air from one corner of the vehicle to another, simulating the solid axle's ability to push a wheel down when the other is lifted, tho IIRC these were, in typical LR, not reliable.
Jeep themselves had an independent suspension wrangler prototype from way back, called Lil' Blue, that had a floating differential that would be mechanically lifted and rotated if one of the wheels where lifted, but it was deemed too costly and complex to put in production.
The irony is that Ford had an answer to this, in the Twin I-Beam / Twin Traction Beam suspension of old Ford trucks and old Broncos. It had its own problems, such as camber issues, but further development of the suspension could have fixed these.
One of the best TFL videos ever. Thank you for being so thorough.
Adding a manual sway-bar disconnect solves the traction issue with the lower trim Broncos. It makes a HUGE difference in flex and makes it much more capable - even without a locker.
The bronco turns traction controls off when the transfercase is in low range 17:50 @TFLOffroad
Having had a new 2 door Bronco and now driving a Defender 90, the 90 is a far better daily driver. Much less wind noise, better windshield visibility.
80 years ago Jeep and LR were on the same frame.
Now we have air suspension and Jeep still have a death shake 😢
@@raymondclark1785Honestly, I’ll take the simplicity of “death shake” because it’s not that bad if you just do basic maintenance. Airbags and Land Rover and a big question mark now.
Yes but can you take the roof and doors off and turn it into a convertible? That's the main reason to buy a Jeep or Bronco along with superior off road capabilities. Wind noise is not typically on the check list.
People complaining about Bronco’s lack of traction control while in low range is ridiculous..
True. The whole point of having locking diffs is that you don't need traction control (poor man's lockers).
Another advantage to the solid front axle on the Wrangler is fixed ground clearance. The lowest point, being the front differential, will never change. The minimum clearance with an independent suspension can decrease when the vehicle comes down off an obstacle.
By that logic ifs gives you the pro of still having some traction if you do run out of clearance, though.
I think this is the first video I’ve seen where someone actually wants more computer intervention
Traction control on the jeep made it look easy, then the bronco failed right after, seems to help
Nice review. Since I am not an off-roader, I would go with the Defender.
Can’t wait to see scout added to this competition. Really wish they would give a combustion engine option.
The two door Bronco looks great.
They do, but unfortunately it's a hybrid. But yeah if they could get us an inline 6 ICE engine with a manual transmission option, it would probably cost $20k less and be way more fun.
Without an internal combustion engine it is not an option. Not even the hybrid.
Tommy: Give me more intervention!
Bronco: Just use that locker that you paid for!
Especially when its telling you the system is off. People complain about the systems being off but the nannies still kick in. When it doesn't they complain still. 🤪
Because the point was to compare all three vehicles evenly and the others didnt have lockers. I for one liked that test.
@@johnnytorres277 do you take all jokes this seriously?
But then everyone would complain locker vs no locker 🤔
So apparently my joke came across as a joke to nobody but me, lol
Fine, serious discussion - obviously you needed to see what the Bronco's brake-based traction assistance programming would do against the other 2 vehicles. And I find the ability of the computer to use individual wheel brakes to force a spinning wheel to stop so you can drive power to the ones that have traction to be an awesome feature. It's an excellent way of eliminating the issues with open diffs without the added hardware and complexity of a mechanical locker.
But just like ABS and such these systems do rely on working wheel speed sensors. What if you're on the trail and a stick gets kicked up and rips a wheel speed sensor wire? I suspect the computer will just disable the brake-based traction system. Conversely, if you can engage a locker then you can guarantee that both wheels driven by it are going to turn regardless of traction. I know it's an unlikely scenario but it's certainly not outside of the realm of possibility. So yes, I do think actual lockers are better for true off-road vehicles. And I don't necessarily fault Ford for assuming the user isn't going to manually unlock the rear locker after the computer engaged it, based on the mode that the user selected.
I agree with your conclusions. So much so, that my wife and I have a Defender 90 S and a Badlands Sasquatch (with manual transmission - super important to me.) She mostly drives the Defender and I mostly drive the Bronco...but we both love both vehicles.
