Wrangler vs. Bronco: Jeep Dropped the Hybrid, Ford Added a V6. Which to Buy Now?
Neither has 2027 prices yet. Here's how the trucks compare at four price points, what each just changed, and whether to buy a discounted 2026 or wait.
Both of America's removable-roof off-roaders just changed for 2027, in opposite directions. Jeep loaded more standard equipment into the Wrangler Sahara and Rubicon and quietly dropped the 4xe plug-in hybrid. Ford gave the Bronco a 380-hp version of the Raptor's twin-turbo V6 for three mainstream trims, and dealer order guides indicate the 2.7-liter V6 is gone.
Neither company has published 2027 prices. Dealer order guides are circulating for both, but until Jeep and Ford post official MSRPs, every price here is a 2026 figure, labeled as such. The newer Bronco models are tracked in our 2027 Ford Bronco guide; this is the side-by-side.
What changes for 2027
| Change | 2027 Jeep Wrangler | 2027 Ford Bronco |
|---|---|---|
| Engines | 2.0L turbo four, 3.6L V6, 6.4L V8 carry over | New 380-hp 3.0L twin-turbo V6 option on Outer Banks, Badlands, Heritage; 2.7L V6 reportedly dropped |
| Electrified version | 4xe plug-in hybrid removed from the lineup | None; a hybrid is reportedly planned but unconfirmed |
| Standard equipment | Sahara adds navigation, Alpine audio, blind-spot monitoring, TrailCam; Rubicon adds heated seats and wheel | Outer Banks Lux swaps leather for premium vinyl; heated wheel available on Big Bend |
| New models | Twelve 4 Twelve specials carry over | RTR (2.3L, desert-tuned) and Filson (3.0L V6, Sasquatch standard) |
| Orders | Open now | RTR and Filson orders were due to open in October |
| 2027 prices | TBA | TBA (RTR "just over $50,000," Filson targeted at mid-$70,000s) |
Jeep's 2027 Wrangler rundown doesn't mention the 4xe at all, following Stellantis' decision to phase out its North American plug-in hybrids, as covered in our look at the 2027 Wrangler. Ford's update is about power: the new V6 adds 50 hp over the outgoing 2.7-liter, as detailed in our breakdown of the 2027 Bronco's V6. The Wrangler still has nothing between its 285-hp V6 and its 470-hp V8.
The spec sheet
| Spec | Jeep Wrangler | Ford Bronco |
|---|---|---|
| Engines (hp / lb-ft) | 2.0T 270/295; 3.6 V6 285/260; 6.4 V8 470/470 | 2.3T 300/325; 3.0TT V6 380/440 (2027); Raptor 418/440 |
| Transmissions | 6-speed manual (V6), 8-speed automatic | 7-speed manual (select 2.3L), 10-speed automatic |
| Best combined mpg (2026) | 21 (2.0T) | 20 (2.3T automatic) |
| Thirstiest combined mpg (2026) | 14 (392 V8) | 15 (Raptor) |
| Max towing | 5,000 lb (select 4-door Rubicon) | 4,500 lb (Raptor); 3,500 lb on other trims |
| Max ground clearance | 11.1 in (392) | 13.1 in (Raptor); 11.5 in (4-door Sasquatch) |
| Max water fording | Not listed by Jeep | 37.0 in (Raptor); 33.5 in (Sasquatch) |
| IIHS small overlap | Acceptable (Good driver, Acceptable passenger) | Good |
| IIHS updated moderate overlap | Good | Marginal |
| IIHS headlights | Marginal to Poor, by trim | Marginal |
| IIHS pedestrian AEB | Poor (not available) | Marginal |
| Q3 2026 U.S. sales | 44,757 | 38,020 |
| 2026 sales through September | 131,011 | 114,956 |
Fuel economy is EPA ratings as compiled by Cars.com. Bronco capability figures come from Ford's spec pages; Wrangler figures come from Jeep. Safety ratings are from the IIHS pages for the 2026 Wrangler four-door and the 2026 Bronco four-door. Neither earns an IIHS award.
Around $40,000: Sport S vs. Big Bend
Jeep cut Wrangler prices for 2026, and the entry point shows it. A two-door Sport starts at $36,035 before destination on jeep.com. The fairer fight is four-door against four-door: in January, a Sport S four-door listed at $42,495 with destination, Bloomberg reported, against $42,990 for a Bronco Big Bend, per Autoblog.
