banner



cars similar to ford bronco

Skip to Content

Desire a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport? Consider these SUVs, too

Looks, cabin quality, and utility are excellent in the 2022 Ford Bronco Sport, only there are alternatives to this baby Bronc

Ford's rejuvenation of its iconic Bronco is an unqualified hit. For one thing, sales are upward an incredible, where-did-they-detect-the-semi-conductors 188.half-dozen per cent in the third quarter. That'south because, well, it's ruggedly highly-seasoned, surprisingly competent off-road, and easily accessorized. Unfortunately, it's also heavy, thirsty, and expensive, all of which puts it out of the reach of many a consumer eager for its Badlands appeal.

Enter the Ford Bronco Sport. Smaller, cheaper, and promising superior fuel consumption, the Sport is the accessible Bronco. And, indeed, you lot tin park a infant Bronc in your driveway for only $35,999, if you're willing to forgo most luxuries and/or off-road bona fides. If you want both, that's going to cost you $46,149 for the fully-equipped Badlands version. My tester, an Outer Banks model, was the next step down, priced at a all the same substantial $42,899. The question, then, is how does this lineup measure up against all the other sport-cutes that play in its class?

The first thing that must exist said is that the Sport is genuinely gorgeous. Dismiss it as Bronco Lite all yous will, but, to the casual passer-by, it looks genuinely rugged, all square lines, hood bulges, and flared fenders. Compared with the small crossovers Jeep peddles — the Renegade and Compass — the picayune(r) Bronco looks distinctly more authentic. I'grand guessing that more than a few Sports have been sold on looks alone.

The aforementioned could be said for the interior, besides. In fact, the one comment consequent to everyone who got a ride in the Sport is how upscale the motel felt. From the monochromatic black dashboard to the bright and colourful infotainment screen to the truly attractive Alcantara and leather — all faux, of form — two-tone seats, this is an interior beyond its segment. Throw in heated seats and steering cycle, a B&O audio system, and 110V Air-conditioning power outlets, and yous have a convincing alternative to some luxury sport-cutes.

Compare the specs of like SUVs: Ford Bronco Sport, Jeep Cherokee, Subaru Forester, Ford Escape

Ford has also blessed the Bronco Sport's interior with the utility that the term "SUV" is supposed to engender. Despite its relatively diminutive size, for instance, you tin fit ii total-sized mountain bikes in the rear trunk area (rear seats folded, of course) as long as you accept the optional Yakima bike rack. Ford boasts there are more 100 accessories available for the Sport, giving information technology an unprecedented — at least in this segment — power to carry camping gear, kayaks, and even surfboards. Those looking for a justification for ownership the baby Bronc, besides its fetching good looks, need wait no further.

In less-visual departments, the Outer Banks isn't quite as exemplary. Adequate, aye, merely not a shining beacon of crossover comportment. For case, the engine in the iii lower trims — Base, Big Bend, and the Outer Banks — is Ford'south (becoming) ubiquitous 1.5-litre EcoBoost three-cylinder. In lesser cars — the European Fiesta, for case — its more adequate. In the i,560-kilogram Bronco (not and then) Lite, information technology strains. Oh, being turbocharged, there's a fair bit of punch off the line, only calling on pedal-to-the-metal Warp-Bulldoze-Mr.-Sulu grunt doesn't actually speed things up much more, there being a distinct paucity of height-finish ability.

Ford's two.0L EcoBoost iv also powers the Bronco Sport, only is only available in the top-of-the-line Badlands trim. I'd suggest that its 245 hp and 275 pound-anxiety of torque are a greater incentive to spend the extra $3,260 Ford demands than any perceived off-road superiority. Non unexpectedly, since I always had my foot well into it, my tester averaged ten.2 L/100 km compared with its official rating of 9.3L and 8.4 L/100 km, city and highway, respectively.

In the finish, performance, at least in the lesser three models, is the biggest compromise to the Bronco Sport. In most other regards — looks, cabin quality, and utility — it's an excellent effort. Just don't expect to win any drag races.

  1. SUV Comparison: Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk vs Ford Bronco Sport Badlands

    SUV Comparing: Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk vs Ford Bronco Sport Badlands

  2. Ford's 2023 Bronco Heritage Editions go way retro

    Ford's 2023 Bronco Heritage Editions go way retro

I'll go for a real-bargain Jeep, thank you very much

The Bronco Sport's direct competitor in the Jeep lineup is the Cherokee. Interestingly, even though the Cherokee is both (slightly) more powerful in base and upscale trims and significantly longer — as in near 250 millimetres longer — the Bronco Sport feels faster and is larger inside.

The first contention may be the upshot of Ford's two EcoBoost engines being a petty quieter than the Cherokee powerplants, especially the base 2.4L commonly-aspirated 4, simply there is an edge there even if neither feels particularly speedy. And, even though the Ford gives up 1 gear to the Jeep — Bronco has an eight-speed autobox while the Jeep boasts ix — the Sport's gear changes are more fluid.