Hey Tommy, I am curious if any of you were able to take advantage of attending a Bronco Off-Roadeo event? It really explains and gives you real experience utilizing all aspects and features of the Bronco. It really helps both newbies and veteran off road adventurers learn how and when to use the features.
Fanboy disclosure: i own and daily drive a bronco black diamond. The thing about the 4WD on the bronco is that in 4low, you get no intervention. The goat modes are vastly different as far as intervention is concerned. Different conditions require different settings. Ex: sand and mud/rut are designed to allow for wheel spin in order to keep the tire tread clean. Arguably, perhaps the system is a little complicated-unnecessarily. Maybe the goat mode you used was the "wrong" one for the situation?
🎯
He could have just turned on advanced trac and tested it “fair” as he said he would
Hi TFL Guys, Great show and very professional. As a retired professional automotive engineer, I greatly appreciate all your effort. Lots of hard work. Thanks
Bought a slightly used Defender on a whim. Loved it. Smooth, fast and very quiet. Bronco was on order. Wildtrak came in. Liked it a lot. Much much much cheaper fit and finish than the Defender obviously. Traded it and bought a Braptor. Love it however.....had electrical issues early on that almost resulted in a buy back from Ford and now goes in tomorrow for probable cam phaser issues. One more thing its gone and Im going back to a Defender. Also, not sure if Im on Ford's shi- list or not from making a post on Bronco Nation but they never extended an invitation for buying an overpriced Braptor. Have had several Ford products but this will be the last one.
I voted with my pocketbook and bought a well equipped 4 dr. Wrangler Rubicon. Got $12k off, too. No regrets.
Shit I only spent $12k on my 4 door Rubicon.
The Wrangler traction system is impressive for open diffs. As a CJ and ZJ owner I've been considering upgrading the ZJ to a new Jeep, but with Stellantis doing their best to commit suicide I've been up in the air. Part of me says "Restore the ZJ" and part of me says "Get a Bronco". No part of me says "Get a Land Rover", lol.
The JL was still designed and built by Jeep enthusiasts… Stellantis is killing Jeep, but that will be evident when the next wrangler comes out. The Jeep Recon EV will be our first clue if I’m right… that should be built exactly like the new Scout (body on frame, 35s, mechanical lockers, 80% serviceable at home, gas generator).
I was very much considering a new Wrangler, but for a combo of reasons, including your mention, I opted not to. Found an awesome deal on a '99 XJ Cherokee, going thru it upgrading. After driving new rigs a while, it's kinda fun to crawl into something with some personality. I have a '19 Cherokee Trailhawk too, it's become mostly my "going to town" rig. A little less field dust and dog hair in it now........ now if only I could shake the strong desire for a Ranger Raptor pickup!
I have a black diamond Sasquatch bronco that I wheel HEAVILY.... I also have a ZJ that's getting built currently so I have something I can wheel without being as worried about scraps and small dents.
I'm Jeep all day! There's just so many aftermarket parts that is unrivaled in any auto space. You make it however you want. For a base model, you have some dollars to spare to customize. Not as much with a Bronco, and certainly not any with a Land Rover. I do like the Bronco, but it seems to teeter the same lines as a 4th Gen explorer, which means it's not off-road focused.
@snoopyfix2 id happily debate with you on the bronco being not off road focused and following the same as the 4th Gen explorer since the explorer has independent front and rear suspension and the Bronco is literally built on the Ranger frame. I also very frequently and heavily wheel a bronco so having first hand, real world experience definitely helps.
The 2024 Jeeps are selling for $10-$15k off sticker at the moment, which makes them a VERY attractive buy........I'm seriously thinking of buying a Gladiator, and you may have convinced me I don't have to have the rear locker which will save me a bit of money over having to go up to the Willys trim level. Great video!
