Ford is transforming the decades-old Bronco nameplate into a range of models that will include crossovers, SUVs, and, if the rumors are accurate, at least one pickup. Only two have been unveiled so far: The 2021 Bronco and the 2021 Bronco Sport. While they share a name and some styling cues, they’re completely different vehicles.
The Bronco is the direct descendent of the original Bronco, which went out of production in 1996. The Bronco Sport is a smaller sibling that is essentially a successor to the 1980s-era Bronco II. Here’s how they compare.
Design
While the Bronco and the Bronco Sport share styling elements inspired by the first-generation Bronco of the 1960s, the similarities are superficial.
The truck-derived, body-on-frame Bronco is available in two- and four-door configurations, and both give users the ability to remove the roof and the doors, though the windshield doesn’t fold down. The Bronco Sport is a four-door, car-based crossover whose doors and roof aren’t designed to come off. Despite having four doors, the Bronco Sport is only about 1 inch shorter than the two-door Bronco, and it rides on a longer wheelbase. The four-door Bronco is longer overall than its two-door sibling and the Bronco Sport, and it has a longer wheelbase.
Ford hasn’t released full interior dimensions yet, but the Bronco four-door’s longer wheelbase should translate to more comfortable second-row seating. And, while Ford has said that two 27.5-inch mountain bikes can be stored in the back of the Bronco Sport, it hasn’t made any such claim for the standard Bronco.
Under the skin, the Bronco and Bronco Sport follow two different engineering philosophies. The Bronco has body-on-frame construction, commonly used for pickup trucks (the Bronco is actually based on Ford’s Ranger pickup) but abandoned long ago by passenger cars. That’s because, while body-on-frame vehicles are great for off-roading and towing, they’re much harder to tune for on-road ride and handling.
The Bronco Sport has unibody construction, where the body and frame are one piece, yielding greater structural rigidity. A stiffer structure provides more secure mounting points for the suspension, improving ride and handling. That’s why all new production cars sold in the United States are unibody, as are most crossovers and many SUVs (the Bronco Sport is based on the Ford Escape).
Tech
The Bronco and Bronco Sport use different generations of Ford infotainment systems. The Bronco is one of the first Ford models to get the new Sync 4 system, which boasts wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air updates, and more computing power. In addition, the Bronco’s navigation system comes with more than 1,000 off-road trail maps pre-loaded. An 8.0-inch touchscreen is standard, and a 12.0-inch screen is optional.
The Bronco Sport uses the older Sync 3 system. It comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but not the wireless versions. All trim levels get an 8.0-inch touchscreen. However, Ford has confirmed that the Bronco Sport will be available with a long list of driver aids, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automated lane centering, and lane-keep assist. Ford said the Bronco will get some driver-assist features from its Co-Pilot360 suite, but hasn’t offered any other details yet.
The Bronco and Bronco Sport both get Ford’s Terrain Management System, which includes driving modes for different surfaces. Ford calls them “G.O.A.T. modes,” short for “goes over any terrain,” and executive Donald Frey’s nickname for the original Bronco. Both models get Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Sand, Mud/Ruts, and Rock Crawl modes, while the Bronco also gets a Baja mode.
Another tech feature shared by both models is Trail Control, which acts as low-speed, off-road cruise control. The Bronco also gets Trail Turn Assist, which uses torque vectoring to narrow the turning radius, and an off-road one-pedal driving feature.
Specifications
The Bronco comes standard with a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 2.7-liter turbocharged V6, with 310hp and 400 lb.-ft., is optional. Transmission choices include a 7-speed manual and 10-speed automatic. The Bronco Sport’s base engine is a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder, with 181hp and 190 lb.-ft., while a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder, making 245hp and 275 lb.-ft., is optional. Both engines are coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Want a V8? You’re out luck, Ford won’t build one, but the aftermarket will step in to fill the void. Texas-based manufacturer notably announced plans to drop a supercharged, 750hp eight-cylinder in the full-size Bronco.
Both the Bronco and Bronco Sport get standard four-wheel drive, but they use different systems. The Bronco has an old-school setup with a two-speed transfer case and optional front and rear locking differentials. The Bronco Sport uses a pair of clutches on the rear differential to engage four-wheel drive, and simulate rear locking. That locking capability is important when off-roading because it ensures power is evenly split between the wheels for maximum traction.
Suspension setups are different as well. The Bronco has independent and solid-axle rear suspension, while the Bronco Sport has independent suspension at both the front and back. With its rear solid axle, the Bronco should outperform the Bronco Sport off-road, but the Sport will likely be better at tackling the daily commute. The Bronco is available with 35-inch tires, while the biggest tires available on the Bronco Sport are 29-inch units.
In terms of capability, the Bronco boasts 11.6 inches of maximum ground clearance and can wade through up to 33.5 inches of water, compared to 8.8 inches of ground clearance and maximum water fording of 23.6 inches for the Bronco Sport. The Bronco can tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped, compared to 2,200 pounds for the Bronco Sport.
Price
The Bronco starts at $29,995, but the top Wildtrak trim level is priced from $48,875. Ford is also offering a First Edition model priced at $59,305, but it was sold out almost immediately. The price range for the Bronco Sport isn’t as extreme. The base model starts at $26,660, while the top Badlands trim level starts at $32,660. Ford is also offering a Bronco Sport First Edition for the same base price as the Badlands model, with production limited to 2,000 units.
The 2021 Bronco and 2021 Bronco Sport can be reserved online with a $100 refundable deposit. The Bronco Sport is expected to arrive first, with the first vehicles scheduled to be delivered before the end of 2020. The Bronco two-door and four-door will follow in spring 2021, though buyers who don’t have a reservation may need to wait until 2022.
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