As for roominess, the only criteria in which the Jeep offers more space than the Ford is in rear legroom. In all other cases — headroom front end and rear, besides as front end legroom — the Ford is more accommodating. Additionally, the Ford'southward interior is much more upscale. I could argue that the nearly off-road-worthy Cherokee — the $46,340 Trailhawk — busts ameliorate berms than the top-of-the-line Bronco Sport, but I don't think many people buy meaty crossovers to traipse over the Rubicon. In this case, I retrieve the smart money should be on the Ford.

offroad offroading off-road off-roading mud sand comparison test
2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk Photo by Elliot Alder

You want something more than downwards to globe

Every bit practicality goes, naught in the compact crossover segment touches Subaru's Forester. The very image of utilitarian, the little Subie has ane of the best all-bike-drive systems in the business, an excellent plethora of (EyeSight)advanced driver assistance systems, and a reputation for robust operation.

Non outright performance, mind yous. The weak point for the Forester is that, similar the base of operations versions of the Bronco Sport, it doesn't exactly boast an excess of horsepower. In fact, its two.5-litre Boxer 4 has almost the same peak power — 182 hp — as Ford'south one.5-litre turbo I3. And, at to the lowest degree in the Bronco Sport — and the Cherokee too — you can, if yous are willing to fork over the big bucks, opt for a larger, more powerful engine. Not the Forester; the 182-hp H4 is all that is on offer.

In nigh other regards, the Forester is more than than competitive with the Bronco Sport, specially when you compare the bottom trims. For i affair, it'south all-bicycle-drive system is a picayune more competent off-route; and there's a smidgen more than ground clearance in its base versions than there is in bottom Bronco Sports (though the Badlands does have more than the new Forester Wilderness). It's too roomier inside with excellent cargo space every bit well (though the Bronco Sport has more stowage accessories). And though the interior is not almost as stylish as the Ford's, the materials are somewhat superior.

In other words, unless you go for the off-road nous of the Badlands — non to mention its 2.0-litre EcoBoost four — the Forester is probably a improve everyday ride. On the other hand, in the looks department, they're not playing the same game, let lonely competing in the same league.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

You're determined to stick with Ford

Now considering they share a proper name — and a expect — you'd think the most obvious alternative is the (real) Bronco. On the other manus, they share only a visage, whereas the Bronco Sport and Escape share a platform and powertrains. They are truly brothers nether very different skins.

So, non surprising since it is about 80 kilograms heavier, the Bronco Sport is a piffling slower on the uptake than the Escape. Information technology's only a fraction of second, which sounds trivial — and is piffling when comparing the superlative-of-the-line 245-hp ii.0L EcoBoost-powered versions of both — but in base trims, the Bronco Sport actually feels a niggling less responsive than the equivalent Escape.

The same applies for fuel economy. In this case, not merely is the Sport heavier than the Escape, only it'southward also less aerodynamic which ways that, while NRCan rates the 1.5L Escape for 8.4 50/100 km, it says that the Bronco Sport volition suck back 8.9 L/100 km. The gap is a full 1.0 L/100 km — 10.2 L/100 km versus 9.2 — for the two.0L versions. Worse yet, Automobile and Driver says its real-world highway testing puts the gap even larger, closer to ii.5 L/100 km for the two cars powered by the larger engine. There is a price to be paid for the privilege of boxy good looks.

2022 Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks
2022 Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks Photograph past Chris Balcerack

The Escape is as well roomier, especially when it comes to cargo, with 37.v cubic anxiety available behind the rear seats (29.5 cu ft for the Bronco) and 65.4 cubes when the rear seats are folded (compared with sixty.6 for the Sport). As for seating, the Bronco Sport has more headroom forepart and rear, they're tied for front end legroom, but in that location's almost 100 millimetres more legroom in the rear of the Escape.

Perhaps the biggest differentiator, still, is price. AWD Escapes start at $31,749 — $4,250 less than the start Bronco — and an all-wheel-drive Titanium with the aforementioned 2.0L EcoBoost undercuts the Badlands by some $4,550. Hybrid-powered Escapes are as well cheaper than the Bronco, and the PHEV version priced near identically to the Sport, although, information technology must be said, the PHEV is merely bachelor as a forepart-commuter.

And then, the Bronco is a little bigger, more off-route-worthy, and a whole bunch sexier. The Escape, on the other hand, is lighter, a little quicker, and a bunch more frugal. In other words, though they're built on the exact same platform and powered by the same engines, one is directed at the right side of the encephalon, and the other is incomparably left-brained. That'southward quite the differentiation considering how much they really share.

David Booth picture

David Booth

Canada's leading automotive journalists with over 20+ years of experience in roofing the industry

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively merely ceremonious forum for word and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may accept upwardly to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a respond to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more than information and details on how to adapt your e-mail settings.

Join the Chat

Source: https://driving.ca/reviews/comparison/want-a-2022-ford-bronco-sport-consider-these-other-suvs-too

0 Response to "cars similar to ford bronco"

Post a Comment

Iklan Atas Artikel

Iklan Tengah Artikel 1

Iklan Tengah Artikel 2

Iklan Bawah Artikel