Just picked up a 24 Gladiator Willys , fully loaded for just over 54,000 , I kept my 13 Wrangler with over 185,000…. Jeep all the way
That’s a very good looking Bronco. Perfect proportions
The Jeep brake loc is on the 08-12 liberty too. That's why I bought one. I have my own traction test on a trail I use. My 2000 Cherokee couldn't make it. ( open diffs) my 2012 Liberty spun a wheel for a brief second, then sure enough, it crawled up the obstacle!! I absolutely LOVE my '12 Liberty! BLD is so effective it's as close to lockers as you can come.
I want to see a roof/door off comparison (Jeep v bronco). What’s easier, storage, features and fun factor.
Prime example of knowing your rig and using the off road options as layers on top of one another to get out of a pickle and continue on with enjoying your day.
The Rover did much better than I thought. I'm impressed!
Have you ever heard of land rover before? Did you expect a LAND ROVER to be a dog off road?
@@ihavealife002this is a defender not a Range Rover… it will do it
Gotta love a Wrangler, couldn’t run one in the south because the tax would destroy any chance of any craic at all. But you’re right, that machine screams adventure, I hear it from here. Wishing you an ‘epic family road trip’.
I was surprised to see the Bronco struggle as much without lockers. I guess they could learn something from Jeep here. Here's what they could also do:
- The Bronco gauge cluster is ridiculous. They are fixing this for 25.
- It's nice to be able to pull the rear seats out of the Jeep. Bronco should have this. Also, wish the headrests folded forward like the Jeep instead of backwards.
The bronco goes into a traditional "old school" offroader when you go into 4Lo, shutting off the any traction control. I think a lot of people coming from an older 4x4 will appreciate that ability.
@@chriscamero2874 I pulled the rear seats out of my 23 bronco 2 door, replaced them with a cargo deck. Not sure who said that you can’t pull out the rear seats
@@Papershields001 Of course, I'm talking about easily removable seats. You can take anything apart, but the Bronco seats are not designed to be removed. To take them out, you have to break out the tools, figure out what to do with the seat belts, etc. I popped the seats out of our Jeep on Friday by just pulling a lever. And then popped them in yesterday.
@@chriscamero2874 I mean it’s like 4 bolts and 2 screws, it could be made even simpler but it’s a lot like taking the roof and doors off. If you know how to do it, it’s super easy. Ironically the front seats, which seem more intimidating are even easier to pop out than the rear ones. The whole truck is like that actually, everything accessible.
@@Papershields001 I get it. But you still have to use tools to pull it out. It's not like a Suburban from 10 years ago where you could pull the seat out as one piece. Plus, there is the seatbelt issue with the airbag light to address.
I have a Defender 110 with the air suspension and it’s phenomenal off-road. It also is capable of crossing 35 inches of water and has sensors to show how deep you are. That should be a test every time.
Like them all, but first choice for me is the Jeep. Despite all the electronics, it still has a naturally aspirated V6. It’s got great power to weight ratio. A very nimble handling machine. Still available with a soft top.
Hell yeah, pumping out 285hp when it’s redlined
Black Diamond is second up trim level from the Big Bend. Comes with rear locker, general grabber 32s and the steel bash plates and bumper.
The Land Rover made everything look easy
simpler, but more unreliable!
@AdolfAdolfovich1375 I think they're on equal ground reliability wise. Not one of them is known to be perfect
@@shiftmotorsports9803perhaps you are right!
Until you take it to the Jeeps limits where both lockers and sway bars are disconnected.
Until the going gets tough.
I considered all of these but I travel considerable highway distances then off road long distances so need interior space and good towing capacity. Went with a 4Runner and love it. It climbs like a mule even while towing a off road trailer and the A-trac is unbelievable. Locker in the rear a good thing also.
When Tommy said that the 2024 Black Diamond 2.7 was $51k MSRP, I was stunned, and even thought "No way, Tommy must be wrong". He's not, the 2 door 2024 Black Diamond with only the 2.7 and HPR paint was $51,700 MSRP. How in da fuq Ford? I am still rocking my 2 door 2021 Bronco OBX 2.7 adv 4x4 Lux package which was $47.9k sticker for this exact reason. Ford has lost the plot on the pricing, it's ridiculous. 2025 pricing isn't going to be any better, and the options will be fewer, especially if you want a 2.7 Bronco.
