
The Ford Bronco and Ford Bronco Sport may share a name and some styling and features, but when you get down to the details, these are two very different vehicles. If you're trying to decide which of these Ford SUVs is the best choice for your Alabama adventures, here's a closer look at both. If you want to find out even more, come see us at Stivers Ford of Birmingham.
The Bronco and Bronco Sport offer a nostalgic look that's reminiscent of an older Ford SUV, but the Bronco Sport is smaller. Measurements from bumper to bumper for the two vehicles look like this:
The size difference behind the rear seats makes a big difference when it comes to cargo capacity. Here's how it stacks up:
The exterior styling of both SUVs incorporates the classic Bronco look with round headlights and blocky design elements. The Bronco's roof panels, doors, and body sides are all removable, providing an open-air riding experience. The Bronco Sport doesn't have these removable parts, but it still has styling inspired by its larger counterpart. The Bronco Sport's black trimmed fenders, roof rails, and available black roof, grille, and wheels add to its sporty look.
The Bronco has a more powerful engine lineup than the Bronco Sport. The base engine is a 2.3-liter turbo four-cylinder that puts out 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. It works with either a seven-speed manual transmission or a 10-speed automatic. A 2.7-liter V-6 with 330 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque is available.
The Bronco Sport gets power from a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. The Badlands trim uses a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both of these engines work with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive comes standard.
The performance differences are evident in these two SUVs' off-road capabilities. The Bronco has more ground clearance and is designed with better approach and departure angles to make it more off-road capable. It also offers more options, such as a high-performance suspension and a four-wheel-drive system to make it more capable of taking on rough terrain.
The Bronco Sport can handle some off-road terrain, but it doesn't have the same capabilities as the larger Bronco. The Bronco Sport has an independent front suspension and 8.8 inches of ground clearance.
Inside the Ford Bronco, you'll find two rows of seats covered in cloth upholstery in the Base trim. Moving up through the lineup adds features such as leather-trimmed seats, power-adjustable front seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter. The available Mid Package comes with dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and remote start.
The Bronco Sport lineup starts with the Big Bend. It has automatic climate control, stain-resistant cloth upholstery, and a rear fold-down center armrest with cupholders. The Convenience Package adds heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Outer Banks trim gets you leather upholstery and dual-zone automatic climate control.
The Bronco and Bronco Sport come well-equipped with technology. A 12-inch touch screen houses the infotainment system in the Bronco, and it also has a digital instrument cluster, while the Bronco Sport has a 13.2-inch touch screen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. You can find additional technology features in both models. In the Bronco, these include:
And in the Bronco Sport, you'll find:
Available features for the Bronco include a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system and a wireless charging pad. The Bronco Sport offers the same stereo system as an upgrade, along with HD Radio, navigation, and a household-style power outlet.
The Bronco and Bronco Sport come well equipped with safety features and advanced driver aids. The Bronco Sport stands out from the Bronco in this category by making the Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ bundle standard across the entire lineup. The Ford Bronco Sport includes:
The Bronco comes standard with:
The Pro-Pilot360 Assist+ bundle is available for the Bronco, but it doesn't come standard.
It'll cost you more to purchase a new Ford Bronco than a Ford Bronco Sport. Here are the starting MSRPs for the Ford Bronco trims:
And here's what you can expect to pay for the Ford Bronco Sport:
The average cost of ownership for the full-size Bronco is $85,000 for the first five years. This can vary depending on the trim level, the area where you live, and your driving habits.
The five-year cost of ownership for the Bronco Sport is between $44,000 and $59,000. This estimate includes depreciation, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and repairs.
Now that you know more about the dimensions, features, and capabilities of the Ford Bronco Sport vs. the Bronco, you can visit us at Stivers Ford of Birmingham and take a closer look. If you're still not sure which one is right for you, take each one out for a test drive and see how it feels behind the wheel. Our team is here to answer any questions you have about these SUVs and help you through the financing and purchasing process.
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