While the Ford Bronco and Ford Bronco Sport share a nameplate and similar exteriors, they differ in size, offroad capability, and interior comfort features on lower-end trims.
Buyers were ecstatic when the retro-themed Bronco and its smaller sibling, the Bronco Sport, reappeared on the market in 2021. But alongside the excitement came a lot of confusion as potential owners wondered if size was the only difference between these two SUVs.
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Ford Bronco vs. Bronco Sport: What’s the difference?
The Ford Bronco Sport is much more than just a baby Ford Bronco. And there’s a lot more to the full-size Bronco than just size. Let’s take a look at some of the key features that set these two off-road monsters apart.
Price
For 2022, the Bronco Sport starts at around $30,410, while its big brother sports a starting price tag of $32,895. Figures for 2023 are expected to be about the same with starting MSRPs for the Bronco Sport already set at $30,810, and $33,000 estimated for the full-size Bronco.
Prices at the top end of the spectrum offer a lot more range. The top-of-the-line Ford Bronco Sport Badlands
will run buyers $38,185 to start. If you’re looking to climb to the top of the trim ladder in a full-size Bronco, you’ll need almost $20k more to pick up a Bronco Everglades. When it comes to car insurance, you can expect Ford Bronco insurance costs
to be similar to Bronco Sport insurance costs
. That said, rates will vary if you decide to add pricey options that drive up the cost of your vehicle. Interior and exterior dimensions
Since size is one of the key differences between these two utes, interior and exterior dimensions will (obviously) vary. Luckily, both Broncos’ signature boxy body style means that even in the smaller Bronco Sport, passengers won’t have to sacrifice luxuries like headroom.
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Cargo volume (all seats in place) | | |
A major difference between these vehicles is cargo capacity. With all the seats in place, there’s a difference of about 20 cubic feet between the two vehicles. This difference holds with the second row of seats dropped—the Bronco Sport offers up to 65.2 cubic feet of space while the full-size Bronco opens up a cavernous 83 cubic feet of cargo room.
Off-roading capabilities
Make no mistake—both Broncos are perfectly capable of hitting the trails, but the Bronco Sport is designed to combine more crossover comforts with its off-road capabilities than its big brother.
The Ford Bronco Sport features all-wheel drive and a terrain management system with at least five G.O.A.T. Modes™ (Go Over Any Type of Terrain) standard across all trims.
If you want to get off the asphalt, you’ll need to opt up to the Badlands trim. This gets you an upgraded 250-hp powertrain with an eight-speed automatic transmission that produces up to 277 lb-ft of torque to power through and over rough terrain. Plus, the Badlands kits out your Sport with upgraded 4WD and a raised off-road suspension for 8.6-inches of ground clearance.
In addition, the Badlands features:
Trail control (off-road, slow-speed cruise control)
Forward-looking 180-degree camera
If you really want to go all-in for off-road performance, you want to go for the Ford Bronco. Not only does the base Bronco offer a more powerful engine capable of spinning up to 325 lb-ft of torque, but it also starts with 8.4 inches of ground clearance already on offer. Higher trims feature more horsepower and up to lb-ft of torque, plus up to 11.7 inches of ground clearance—enough ride height to take on just about any terrain you could imagine.
All Bronco models feature the following off-road-focused features:
Two front and one rear tow hook
At least five G.O.A.T. Modes™
Optional seven-speed manual transmission
Trail turn Assist (automatic transmission only)
You can equip any Bronco with the available Sasquatch package, which adds 17-inch beadlock-capable alloy wheels and 35-inch mud-terrain tires beneath a lifted suspension with electronically locking front and rear axles. This package comes standard on both the Wildtrak and Everglades trims.
While all Bronco trims are perfectly capable of taking on even the roughest terrain, the special edition Bronco Everglades
and the newly introduced Raptor trim are made for this. Like the F-150 Raptor, the Bronco Raptor is geared toward high-speed off-road capability with upgrades that include a more powerful V6, high-performance Fox shocks, and increased underbody protection. Fuel and mileage
A tiny base engine gives the Bronco Sport an edge over its big brother when it comes to fuel efficiency. Here’s how it all breaks down.