Yeah, stickers have gone up. One difference, there are discounts available today, as they are no longer scarce. In 2021, many were paying over sticker.
Yep. That’s the reason Farley killed off the Everglades. It was “only” 55k but came with almost all of the off road goods AS WELL AS a snorkel and wench.
@Clockwork… I agree but please, keep this thread family friendly. Promise us no more mentioning of “wench”. 😃
@@is6566
That’s what happens when you comment using voice notes 😂
yeah, really dismal performance from Ford.
Still have the Badlands 2door from 2021. Manual transmission. Serious fun still. ZERO issues.
I was choosing between Bronco and Wrangler, but eventually I decided to give Wrangler a try because I've been a long term Ford Escape owner and their service centre near me has become way too busy: any appointment is 1 or 2 months away.
New defenders are trick, but of these 3, for tough off road I would always take the Jeep for ground clearance and simplicity. Defender has way too many expensive complicated electronics. I own an old diesel defender with lockers for off road and love it.
Thank you for including a Defender! Looking into buying one & you convinced my decision
Don't!
They are very problematic.
Junk!
Those Defender is awesome and 2021 and newer versions are definitely more reliable than people think. Jeep has major quality issues lately because of Stellantis and Bronco’s are great choice as well
Go for it, don't listen to people online saying it has problems. Defender are not cheap, most people are not as lucky to own one.
I had two defender. Never had a problem as long as you follow the maintenance schedule.
@@elmoreno117 junk!
Lease it and you’ll be fine. There are very few cars you want to own beyond the warranty
I'm always a Wrangler guy, but that Land Rover just cruising through the trenches was impressive.
Also, Tommy is 100% correct when he previously stated that with these modern traction control systems, you really don't need lockers to do most offroad trails. I'd also argue that the need for massive articulation is also vastly overstated - as the Defender so visibly demonstrated here.
...with the caveat that you dont need 4 wheels of traction to get up an obstacle. the main reason you want wheels on the ground is traction--- when you lift one you've reduced available traction 25%.
No way lol
You need articulation to keep the tires on the ground. Lockers allow you to have traction with one tire on the ground.
@@nothingtoseaheardammit Yea, kinda suck AWD is getting restricted from places now days, when they perform so well. Like Honda continues to not give a 4L option even though they are making the Passport more off road capable.
@@crawdaddctAgreed. A Honda Passport TrailSport is likely more off-road capable than its drivers, despite being a crossover vehicle and not a real SUV.
I have a jeep rubicon and I really love it. My friend got him a bronco and maybe it’s just a lemon but he has had nothing but problems with it from the locking differential to the eco boost engine. It does ride smoother then my jeep but off roading there is no comparison but he doesn’t have front and rear lockers either. I drive off road probably more than most people and drive my jeep mostly off road more than on road.
I mean, bronco does great when you actually use the tools they give you
Our 1988 Land Rover 110 ( defender before they started calling it a Defender) has no electronics, and a manual center diff lock. We modified it (Alu-Cab roof, 285/75R16 tires on Wolf rims, galvanized frame, 300 TDI, ARB rear air locker, etc.) into an overland camper. I’ve yet to find any terrain here in the Black Hills that can stop it.
I’m pretty partial to the old stuff without the modern electronics and comfort options. Far less failure modes to worry about and if something does fail, my very complete onboard tool kit has a high likelihood of allowing a successful repair.
So basically, what it comes down to is that they are all very good off-road vehicles, which makes it matter of personal preference. You probably can’t go wrong with any one of these vehicles. Great review.
rented a Bronco from bucknbronco in vegas last week, it was an awesome vehicle. went anywhere i wanted it to. now looking to buy one highly recommend. never bought a ford before but i gotta give it a try
Having owned all three I would say the defender is far superior. I understand it is also the least analog of three, and the traditionalists will probably move towards the Jeep or the bronco, however, the defender is just a feet of engineering and I can’t stop thinking about how beautiful it is
It's far superior on road.
