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The 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands is the top off-roading trim for the Bronco. The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon lives up to its off-roading ancestry. Which off-road SUV is better?

The 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands is ready to tear up trails

A yellow Ford Bronco is driving on rocks.
The Ford Bronco | Ford

The Ford Bronco Badlands is the second to last Bronco trim. According to Road Show by CNET, it uses a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine to make 300 horsepower. For a small SUV, 300 horsepower is exhilarating. The Bronco Badlands comes standard with an electronic-locking front and rear axle.

The Ford Bronco Badlands also comes standard with a front stabilizer bar disconnect. It features four-wheel disc brakes with an anti-lock brake system and electronic stability control. The off-road SUV has 8.3 inches of ground clearance.

The Bronco Badlands includes position-sensitive damping Bilstein shocks as well as a hill start assist feature. This powerful small SUV comes with plenty of off-road goodies. It starts at $42,495 for the two-door model and $44,840 for the four-door model.

The Ford Bronco Badlands can also include the coveted Sasquatch Package for an additional $4,090. The Sasquatch Package comes with a high-clearance suspension, 35-inch Goodyear mud-terrain tires, and plenty of other premium off-roading features.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon lives up to its name

A blue Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is parked on the sand.
The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon | Jeep

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is the quintessential off-road SUV. Its design is perfect for adventures in tricky terrain. The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon uses a 3.6-liter V6 engine to make 280 horsepower. It gets 17 miles per gallon in the city and 23 miles per gallon on the highway.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon comes standard with a traction control feature and engine immobilizer. It also features tire pressure monitoring. The Wrangler Rubicon includes off-road tires. It has a whopping 10.8-inches of ground clearance.

The off-road SUV comes with a front and rear stabilizer bar. The two-door 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon starts at $39,765. The four-door model starts at $43,365. The Wrangler is an amazing off-road vehicle, but it has plenty of problems as well. It has proven itself to be extremely unreliable over time.

2021 Ford Bronco Badlands vs. 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

A blue 2021 Ford Bronco is parked.
The 2021 Ford Bronco | Scott Olson via Getty Images

When it comes to the 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands vs. 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, the Bronco Badlands appears to be the better-equipped off-road SUV. The Wrangler Rubicon is a seasoned off-roading vet, but the Bronco Badlands is the second coming of an off-roading legend.

The Bronco Badlands may not have the incredible ground clearance that the Wrangler does, but it comes standard with many off-roading features that can make tacklin’ trails much easier. Throw in the Sasquatch Package and it’s practically unstoppable. Bronco Badlands models are currently much more scarce than the Wrangler Rubicon, so hopefully the Blue Oval gets production right the second time around and gives more consumers the chance to own this amazing off-roading machine.

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