Bronco Badlands vs Wrangler Rubicon vs 4runner Trailhunter. Guess who wins?

[Sgt Badlands]

Edmunds Comparison:

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[MNBigfoot]

The You-tuber's bank account?

 

[AZ_Craig]

Anyone else find the first sequence with the hill climb using 4-Hi to not make a whole lot of sense?

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to be in 4-Hi going up a 30 degree grade. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

 

[JediMcMuffin]

Not really fair to force a Wrangler 4xe into this comparison if you ask me.

Edit: Wow, okay, its worse than I thought. LOL. Yeah this is a pretty much just laymans observations.

 

[crenca]

Anyone else find the first sequence with the hill climb using 4-Hi to not make a whole lot of sense?

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to be in 4-Hi going up a 30 degree grade. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

With the C gear in a manual Bronco I might try it...maybe, depending upon traction conditions and drop off on sides, roll back consequences, etc....but yeeeaaa...

Not really fair to force a Wrangler 4xe into this comparison if you ask me.

Edit: Wow, okay, its worse than I thought. LOL. Yeah this is a pretty much just laymans observations.

For many Bronco buyers (those who will learn what a locker is at off-rodeo - not that this is a disparagement) this video could help them make practical distinctions between these vehicles.

I learned a bit about these hybrid setups as I did not know they apply that much torque (but maybe only in certain off-road modes??) when crawling...

 

[PowerBronco]

Not really fair to force a Wrangler 4xe into this comparison if you ask me.

Edit: Wow, okay, its worse than I thought. LOL. Yeah this is a pretty much just laymans observations.

There are 14 states where the 4xe will be the only engine option stocked at dealers. You can still order a gas-only model (for now....)
https://www.motor1.com/news/672455/stellantis-stops-stocking-gas-cars/

 

[AZ_Craig]

I learned a bit about these hybrid setups as I did not know they apply that much torque (but maybe only in certain off-road modes??) when crawling...

Yes, the beauty of electric motors is that you have 100% instantaneously available torque. In hybrid setups the motors are typically most active early in the power curve and help fill in for the lack of torque that some engines have until at least 2000 to 3000 RPM.

I've driven both a 4xe Wrangler and Grand Cherokee plus also the Land Cruiser (same power train as the 4Runner Trailhunter). You really feel the motors kicking power off the line and this would also be the case in low RPM crawling situations for sure.

 

[crenca]

There are 14 states where the 4xe will be the only engine option stocked at dealers. You can still order a gas-only model (for now....)
https://www.motor1.com/news/672455/stellantis-stops-stocking-gas-cars/

I predict that with the new leadership at Stellantis, the new leadership in Washington pushing back on Carb overreach and its 'drill baby drill' philosophy, and the general market realization that EV/hybrids are niche products (i.e good for some, unnecessary for most) that such anti-consumer practices (never mind the leaving of real $ on the table) are not long for this world...

 

[JAD67428]

https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/to...=120223523387310484&utm_id=120218838055730484

 

[timhood]

He didn't mention if the front swaybar was disconnected for the "Ziggurat" test. I would assume it was for all three vehicles, but that is an important enough point that I thought it should have been mentioned.

 

[mattymik]

I saw my first 4Runner in the wild today, and it was ... ugly. I had to check the badging to make sure it wasn't a new Rav4 trim that I wasn't aware of.

Granted, it was not the Trailhunter or TRD Pro trim, but it looked like a major downgrade from the previous generation IMO (which I always liked)

 

[BroncoStang]

There are 14 states where the 4xe will be the only engine option stocked at dealers. You can still order a gas-only model (for now....)
https://www.motor1.com/news/672455/stellantis-stops-stocking-gas-cars/

That's disappointing to hear. I had a gas Wrangler and it was a good vehicle, just felt inferior to the bronco in every way (if you take out the solid-axle argument for offroad). My other vehicle is a Grand Cherokee 4xe and it has been nothing but headaches and service appointments, it's a disaster of a vehicle. I would be extremely hesitant to be deep into a tail with a 4xe.

 

[BroncoBeachBuggy]

There are 14 states where the 4xe will be the only engine option stocked at dealers. You can still order a gas-only model (for now....)
https://www.motor1.com/news/672455/stellantis-stops-stocking-gas-cars/

You can get a BB SAS for $22k less than that 4xe. Have a feeling the Bronco will be selling better in those states.

 

[AZ_Craig]

You can get a BB SAS for $22k less than that 4xe. Have a feeling the Bronco will be selling better in those states.

4xe pricing has been heavily discounted though with a lot of incentives and some gaming of tax credits with leasing (I think they still qualify for the $3500 point of sale discount also).

I looked at that some last year before getting my Raptor and they were easily selling for $15K or more below MSRP in the Phoenix metro.

That being said, nearly $80K MSRP for a loaded 4xe Rubicon X is absolutely insane money for what it is. The 392 is overpriced also though in my opinion...

 

[Spartan]

I saw my first 4Runner in the wild today, and it was ... ugly. I had to check the badging to make sure it wasn't a new Rav4 trim that I wasn't aware of.

Granted, it was not the Trailhunter or TRD Pro trim, but it looked like a major downgrade from the previous generation IMO (which I always liked)

We saw it at the autoshow and have to say the Land Cruiser is the far better looking model. They missed the mark with the new 4 Runner. Really interested to see what Ford does for the refresh supposedly for next year.

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