What is the Dodge version of a Bronco?
Historically, Dodge’s closest counterpart to Ford’s Bronco was the Ramcharger, a rugged full-size SUV built on a truck chassis. In today’s Dodge lineup, the Durango is the brand’s most off-road‑capable, Bronco‑like model, though it emphasizes practicality and family seating more than extreme trail readiness. This article traces the lineage and how these vehicles compare.
Historical counterpart: the Ramcharger
During the Bronco’s rise to prominence, Dodge fielded a direct rival in the form of the Ramcharger. The model was designed as a large, truck-based SUV with genuine off-road capability, targeting buyers who wanted serious utility and rugged performance.
- Dodge Ramcharger (1974–1993) — a full-size, body-on-frame SUV built on Dodge’s pickup platform; offered two- and four-door configurations and emphasized off-road ability and cargo capacity, positioned against Ford Bronco and Jeep CJ-era competitors.
The Ramcharger became a symbol of Dodge’s rugged utility in its era, but production ended in the early 1990s as the market shifted toward other SUV formats and technology.
Modern alternative: the Durango
When Dodge re-entered the SUV market with the Durango in 1998, it presented a more mainstream, three-row option that could handle rough weather and some light off-road activity. While not a dedicated off-road specialist like the Bronco, the Durango remains Dodge’s principal Bronco-like model in today’s lineup.
- Dodge Durango (1998–present) — a mid-/full-size SUV that moved from a traditional body-on-frame design to a more modern unibody layout in later generations; offers all-wheel drive and higher-performance variants, delivering family practicality with available rugged capability.
In practice, the Durango prioritizes everyday usability and space, but trims with all-wheel drive and tougher tires can handle adverse conditions and light trail use.
Key differences between the Bronco and Dodge equivalents
Here are some contrasts that typically shape buyer choices when comparing these brands’ rugged offerings.
- Removability: The Ford Bronco is famous for removable doors and roof panels, a feature not central to the Ramcharger or Durango.
- Underpinnings: The Ramcharger is rooted in a truck-based, body-on-frame architecture; early Durango generations followed a similar approach, while later Durangos adopted a unibody design; the Bronco has continued to emphasize body-on-frame construction with modular, off-road-focused hardware.
- Off-road orientation: The Bronco is marketed as a bona fide off-road specialist with a wide array of trail-oriented features; the Ramcharger delivered rugged capability in its era, and the Durango offers capable all-terrain performance in select trims but is more family-focused overall.
- Market positioning: The Bronco targets outdoor enthusiasts seeking extreme trail capability, whereas the Durango is aimed at families needing seating and cargo versatility with optional rugged capabilities.
Taken together, the Ramcharger stands as the historical Dodge analogue to the Bronco, while the Durango represents the modern Dodge option with Bronco-like vibes for everyday practicality and occasional off-road use.
Is there a current Dodge equivalent on the market?
As of 2025, Dodge does not offer a direct, contemporary Bronco-sized off-road specialist. The Ramcharger nameplate has not been revived in production, and the Durango remains the closest ongoing Dodge model to the Bronco in spirit—providing space, all-wheel drive, and some rugged capability without being a dedicated rock-crawler.
Summary: The Dodge lineage to the Ford Bronco centers on the Ramcharger as the classic counterpart and the Durango as the current practical alternative. While neither Dodge model exactly replicates the Bronco’s removable-roof, all-out off-road focus, they reflect Dodge’s approach to rugged, versatile SUVs across eras.
