Ford Bronco vs Land Rover Defender Comparison Test

Ford Bronco vs Land Rover Defender, two doors each: the Defender 90 was more refined and edged the Bronco by one point on our scorecard. The Bronco Wildtrak still took our pick, because it’s tougher in the ruts and more fun. For 2026, a Defender 90 starts about 49 per cent above the cheapest Bronco.

Key Takeaways

• The 2021 Bronco Wildtrak two-door won on character; the 2021 Defender 90 X-Dynamic S had the quieter cabin and better ride quality.
• The Defender won our 10-category scorecard 69 to 68, taking five categories to the Bronco’s four.
• As tested, the Defender cost $89,240, about 28 per cent more than the $69,624 Bronco.
• With tow packages, the Defender was rated for 3,720 kg, more than double the Bronco’s 1,588 kg; the Bronco held 60 per cent more cargo behind the rear seat.
• For 2026, the Defender 90 starts at $77,100 and the Bronco at $51,765 (accessed Sept. 30, 2026); the Wildtrak trim we tested is gone.

How We Selected: Why We Took a Two-Door Bronco vs Defender Off-Road

It wasn’t long ago that we pitted the plug-in hybrid Jeep Wrangler against the gnarliest four-door Ford Bronco and learned the new Bronco is the real deal. Even so, for off-roading my preference has long leaned toward a short and nimble two-door rig.

I convinced AutoTrader.ca Editor-in-Chief Jodi Lai that taking a 2021 Ford Bronco Wildtrak and a Land Rover Defender 90 down new trails would be a great idea. It wasn’t. But we did come away with a favourite.

The Two-Door Test Vehicles and the Niagara Route

A short wheelbase fits tight turns and gives a loftier breakover angle. With every decent Ontario trail closed for snowmobile season, I tested traction and articulation on the rutted unassumed roads of the Niagara Region. Each SUV was scored out of 10 in 10 categories.

Quick Comparison: Bronco vs Defender Specs at a Glance

The 2021 test vehicles, with each gap shown against the rival:

Spec (2021 test vehicles)	Ford Bronco Wildtrak two-door	Land Rover Defender 90 X-Dynamic S	Difference
Engine	2.7L twin-turbo V6	3.0L turbo inline-six, mild hybrid	n/a
Horsepower	310 hp	395 hp	Defender +27%
Torque	400 lb-ft	406 lb-ft	Defender +2%
Fuel economy (city/hwy/comb)	14.0 / 13.9 / 13.9 L/100 km	13.8 / 10.6 / 12.3 L/100 km	Defender 12% lower combined
Cargo behind rear seat	634 L	397 L	Bronco +60%
Cargo, seats down	1,481 L	1,563 L	Defender +6%
Towing (tow package)	1,588 kg	3,720 kg	Defender +134%
Base price	$56,494	$69,900	Defender +24%
Price as tested	$69,624	$89,240	Defender +28%
Total score	68/100	69/100	Defender +1

Top Choices: Ford Bronco Wildtrak and Land Rover Defender 90 in the Mud

Ford Bronco Wildtrak: Bashing Through the Ruts

Matching its macho looks, the Bronco seemed utterly unphased, bashing over ruts on 295 mm of ground clearance and Bilstein shocks. Jeepers call its independent front suspension a weak point. Ford has built in serious toughness.

The trail modes are another story: its mud and ruts mode won’t work with the locking differentials engaged and low range selected, and the Wildtrak skips the Bronco Badlands’ disconnecting front sway bar. A head-scratcher.

Land Rover Defender 90: Getting Through With Dignity

The Land Rover Defender 90 seems to say, “Come along, chaps, let’s get through this with dignity, shall we?” Its air suspension lifts it to the Bronco’s clearance at the push of a button and keeps the ride far more composed. More delicate than the Ford, yet not fragile.

Where Both Got Stuck

On the second trail, the Bronco’s Goodyear tires slid into a puddle roughly the size and depth of Lake Erie, if I recall correctly. It high-centred on its skid plates. Behind me, Jodi’s Defender bogged down where the Bronco had just crossed; its beefy control arms hang up easily. With a fording depth over 900 mm for both, driving straight through would have been fine.