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Bronco Sport—Base, Big Bend , and Outer Banks | 181-horsepower 1.5-liter three-cylinder | | |
| 245-horsepower 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder | | |
| 300-horsepower turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder | | |
Bronco (optional upgrade) | 330-horsepower twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 | | |
Technology
Don’t let their retro looks fool you—both the Bronco and Bronco Sport can be packed with the Blue Oval’s latest tech features and options. That said, base trims are a touch spartan. In the Bronco, standard tech features include:
Sync 3 infotainment system 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Automatic emergency braking
The Bronco is a fully off-road-oriented beast—it makes no pretensions at being a luxury SUV. As you climb the trim ladder, you’ll see loads of additional performance and off-road specs, but not much in the way of tech and creature comforts. You’ll need to purchase options packages to get these.
First among these is the Mid Package, available on any trim and included as standard equipment on the Outer Banks and Everglades trims. The Mid Package includes:
Ambient interior lighting
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Remote start (available only with 10-speed automatic transmission)
Upgraded 8-inch touchscreen
Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert
The High Package adds to the Mid Package with:
12-inch infotainment touchscreen
Mirror-mounted approach lights and spotlights
Finally, an available Lux Package adds these additional options to the High Package:
10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system
Wireless smartphone charging pad
The Bronco Sport—while still firmly aimed at off-road fun and outdoor adventure—offers a bit more in the way of driver and passenger comfort at the base levels, plus better tech and creature comforts at different trim levels.
Standard Bronco Sport tech features include:
Sync 4 infotainment system with 8-inch touchscreen
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
4.2-inch digital instrument panel display
Remote monitoring and control via smartphone app
All Bronco Sports also feature the Ford Co-Pilot 360 suite of advanced safety features, which includes:
Front collision mitigation
Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
Stepping up to the Bronco Sport Big Bend
adds: Keyless ignition and entry
Automatic climate control
For those who want to add a little plush and comfort to their Bronco Sport, Ford offers the mid-level Bronco Sport Outer Banks
trim, which adds the following tech features: Rain-sensing and heated wipers
Power-adjustable front seats
Dual-zone automatic climate control
6.5-inch digital instrument panel display
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Interior ambient lighting
Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel
The Outer Banks trim also offers a unique tech package that includes a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, wireless charging pad, HD radio, and universal garage door opener.
Last, but not least, we have the Bronco Sport Badlands. Where the Outer Banks is geared toward interior comfort, the Badlands leans toward off-road performance. In addition to those specs already mentioned in the Off-roading capabilities section above, the Badlands trim features:
6.5-inch digital instrument display
Power-adjustable driver’s seat
You can add the Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package to anything but the base Bronco Sport. This package includes:
Seating and comfort
The Bronco offers the same open-air possibilities previously available only in a Wrangler with optional configurations that include:
Ford offers available rubberized flooring and marine-grade vinyl upholstery for those who plan to spend a lot of time with the top down, but buyers can also opt for leather.
While the Bronco Sport doesn’t have the same open-air options as its big brother, it does offer a more comfortable interior than the utility-forward full-size Bronco. Seating for five is standard on the two-door Sport and every trim level features easy-to-clean cloth upholstery.
While both the Bronco and Bronco Sport offer a smoother ride than their most direct rival—the Jeep Wrangler—prioritizing off-road performance means dealing with off-road suspension, even while you’re on the road. As you’d expect, things can get pretty bumpy in both Broncos and wind noise is an issue, especially at highway speeds.
Ford Bronco vs. Bronco Sport: which is better?
The answer to this question really depends on you and how you plan to use your ute.
If you’re looking for a solid daily driver with the added perk of off-road capabilities, the Bronco Sport will likely be your best bet.
If what you really want is an off-road monster that can also double as regular transport, you need the full-size Bronco.
How to find cheap car insurance for your Bronco
Whichever Bronco you choose, you need to keep it covered with insurance as reliable as the SUV it’s protecting. Ford car insurance costs
can get pricey for these off-roaders—but when you shop with Jerry
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