@@jmo0311which most people spend their time on.
Same, I have owned all 3 and all 3 are or were 2 door models. I 100% agree, my current Defender is by far my favorite of the 3. It’s super capable and such a comfortable machine to drive.
Come back in 5 years when you go bankrupt getting it fixed.
@@crespo72285 but this is a 4x4 torture test...........
I have 35" KO3's on my 24 JLU (came with stock falken wildpeak 33's)and they are fantastic from a comfort, to traction to little road noise and the wear. love the KO's
I don’t know if others pointed it out and that’s not the point of the channel, but as a watch person, loving the moonswatch there Tommy.
I'm rocking my vintage Omega one right now :)
26:00 FYI
With 3 wheels slipping a little break presure can help send the power to the tire with traction.
Brake pressure with throttle, increase throttle, stay on brake and feather the brake. Engine will overcome the brakes sending power to the wheel with grip on an open diff. Best with torsen differential, but it should work.
So this video perfectly encapsulates my buying decision earlier this year. Wife's honda finally kicked the can (needed a new cat) and so we decided to get her a new ride. We live in Maine so snow performance is a must. We also travel to our hunting cabin up in the county where the access road is unmaintained and quite often washed out. We're GenXers as well. I also have a Hummer H1 and a FJ Cruiser. We were looking at high end broncos, GX550 and Defenders. When it came down to it, the GX would have been perfect but the waiting list was a mile long so I found a Defender 110 SE with the 6 cylinder. It was about the same price as what you guys paid for your 90, has 2 years (well, 1.5 years now) left on the warranty. The traction control system on the Defender is just magnificent. When you're driving on snow and slick roads, you don't have the opportunity to switch on a locker. I didn't want to deal with manually activated traction controls for when my wife was driving on treacherous terrain. Then there was the interior. It's just a damn nice interior. Plenty of storage. The only complaint is lack of 2nd row leg room when my 6'6" ass is in the front. Plus the Defender looks the best out of all of them. Obviously I'm not going to take the Defender on any *serious* offroad terrain (thats what the Hummer is for) so for what we need it for, its awesome. Jen's summary perfectly summed up our decision - and we couldn't be happier.
Just picked up my 2024 Ford Bronco Heritage. It's a great vehicle on road and off. I don't plan on doing any crazy off-road stuff with mine but it's nice to know I could if I want too.
We need more of Jen in your videos. 😊
19:01 I think traction control off in low range is a much better choice. I could see it being selectable which it might be on the jeep but low range is much more useful without traction control
If the rear locker on the Bronco comes on its meant to be used. Thats their plan
So what happens if you buy a base model without a rear locker. He's comparing to a base Jeep without lockers. Ford seems to really have inferior traction control to both the Jeep and the LR.
@@peterscott2662versions without the rear locker likely have different parameters designed into the electronic nannies.
Most people complain about traction control systems getting in the way in more difficult off road situations where you'd normally engage low range. I've seen them complain about this on @tfl before.
So Ford shuts them off when you put the Bronco in 4L. It's the equivalent of turning off stability and traction control systems in track mode with a performance car.
That test should have been done in 4H or 4Auto, and nothing else. That's what these traction control systems are designed for. And if Ford makes a rear locker an easily added option, use it. The fact it's difficult to add one on the Jeep is a factor to be considered in the comparison.
@@JamesPhieffer That seems like wishful thinking. It's a lot more likely that if you don't have lockers it does the exact same thing. Meaning Ford is just worse if you buy a base model without lockers. I have no problem with them defaulting to TC off when you turn on Low range, but you should have the option to turn TC back on. For me this flips the position of the vehicles from Bronco previously #1, now moving the Jeep up to #1.
