Even when talking about desert runners like the Ford Bronco Raptor and the Jeep Wrangler 392, these gym-visiting off-roaders will still end up spending plenty of time on tarmac. So it makes full sense to see the Detroit rivals engaging in a good old quarter-mile battle.
Before we zoom in on the pavement performance of these two rugged beasts, let’s take a few moments to see why they’re set apart by a pair of cyclinders and just as many turbochargers, shall we?
The Blue Oval and the Mopar people used to compete more directly (as far as specs go) and they still do in the muscle car segment. However, the previous decade saw Ford Performance introducing a downsizing campaign, with the F-150 Raptor and even the GT supercar, whose racing version once again one-upped Ferrari at Le Mans back in 2017, being taken down the twin-turbo V6 route.
And while the Hellcat-powered Ram TRX was certainly a strong argument for Ford to give the F-150 Raptor its V8 back—coming on the 2023 Raptor R special—the Bronco Raptor seems to stick to the said TT V6 formula.
Stellantis, the result of the merger between Jeep parent company FCA and Europe’s PSA, had a different plan. They came to the electrification party after Ford. And while the company has outlined an impressive battery power strategy—first electric muscle car included—they’re holding on to their HEMI V8s, be they N/A or supercharged, for as long as possible.
And one of the results of that startegy is the Jeep Wrangler 392, which gifts the iconic off-roader with the 6.4L HEMI that’s been animating Dodge muscle cars since 2010.
Bronco Raptor vs Wrangler 392
Since this battle comes from The Fast Lane Truck, the hostilities take place in Colorado, at about 1 mile above sea level. This means that the N/A 6.4L of the Wrangler (470 hp, 470 lb-ft) is more affected by the lower air density than the twin-turbo 3.0L EcoBoost V6 animating the “Braptor” (418 hp, 440 lb-ft). In the gearbox department, the Ford uses a ten-speed auto, while the torque converter unit of the Jeep comes with two fewer ratios.
The Jeep, which is here with the Xtreme Recon Package that brings 37-inch tires (an extra 2 inches), tips the scales at 5,800 lbs. And while that’s no easy figure, it still gives it a weight advantage of around 650 lbs compared to the Bronco Raptor (it’s like having three passengers and some luggage around). Oh, and by the way, the Ford also rides on 37-inch rubber, while both vehicles feature beadlock-capable 17-inch wheels.
A full quarter-mile brawl that also involves the “standard” Bronco
Now, given the standout nature of the machines, the TFL crew left its usual playground, which didn’t allow for a full quarter-mile run, visiting an air strip for this showdown.
You’ll get the full numbers (0-60 and more included) at the end of the video below, which also involves TFL’s long-time tester, a Bronco First Edition Sasquatch powered by the “civilian” 2.7L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6, which makes 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of twist.
Given the figures, this one easily goes to the “no replacement for displacement” team, even though the $84,000 price of such a loaded Wrangler 392 sits some $4,000 over that of an also-gifted Bronco Raptor—by the way, the master drag race awaits you at the 9:54 timestamp.
Then again, we have to keep in mind that acceleration is just one aspect. For instance, such off-roading specials are more than just their engines, with the suspension tech, where the two are equally impressive, making for one of their most important sides.
