What are the differences between the 2023 Ford Bronco and its Bronco Sport sibling? If you are looking for an adventure SUV, both the Bronco and the Bronco Sport are going to offer some great perks for outdoor fun. However, one is built more off-road capable than the other. That's where our comparison guide comes in. If you're looking for the better of the two when it comes to off-roading and power, we'll explain why the Bronco is the best option for you.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- The Bronco Sport is a compact crossover SUV and is the cheaper of the two with more fuel efficiency.
- The Bronco Sport is meant mostly for paved roads and city drives, while the Bronco is a better high adventure companion.
- The Bronco is a midsize SUV and is significantly bigger than the Bronco Sport.
SIZE COMPARISON BUMPER TO BUMPER
Built for the adventurous outing, the Bronco comes in as the larger of the two SUVs. The Bronco Sport compact crossover is the anomaly here, as the Bronco is an average sized midsize SUV. The Bronco Sport measures 172.2 inches as a four-door compared to 189.4 inches on the Bronco. The two-door Bronco is more comparable to the Bronco Sport in size, just about a couple of inches longer. If you don't have too much space in your garage, it may be better to go with one of the smaller frames.
THE POWER OF THE 2023 BRONCO
If it's sheer power you're looking for, you need not look any further than the Bronco. The Bronco Sport is built to get the job done while the Bronco goes above and beyond. The standard powertrain of the Bronco offers a 2.3-liter V4 turbocharged engine that gives 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. The drive is much more punchy and meant to quickly evade off-road obstacles and drive over the toughest terrain. The Sport on the other hand comes with a 1.5-liter V3 that produces 183 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque. You'll notice the smoothness of the Bronco Sport's drive is much more suitable to street drives and some light trails. That's not to say that the Sport is not capable, as it comes with another powertrain option of a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that takes it from 183 hp to 250. The option for an upgrade is available on the Bronco as well, kicking its horsepower up from 300 to 330 with a 2.7-liter V6 with 330 hp. By having the smaller engine and smaller size, the Bronco Sport does get the better fuel rating with an EPA estimate of up to 26 mpg while the Bronco gets a range of 17-21 mpg.
OFF-ROADING? BETTER TAKE THE BRONCO WITH YOU
Between the Bronco and the Bronco Sport, the Bronco has a clear advantage as an off-roading boss. It has better ground clearance, a more powerful engine, better approach and departure angles, and more options for off-roading tires. The Bronco has a more powerful four-wheel drive system compared to the less advanced all-wheel drive that the Bronco Sport offers. You can take the Bronco Sport off-road, but not as far off as the Bronco. The Bronco Sport is meant for paved drives more often than not. Not to mention, the Bronco can tow more than the Bronco Sport. The Bronco can tow up to 3,500 pounds while the Sport can manage 2,000 pounds.
OTHER FEATURES: A NEAR TIE
You're going to find your fair share of safety and entertainment features in either one of these cars, but a lot of it will come down to your needs. The Bronco is going to offer more off-road safety and assistance features such as its Trail Control, Rock Crawl Mode, and Automatic On-Demand Engagement features. All of these make off-roading a breeze. The Bronco Sport is more generalized with its features offering its GOAT Terrain Management system that is meant for all types of terrain, whereas the Bronco can specialize. Both the Bronco and the Sport come with 8-inch infotainment systems and are both smartphone compatible as well as the ability to include Ford's navigational system offerings for driver assistance and heightened on-road safety.
THE WINNER: BRONCO
If you're a new-time car-owner or plan on having a teen driver, then the benefits of owning a Bronco Sport may outweigh what the Bronco has to offer. It is the less expensive of the two vehicles after all. However, the Bronco is our recommendation if you need a great SUV that packs a punch on daily drives or off-road rails.