@@peterscott2662 yeah it seems like they don't have great traction control that's right. But the real fun is when you compare the top levels of each the Jeep and the Broncos destroy that Land Rover LOL that Land Rover won't last it's a piece of s*** I own two Land Rovers that I love and they are the most reliable ones ever made but there's no reason Land Rover should have made it this way. I mean look they piss people off enough for the Grenadier to be developed haha
@@ronaldrrootiii6040 LR is too expensive for me to even dream about, LOL! I'm only interested of comparisons of Base Jeep/Bronco. Base Bronco is coming back for 2025, but now I find it kind of crippled in the TC which you kind of need if you don't have a locker.
I think "torture test" would imply doing something more difficult than what I would do with my Duramax or Outback. I would actually like seeing someone doing at least a 6 or 7 rated trail in Moab or similar with all three of these vehicles.
As a leader podcast, setting a high standard, always 2 hands for control, which is pretty good, as concerns your channel, & teaches also.
As a new bronco owner, I am disappointed in the slip test. Where was this video in July? Oh well, I've had 2 jeeps so far but am thoroughly enjoying my Wildtrak.
In my opinion half of off roading is knowing how to work on/ upgrade your own stuff. Any used 90s/ early 2000s Jeep Wrangler or Cherokee, a small to moderate lift, a rear lunchbox locker like a spartan, and 33 - 35 inch tires are a wicked good combination that will get you through just about anything and on a budget. You'll also learn real quick that shiny paint and a hefty loan is the last thing you want on a trail. Buy something with faded paint and a little rust, throw some Monstaliner on it and call it a day.
The new stuff is awesome though and way better on the road. If you can afford it there's nothing wrong with going that route.
Solid axle maintain wheel spacing (important for traction), and maintain clearnece under diff. When one wheel goes up... whole axle goes up.
Thanks for telling me that if I want a Bronco for off road use that I want front and rear lockers. The Bronco is definitely more modern being a newer design from a more financially solid company, but the Jeep does appeal to a more retro off roader audience. At least nobody does buggy sprung axles anymore.
Speaking of plasticy interiors, I was a lot happier with the soft interior of my 2002 Tundra than the 2016 F150 that I had to replace it with. Particularly the sharp edge where the door panel meets the window.
Trips to the nail salon: Defender
Trips to the campground: Bronco
Trips for actual off roading: Jeep
I'd say so
The Bronco with the locker is as good as the Bronco, and the Defender did better than the Bronco on the tests. Having a closer mind that can't accept new information is not something to be proud of.
One thing to remember about tow ratings, there is no SAE, MVSS, etc. standard for calculating the ratings. It is up to the manufacturer to determine it. Some companies err on the conservative side while others stretch the numbers to appeal to the buyer.
Japanese manufacturers have always had numbers suspiciously high in comparison to domestic makers…it’s all about balancing warranty impact against broader sales potential.
In the Bronco, “4 Auto” operates as an open center differential, while the base Bronco only comes with 4H and 4L modes. TFL should realize that comparing an open differential setup with a basic 4H/4L configuration isn’t an even comparison.
On top of that, the base Jeep and Defender in their test don’t even have a “4 Auto” option.
When the Bronco switched to 4H, the outcome was the same because it became the same test as the Jeep and Defender.
It isn’t an open center diff however because it’s still rear drive bias. The defender does not have 4A because it doesn’t need it. It’s always sending power to all four all the time
The Bronco clearly failed the three wheel slip tests compared to the Jeep and Land Rover. Whatever way Ford has it programmed, the Bronco failed to adequately use wheel speed sensors and brake actuation to send power to the single wheel having traction. I'm a Bronco owner but disappointed with the outcome. And having to play around with the GOAT mode dial, not liking that either. Give me 4-low with aggressive traction control that just works. And wow, just got to the trail comparison segment of the video, not good Ford.
The Bronco didn’t fail cause he turned off the rear locker ….thats part of ford strategy
I'm old school at 60 so I favor the Bronco I guess but great comparison and video. Thank you for taking the time
The Wrangler definitely ate that Bronco for dinner on that off road course
Even the LR did. Fords Traction Control software is terrible.
@@knifetoucher only because he turned off the lockers. 4L Ford turns off the traction control and relies on that locker. Different approach.
