OFF THE ROAD WE GO
When it comes to off-roading, Jeep sets the standard, especially at reasonable price levels. Other brands offer all-wheel drive, and a few of them build a seriously capable off-roader or two if you’re willing to pay, but no one builds a trail-ready model in every SUV segment like Jeep does. And if you want to keep the price less than $40,000 and still get serious off-road performance, Jeep is the only game in town.
Or was. The Ford Bronco Sport Badlands is finally here to crash the trail party. And in the battle for budget off-road supremacy, it most directly challenges the Jeep Compass Trailhawk.
The Contenders
Jeep’s insistence on covering every bit of SUV-market white space made us think hard about which model to invite to this comparison. The Renegade is only slightly smaller than the Compass, which is only slightly smaller in turn than the Cherokee. When you drill down on it, though, the Compass is the best match against the Bronco Sport. In nearly every measure, the Ford is practically a photocopy of the Jeep.
Check it: The Jeep has 8.5 inches of ground clearance; the Ford has 8.8. The Jeep has a 30.3-degree approach angle, 24.4-degree breakover angle, and 33.6-degree departure angle. The Ford’s comparable measurements are 30.4, 20.4, and 33.1 degrees. The Jeep rides on a 103.8-inch wheelbase to the Ford’s 105.1. The Jeep is slightly longer overall and narrower in