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Strengths and Trade-Offs: Defender vs Bronco, Category by Category

Category	Ford Bronco	Land Rover Defender
Practicality	6.5	6
User friendliness	7	6
Comfort	6	7.5
Features	7	7
Driving feel	7	7.5
Power	7.5	8
Fuel economy	6	6.5
Safety	7	7.5
Value	6.5	6
Styling	7.5	7

Practicality, User Friendliness and Interior Space

Long doors make the Defender’s back seat harder to reach, and its B-pillars are as thick as bridge abutments. The Bronco feels like a World War II pillbox, yet its buttons and 12-inch infotainment touchscreen are easier to learn than the Land Rover’s, whose steering wheel buttons were occasionally unresponsive. Both have good camera systems.

Comfort, Features and On-Road Refinement

The Bronco’s removable roof is noisy, and its cabin plastics are cheap. The Defender is quiet by comparison, with nicer materials and a heated windshield that’s welcome in winter. As a daily driver it has superior ride and handling; the Bronco’s mud-terrain tires wander on the highway. The Ford’s trump card: driving with no top or doors.

If it were my Defender, I’d pick the smallest (18-inch) wheels and the biggest tires available.

Power, Fuel Economy and Safety

The Defender’s turbo 3.0L inline-six adds a mild-hybrid system and an electric supercharger for 395 hp. That 85-hp edge makes it moderately quicker, though the Ford’s 10-speed automatic works its powerband better. Observed fuel use matched the combined ratings. Blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist were standard on the Defender, optional on the Bronco.

Costs and Ownership: Canadian Prices for the Bronco and Defender, Then and Now

A low-option Defender 90 cost almost as much as a fully optioned Bronco. The Land Rover feels more premium, and with luxury options it climbs toward a six-figure sticker.

What We Paid in 2022

The Bronco carried $11,035 in options, led by the $3,750 High Package. The Pangea Green Defender carried $17,440, including a $2,270 towing package. Destination was $1,995 for the Ford and $1,800 for the Land Rover.

What’s Changed Since This Test: 2026 Update

Editor’s update, Sept. 30, 2026: the test results above are unchanged; this section adds current Canadian specs and prices.

The 2026 Bronco comes as a two-door only in Base and Badlands trims; the Wildtrak is gone. Ford Canada’s Bronco models page lists a 300-hp 2.3L EcoBoost four, a 330-hp 2.7L V6 and the Raptor’s 418-hp 3.0L V6, plus an available Sasquatch Package. AutoTrader Research lists a starting price of $51,765. See our 2024 Ford Bronco review and 2025 Bronco Raptor review.

Land Rover Canada’s Defender 90 page lists the S at $77,100, the X-Dynamic SE at $87,000 and the Vertex at $107,200, all with a 3.0L six. The entry gap is now about 49 per cent, double our test’s 24 per cent. NRCan also rates a V8 Defender 90 (P525), but Land Rover Canada’s page doesn’t list one. The four-door is in our 2025 Land Rover Defender 110 review.

Fuel Costs: The Latest NRCan Ratings

Natural Resources Canada’s fuel consumption ratings put the 2026 Bronco 2.3L automatic at 12.0 L/100 km combined and the 2.7L V6 at 13.8. NRCan’s latest Defender 90 rating with the 3.0L six (2025 P400) is 12.4, on premium. To price one:

1. Filter listings by model year, trim and kilometres.
2. Line up trims in the AutoTrader car comparison tool.
3. Check your trade-in value.

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Who Each Option Suits: Is the Bronco or the Defender Best for You?

Choose the Ford Bronco If You Want Open-Air Fun

• You want the doors and roof panels off all summer.
• You’d rather spend less.
• You like physical buttons and visible off-road hardware.
• You want regular fuel and more usable cargo space.

Choose the Land Rover Defender If Refinement Matters More

Pick the Defender if you tow, cover a lot of highway or carry rear passengers, who get their own climate controls. Its rarer badge is part of the appeal.

Final Recommendation: Our Bronco vs Defender Verdict

The Defender and Bronco finished one point apart. The Land Rover is unquestionably more refined in its appearance and the way it drives, and as Bronco production catches up, the rarer Land Rover becomes arguably more special.

Why the Bronco Gets Our Pick

As a rugged, go-anywhere adventure machine, the reborn Ford Bronco balances decent road manners with true off-road capability. The Sasquatch package’s 35-inch tires recall the 1960s originals. It’s just more fun to look at and to drive, especially in summer with the doors and roof off. AutoTrader later named it the 2022 Best Vehicle for Adventure.

The Defender is the better SUV; the Bronco is the better adventure.

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