@@crawdaddct Yea but the wrangler didn't even have lockers included and did it, that's why it blew it out of the water
@@knifetoucher yeah machines don’t work if you disable their features and don’t use them as designed. Did you notice how the bronco performed perfectly when he just put it in mud and ruts and drove it?
That bronco has a locker, that jeep doesn’t, anyone with any off-road experience at all will tell you which of those two vehicles is more capable.
@@Papershields001 Yeah, guess just have to pay 10k over the Wrangler with features to have it working up to Wrangler par, cool.
It is amazing how ABS has improved open diffs. It also is incredible for hill decent feature.
Different types of people will be buying each of these vehicles. I can see more women gravitating to the Land Rover simply because of its ride and comfort. Younger guys will prefer the Bronco since it has many tech type features. The Jeep... is for the old school guys. Those that want something that can really go anywhere, has a lot of aftermarket support for modifications, and upgrades. The Jeep is for the DYI people, more so than the Bronco. Just my opinion, of course.
Agreed. I’m still partial to the TJ and XJ, but my wife has a ‘23 LJ, and the solid axles and manual t’case suit my taste.
This is a great example of why I don't really like modes. In the end they seem to add more complexity than benefit. It's hard to beat the tried and tested locker or even just an LSD. If you're not moving or think you're about to hit an obstacle that warrants it, engage the locker. Done. The Jeep's system was pretty impressive and straight forward, I'll give them that.
We'd all like to daily the Defender but which one of us would pay $65,000 for that little box. Prices are out of control. Even the Ford is too expensive. TT&L = $60,000 for a Bronco and not even the top model. Stupid crazy. Great video.
One thing not mentioned was the maintenance cost of the defender and reliability. I surely don’t want the repair bills from the Range Rover dealership. 😮
@@cv2010u I guarantee that Bronco wouldn't be cheap to fix either.
You're also getting an objectively more comprehensive vehicle with the defender though. Better interior quality, more tech, more seats, more towing then the 2 combined, night and day difference in ride quality and daily drive ability.
@@cracjback well you help yourself to one.
So I don't have one of the vehicles in this video but I bought a unibody awd for a daily/roadtrip/adventure vehicle and absolutely love it. Fantastic fuel mileage being diesel and get to some cool places along the way
Love these types of in depth comparisons that TFL is known for!
The breako, I love it! Im going to use that from now on.
Whatever happened to andre’s pit? These 3 might not be suited for it but haven’t seen anything else through it in a long time 🤔😳
Too hard?
We’ve been using it! It was in the last vid with the Range Rover
@@TFLoffroad I must have missed it! Sorry - I’ll go back and look 👍🏽😉
Think they meant the fish pond course, which has barely been used except for some sxs videos
Love my 2023 Bronco!
I would dare someone to tow 7700 pounds in that Land Rover. That would make for some great TV.
Nice comparison. Super happy with my jeep, but not going to lie…that defender is super pretty and the broncos look is really slick. With any of the 3, I think I’d be a happy owner. 😊
Awesome channel, great review.
My 06 rubicon with v6 gets me anywhere I need off road. My 07 f350 , 4x4 with V10 , 4” lift with 37’s tows anything and never gets stuck . Daily drive a 2022 gx460 very comfortable ride and very capable off road. Wife drives a Lexus rx 350 2022 3.5 v6 , very capable suv.
I’m not a fan of newer vehicles w 4 cylinder turbos. These older models can do anything the newer ones can do and are more reliable.
Can't talk crap on newer 4 cyl turbos if you don't even know what kind of engine your 06 wrangler has
If they are done well, the inline-04 turbos are a lot more reliable than a v6. Longitudinal inline 4 are very accessible with a hot and a cold side.
@@NMTDevastator it’s a 4.0 straight 6 . All jeep owners know that it’s the last year for the best engine ever made
@@KevinSmith-qi5yn show me a turbo 4 with 330k on it and no engine problems ever like my 4l V6
Video brought to you by Grander Motors that sells Fords and Jeeps. Thanks for the honest review guys. :D