Liam White 
The Jeep Wrangler just had it’s best ever retail sales quarter. Part of the historic success of the Wrangler can be credited to the hybrid Wrangler 4xe, which was the best-selling plug-in hybrid in the marketplace. Even though FCA doesn’t report its PHEV car sales, putting two and two together means Wrangler 4xe sales topped Toyota Prius sales figure of approximately 11,863 units, per InsideEVs. Why is the Wrangler doing so well right now? It could partly be due to the hype surrounding its chief rival, the 2021 Ford Bronco.
2021 Ford Bronco: Tons Of Demand, Delays
Back in June of 2020, the sixth-generation Ford Bronco was revealed, but the SUV had already been delayed before it was out of the gate. It was supposed to happen in March 2020, before global pandemic-related shutdowns brought the world to a standstill. This June, over a year later, Bronco production has finally began and Ford commenced with filling the 125,000 orders for its hungry customers – which have grown into a two-year waiting list. Not a surprise for what was considered to be the most anticipated vehicle of the year.
Jeep Wrangler Sets Sales Record
In that time, the microchip shortage, pandemic-related supply issues, severe flooding, and a series of other delays have obviously swayed prospective Bronco owners over to the Jeep brand. Jeep has unintentionally capitalized on Ford’s shortcoming as evidenced by record quarterly sales figures. A total of 69,020 Wranglers have been sold in Q2 2021. Combined with Jeep Gladiator sales, the brand is just 18 vehicles shy of 100,000 units sold for Q2 2021. And while Ford was late to the party, Jeep doesn’t seem to be short of a crowded room. Americans already consider Jeep the most patriotic brand, and the Wrangler was waiting to satisfy the wants and needs of eager and impatient buyers, with bookend offerings such as the Wrangler 4xe hybrid and snarling Wrangler 392.
Summary
The Wrangler vs Bronco debate will only get more heated as Ford presses on and gets the 4x4s rolling off the assembly line at a consistent rate. In the meantime, the regular Jeep Wrangler JL, the hybrid Wrangler 4xe, and the new Wrangler Rubicon 392 are having no trouble keeping up to par with everything that Jeep enthusiasts have come to expect.
