With the 2022 Ford Bronco and Land Rover Defender, it can be tough to know which is the best off-roading SUV. Lucky for you, our comparison guide is here to help you figure out which of these midsize SUVs belongs in your life.
Wallet-Friendly Price: 2022 Ford Bronco
If you’re looking for an attainable off-roader, the Bronco is a much friendlier option. With a price that starts at $31,300, the Bronco will help you keep your budget in check. The 2022 Land Rover Defender, on the other hand, is more pricey, with an MSRP of $68,000.
Luxury Cruising: 2022 Land Rover Defender
The Defender is definitely the more luxurious SUV. Even the base model will impress you with its upscale features, including wireless smartphone charging and power-adjustable, heated front seats. Moving up the trim models only means a posher cabin, with available two-tone leather-trimmed seats and a panoramic sunroof.
Meanwhile, the Ford Bronco comes standard with a basic assortment of comfort features, including cloth upholstery and manual air-conditioning. But the Bronco also comes in several trim models, leaving you to choose the luxury features that you actually want to pay for. Throughout the Bronco lineup, you’ll find just about every upscale feature available, from heated seats to leather upholstery. And don’t forget that the Bronco is a convertible, offering you a far better view than any panoramic sunroof can manage.
Off-Roading: 2022 Ford Bronco
Compared to the Defender, the Bronco actually comes standard with a longer list of rugged features. For starters, every trim model includes sporty four-wheel drive, maximizing traction when you’re facing an especially difficult trail. Ford’s Trail Turn Assist system functions as a low-speed cruise control, so you can focus on steering out of a very tight spot. Options include all-terrain tires, a lifted suspension, and Fox shock absorbers.
The Bronco also offers a couple of specialty models. The Bronco Raptor was designed for high-speed desert racing, for example. And the Everglades trim model comes with a snorkel and winch, helping you move through the shallows like a regular swamp creature.
The Land Rover Defender doesn’t come standard with quite as much rugged gear. Instead of four-wheel drive, for example, it gives you all-wheel drive. And the Defender’s trail-friendly driver assistance systems (its low-speed cruise control system is called All-Terrain Progress Control) are only available on higher trim models, which potentially cost more than you’re willing to spend.
Technology: 2022 Ford Bronco
Both SUVs are big on modern technology, albeit in slightly different ways. The Ford Bronco comes standard with cutting-edge infotainment, including a touchscreen interface and complete smartphone integration (with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto). This Ford also includes helpful safety aids, such as automatic emergency braking and hill start assist. And moving up the trim levels means more tech features, including blind-spot monitoring and a 10-speaker B&O premium audio system.
Back on the Defender, you also get touchscreen infotainment. However, this Land Rover has yet to incorporate the wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, leaving you with the old, wired technology. Instead of off-road-friendly safety aids, the Defender comes standard with more conventional systems, such as lane-keeping assist.
Your New Off-Road SUV
The 2022 Land Rover Defender is undeniably luxurious and very capable. However, it’s the 2022 Ford Bronco that gives you the best price on a stylish off-roader. And Ford’s rugged midsize SUV also offers its own host of luxury features. When it comes to trail performance, the Bronco also goes the extra mile, giving you exclusive features and speciality trim models.