‘Ours Are A Lot More Comfortable’: Man Has Driven A Jeep Wrangler. Now He Wants A Ford Bronco. Which Drives Smoother?
An older Florida car shopper’s preconceptions about Ford’s revived off-road icon are about to be tested—literally. At Paul Clark Ford in Yulee, a prospective buyer wondered out loud to salesman Joel Grau during an inbound sales call: Does the Ford Bronco simply replicate the Jeep Wrangler’s notoriously rough ride? Does it offer something different in the competitive off-road SUV market?
In the short clip, Grau quickly turned up the pitch and countered the caller’s skepticism by pushing comfort as the Bronco’s key differentiator. He claimed that the Bronco is “a lot more comfortable” than the Wrangler while maintaining off-road capability.
“It’s definitely not gonna be so much as an SUV,” said Grau. “It’s more of a 4X4 you wanna take out on you know, the beach, mountains, things like that.” (It is technically an SUV per Ford. Grau here is likely talking up the Bronco as less of an SUV than, say, an Expedition.)
The man is ready to buy: “I’m in the market plan on buying something the next couple weeks. But, you know, obviously, your price has to be right.”
He says he’s got his eyes on a beige model he saw online, with “large wheels,” but remains price-conscious and wary of the brand’s reputation.
Grau convinced the gentleman to come in for a test drive, which he agreed to.
Before we do a comparison, let’s see what the comments had to say.
The Peanut Gallery
One person wrote, “Not even close to a Jeep. way better on the road.” Another co-signed the comfort aspect. “[I] had a Jeep Rubicon, hated it!” he said. “[I] have a Bronco Raptor now and love it.”
But others did not agree. One man believed “they drive bad. lol just like a Jeep.” Another commenter who says he sells both laid an interesting claim: “They definitely don’t drive the same. Bronco drive like a tin can.”
Ford Bronco vs. Jeep Wrangler: The Comparison
The 2026 Bronco base model starts roughly $5,600 higher than the Wrangler Sport. But it does include more equipment, as Grau implied. It has a turbocharged engine that kicks out 15 more horsepower, a larger digital gauge cluster, and more standard safety features. The Bronco comes with Ford Co-Pilot360 (driver assist, lane-keeping, etc.) safety tech, and LED headlamps, per MotorTrendCars.com, while the Wrangler Sport doesn’t include forward collision warning as standard equipment, according to Cars.com.
But we came for the comfort comparison, and the winner here is predictable. Multiple sources confirm that “the Bronco does ride smoother than a Jeep due to Ford’s softer suspension system, making it a more practical daily driving option.”
In their review of the 2025 Bronco, Wrangler, and 4Runner, Edmunds.com wrote: “Of the three, the one we’d drive home is the Bronco. It’s better to drive on the street than the Wrangler and better at tackling off-road obstacles than the 4Runner.”
Per U.S. News & World Report, the 2025 Bronco is described as having “more stable handling” and giving “the driver more control” compared to the 2025 Wrangler, with U.S. News noting that “the Bronco may not be the best-handling SUV on the market, but it’s certainly better than the Wrangler.”
For what Grau’s buyer needs, the Bronco’s independent front suspension will make for smoother daily driving, versus the Wrangler’s solid axles.
Comparison Chart: 2026 Base Models
Alright, let’s plug in some numbers.
| 2026 Ford Bronco Base | 2026 Jeep Wrangler Sport | |
| Starting Price (MSRP + Destination) | $40,495-$42,490 | $34,895-$36,890 |
| Body Styles | 2-door and 4-door available | 2-door and 4-door available U.S. News & World Report |
| Engine | 2.3L EcoBoost turbocharged I-4, 300 hp, 325 lb-ft torque | 3.6L naturally aspirated V6, 285 hp, 260 lb-ft torque |
| Transmission | 7-speed manual or 10-speed automatic MotorTrendCars.com | 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | 4WD standard (part-time) | 4WD standard with solid front and rear axles |
| Wheels | 16-inch steel wheels with all-season tires | 17-inch steel wheels |
| Roof Type | Black soft top (4-door), hard top (2-door) | Removable soft top |
| Seating | Cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats | Cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats |
| Passenger Capacity | 4 (2-door) / 5 (4-door) | 4 (2-door) / 5 (4-door) |
| Cargo Capacity (4-door) | 72.8-77.6 cu ft (hard top) / 83.0 cu ft (soft top) | 31.7 cu ft (seats up) / 72.4 cu ft (seats down) |
| Cargo Capacity (2-door) | 52.0 cu ft | 31.7 cu ft maximum |
| Infotainment Screen | 12-inch touchscreen | 12.3-inch touchscreen |
| Digital Gauge Cluster | 12-inch digital instrument cluster | 3.5-inch driver information display |
| Apple CarPlay/Android Auto | Wireless, standard | Wireless, standard |
| Audio System | 6-speaker system | 8-speaker system |
| Standard Safety Features | Ford Co-Pilot360: forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams | Power locks and windows (new for 2025); no forward collision warning on base Sport |
| Key Standard Features | LED headlamps, push-button start, tow hooks, configurable DRLs, black grille with white Bronco lettering | LED interior lighting, fog lights, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, air conditioning |
| Suspension | HOSS 1.0 with passive damping and long-travel coil-over springs | Solid front and rear axles |
| G.O.A.T. Modes | Up to 5 standard terrain management modes | Standard Selec-Trac 4WD system |
| Towing Capacity | 3,500 lbs (requires Trailer Tow Prep Package) | 2,000 lbs (2-door), 3,500 lbs (4-door) |
| Fuel Economy (EPA est.) | 17-19 city / 19-22 highway mpg (2.3L I-4) | 17 city / 23 highway (V6 manual), 18/23 (V6 automatic) |
| Weight | ~4,500-4,700 lbs (2-door), 4,700-5,200 lbs (4-door) | N/A |
| Power Windows/Locks | Standard | Standard (new for 2025 model year) |
| Removable Doors | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 3-year/36,000-mile basic | 3-year/36,000-mile basic, 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain |
MotorBiscuit reached out to Joel Grau at Paul Clark Ford via email. The article will be updated upon response.
@paulclarkford He thought the Bronco would ride just like a Wrangler. One test drive was all it took to change that idea. #fordbronco #offroadadventure #testdriveexperience #SUV #jeep ♬ original sound – Paul Clark Ford
