The long wait is almost over: Ford Philippines will finally bring over the much-anticipated Bronco. While the natural rival of the Blue Oval’s revived off-road pony is the Jeep Wrangler, another SUV has also gained popularity in the local market. Yes, we’re talking about the new-generation Defender.
For this size comparo, we’ll pit the P4.998-million Ford Bronco Outer Banks with Sasquatch Package against the P6.19-million Land Rover Defender 110 S P300. Let the SUV battle begin!
The Bronco measures 4,811mm long, 2,190mm wide, and 1,912mm tall. This makes it 207mm shorter, 85mm wider, and 55mm lower than the Defender. Note that the overall length figures include the external spare tire. I also found out that the published 1,854mm height in the online Bronco brochure is for the non-Sasquatch soft-top-equipped variant. When it comes to the overall width, the figures include the mirrors.
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The Ford rides on a 2,950mm wheelbase, making it 72mm shorter between the axles than the Land Rover. Thanks to the Sasquatch Package, the Bronco has a 292mm ground clearance, which is 2mm more than the Defender 110 with its adjustable air suspension at the high setting. The Ford SUV comes with 34.4-inch diameter 315/70 R17 tires (advertised as 35s), which are 2.3 inches taller than the Land Rover’s 32.1-inch diameter 255/65 R19 rollers.
Here’s a quick refresher on these two vehicles. The Bronco is a traditional body-on-frame SUV. Like its Everest cousin, it features independent suspension up front and a rigid axle with coil springs at the rear. The Sasquatch Package includes a high-clearance suspension, Bilstein shocks, electronic-locking front and rear differentials, beefy tires, and wide fender flares. The local-spec Outer Banks variant is equipped with a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 gasoline engine that puts out 330hp and 555Nm of torque. The Bronco’s hard top and doors are removable. Unlike in most modern vehicles, its rear quarter panels are bolted on just like the front fenders.
The new-generation Defender, on the other hand, is a huge step forward over its utilitarian predecessor, adopting a monocoque body construction and featuring four-wheel independent air suspension. While it borrows styling cues from the classic Defender, it has evolved into a much more refined and more upmarket SUV. The Defender 110 S P300 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder gasoline engine that produces 296hp and 400Nm of torque.
What do you think of the new Bronco? Would you consider it over the Defender? Let us know in the comments.
