Ford is looking to build upon the success of its Bronco adventure SUV by unleashing the Filson variant in 2027. Geared as the most premium version of the Bronco, the Filson is set to take the fight to rivals that sit at the premium end of the adventure SUV market, such as the Land Rover Defender and Lexus GX.
While its official price hasn’t yet been announced by Ford, we anticipate the Bronco Filson to start from somewhere in the mid-$70,000s range. At this price point, there are plenty of other premium and adventure-ready choices on the market, so we pulled together four alternatives that could better suit your needs.
For this list, we’re including four premium off-road SUVs that are similar in cost and philosophy to the upcoming 2027 Ford Bronco Filson, which is expected to start somewhere in the mid-$70,000s. All values include destination costs.
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2027 Toyota Land Cruiser Premium
$70,955
At the more ‘budget’ end of the equation, we have the 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser equipped with the Premium package. At just over $70k, the trusty Toyota should provide a few grand discount on the upcoming Bronco Filson. While you can have the base model without the Premium option for $65,850, the extras you lose include a premium JBL sound system, an electric moonroof, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. If you’re after a more luxurious adventure SUV, opting for the Premium package is a worthwhile choice, while still keeping the Land Cruiser sitting close to the anticipated asking price of the Bronco Filson.
Being a Land Cruiser, you can also trust it to tackle tricky terrain with confidence. With 8.3 inches of ground clearance, as well as electronic center and rear locking differentials to aid traction, the rugged Toyota is very capable off-road. Other useful additions include full-time four-wheel drive with an active traction control system, and an independent suspension setup that affords the SUV capable handling on- and off-road. There are also a range of driving modes to help the car best deal with different terrain types, as well as Crawl and Downhill Control systems to help its driver keep control when tackling challenging inclines, or rocky ground.
Powering the Land Cruiser is a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four hybrid power plant with a combined 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, which is expected to be similar in performance to the turbocharged V6 found in the Bronco Filson. It may not be quite as plush as the new Bronco, but the Land Cruiser is a truly excellent off-roader that leaves a decent amount of money unspent.
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2027 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail
$76,730
Should you prefer a more upmarket experience than the Toyota can offer, the Lexus GX 550 Overtrail sibling could be just the vehicle for you. Built upon the same tough-as-nails body-on-frame chassis as the Land Cruiser, the GX 550 differs from the Land Cruiser by employing a better-appointed cabin and a smoother engine. It fares pretty similarly when it comes to driving off-road versus its cheaper sibling, so your extra $6k outlay primarily goes toward the cabin. You’ll be treated to better-quality leather and cabin materials, as well as extra refinement thanks to elements like acoustic glass, and additional toys like a heated leather steering wheel.
This feeling of upper-class motoring is further emphasized by the GX 550’s twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 power plant, which brings 349 hp and 379 lb-ft of torque to the table. The extra pulling power ensures it can tow more effectively than the Toyota, with up to 9,000 pounds being possible with the right spec, while the six-cylinder design is quieter and smoother than the busy four-pot found under the hood of the Land Cruiser.
The GX 550 is the better option if you want to prioritize your on-road experience as much as the off-road one, since you also get Lexus’ Adaptive Variable Suspension setup as standard. This can stiffen or soften the suspension in real time to best suit the kind of surface you’re driving along, elevating its versatility that bit further above the Land Cruiser. The Bronco Filson will have to go some way to stand out as a better value than the GX.
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2027 Land Rover Defender 110 X-Dynamic SE
$76,780
For just $50 more than the Lexus, your head could be swayed by the ever-stylish Land Rover Defender 110 X-Dynamic SE. Aside from its name being a mouthful, the Defender stands out for its excellent off-road capability. With 8.9 inches of ground clearance, there’s plenty of extra wiggle room when compared to the Land Cruiser/GX, though the Bronco’s 12.1 inches of clearance still far outperforms it. That said, if you spend an additional $1,600 to get access to the Air Suspension Package, you’ll be able to make use of up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance, alongside a much smoother ride. It also comes with all the usual off-road refinements you’d expect, such as full-time 4WD, a range of incline assistance systems, and rock-crawling assistance.
It must be noted that the Defender does rely on a unibody chassis design, which could compromise its long-term durability compared to ladder-frame vehicles like the Lexus and Toyota. The Defender does shine when it comes to its powertrain, with its 3.0-liter inline-six hybrid unit bringing a healthy 395 hp and 409 lb-ft of torque. This grunt affords it a towing capacity of 8,200 pounds, which stacks up well against its similarly-priced rivals.
You can always trust a Land Rover to climb every mountain and ford every stream, but the modern Defender can do that while being a fashion accessory, and also a comfortable family-friendly SUV. Don’t expect it to be as reliable or cheap to run as the likes of the Ford or its Toyota-designed rivals, though.
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2027 Ineos Grenadier Trailmaster
$82,895
The most expensive option on this list is the 2027 Ineos Grenadier Trailmaster. The Grenadier was designed to evoke the legacy of the classic Land Rover Defender, but in a modern package that is more refined and dependable than the original. Born out of a blank canvas, the Ineos is a more hardened off-roader than the other entries. While it uses a ladder chassis like the Lexus/Toyota, it’s one of the few production cars left to use a solid axle front suspension design. Aside from increasing pure strength, such an approach also improves axle articulation, which helps boost traction over uneven ground. An impressive 10.5 inches of ground clearance further enhances its off-road pretensions.
To this end, the Grenadier also uses live axles, as well as lockable front, center, and rear differentials. Permanent 4WD is included as standard, as is a slick ZF-supplied eight-speed automatic gearbox that features a two-speed transfer case. Connected to it is a BMW-sourced 3.0-liter turbocharged I6 power plant, which is smooth but lacks the outright performance of its rivals, with 281 hp and 331 lb-ft on offer.
Despite all these hardcore off-road-focused design approaches, the Grenadier also works surprisingly well on normal roads. It may look utilitarian inside and out, but it’s stocked with comfort-boosting equipment and modern safety systems. As a result, it’s a much better all-rounder than the classic Defender it’s so heavily influenced by. At just shy of $83k, however, buyers will have to pay a hefty premium for the privilege.
Sources: Ford, Ineos, Land Rover, Lexus, Toyota