At that price, the Bronco brings the stronger base engine: 300 hp from its 2.3-liter turbo against 270 hp from the Wrangler's 2.0-liter. The Wrangler counters with a V6 and a manual gearbox, a combination Ford doesn't offer.
Around $50,000: Sahara vs. Outer Banks and the RTR
This is where 2027 changes the math. The Sahara now comes with features that used to be options, from blind-spot monitoring to the TrailCam. Without 2027 prices, there's no telling whether the sticker grew to match. The 2026 Sahara started at $48,895 in January; Edmunds lists a 2026 Outer Banks at $50,185.
Ford's newest answer is the Bronco RTR, which starts just over $50,000 before destination with a desert-tuned 2.3-liter and 33-inch tires, as covered in our Bronco RTR pricing story. Jeep has no equivalent high-speed setup.
Low $50,000s to $60,000: Rubicon vs. Badlands Sasquatch
A four-door Rubicon lands in the low $50,000s, by Kelley Blue Book's listings; a 2026 Badlands four-door with the Sasquatch package was $58,320 in Ford's configurator in January, per The Drive. The Rubicon X four-door was $61,990 in January. Both bring 35-inch tire options and locking front and rear differentials. The Bronco has the clearance and published fording edge, while Jeep claims the best available approach angle in the class at 47.4 degrees on four-door models.
The bigger split is towing. Jeep rates select four-door Rubicons at 5,000 pounds, crediting a Dana 44 HD full-float rear axle. Every Bronco short of the Raptor stops at 3,500 pounds.
Ford's add-on route costs more. The new Ford Custom Garage ORV Package is $18,995 before tires and installation for 2025–26 Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks models. On a Big Bend, that's about $62,285, roughly $11,400 above a Badlands.
At the top: Wrangler 392 vs. Bronco Raptor
The Raptor lists at $81,990 with destination, per Edmunds. Kelley Blue Book shows the V8 Wranglers from about $73,900 for the Willys 392 to $81,990 for the Moab 392. The Jeep has more power, 470 hp against 418, and a V8 soundtrack. The Raptor has the hardware: 13.1 inches of clearance and 37 inches of fording depth.
What they cost to fuel
At AAA's national average of $4.30 on October 24, 15,000 miles a year costs about $3,068 in a 2.0-liter Wrangler (21 mpg) and $3,222 in a 2.3-liter Bronco automatic (20 mpg). That gap is only $154. It widens with off-road hardware: a 2.3-liter Badlands or Sasquatch Bronco is rated at 18 mpg, about $3,580 a year. The V8 Wrangler and the Raptor each burn roughly 1,000 gallons or more a year, about 300 more than a 2.0-liter Wrangler.
Who's winning, and the deals
The Wrangler still outsells the Bronco. Jeep sold 44,757 in the third quarter, up 5%, while the Bronco set a record at 38,020. Through September, the gap is about 16,000 units, versus about 21,000 for all of 2025.
Both brands are discounting 2026 trucks through November 2. Incentive trackers show 0% financing for 36 months on many 2026 Wranglers, with regional bonus cash. Ford's national offers on the 2026 Bronco are 4.9% for 60 months plus $500 bonus cash, or $2,500 cash back, according to Ford Authority. Check jeep.com/offers and ford.com for your ZIP code before shopping.
One open item on the Ford side: a recall covers 2,711 2026 Broncos for a right-side curtain airbag bracket. Run any VIN through NHTSA's lookup.
What we don't know yet
- Official 2027 MSRPs for any Wrangler or Bronco trim, beyond Ford's RTR and Filson targets.
- What the 380-hp V6 option costs, and its EPA fuel economy.
- Whether Ford has confirmed the 2.7-liter's exit; the detail comes from dealer order guides.
- Whether a plug-in or hybrid Wrangler returns. Stellantis says it is shifting to hybrids and range-extended vehicles, without naming the Wrangler.
Which one to buy now, and which to wait for
Buy a 2026 Wrangler now if you tow, want a V6 with a manual, a V8, or a heavy-duty rear axle, or can get 0% financing. Jeep's 2026 incentives look richer than Ford's, and the 2027 changes are mostly content you can option on a 2026 truck.
Buy a 2026 Bronco now if you want the stronger base engine and the best clearance and published fording numbers, and the $2,500 cash works for you. Wait for 2027 if you want the 380-hp V6 in an Outer Banks, Badlands, or Heritage, or the RTR or Filson. Sahara shoppers should also wait to see whether Jeep's extra standard equipment costs extra.
