Many Ford fans highly anticipated the release of the Ford Bronco. After 44 years without new models of the Bronco, Ford re-entered the market, ready to fight.
Today, there are several trims of the Bronco and Bronco Sport. If you are struggling to choose between the two, read on.
What’s the difference between the Ford Bronco and the Bronco Sport?
The Bronco Sport is an upgraded version of the standard Ford Bronco. The Sport gets better gas mileage, has more power and torque, allowing you to tow larger loads, and is more streamlined than the base model. The base model Bronco is, however, much more affordable.
The first edition of Ford Broncos hit the road in 1966, marketed toward wild hearts. Ford Broncos function best off-road and adventuring.
From the 1966 Bronco Roadster to the present-day Broncos, Ford has aimed to prepare its customers for all road conditions.
In 1966, the Roadster cost $2,404.
As expected, there have been numerous price changes over time.
With new technology and inflation, the price of the 2022 Ford Broncos has increased by nearly $30,000.
However, the goal of these off-roading vehicles has not changed.
After the initial release of Broncos, the first Bronco Sport got released in 1970.
These had chrome exterior trims and wheel cov and as separate branding.
Ford Bronco vs. Bronco Sport: Basic Differences
While many of the specifics of the Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport models depend upon the trim of your choice, the basics are the same across all trims.
Appearance
Perhaps the most obvious difference when considering the Ford Bronco vs. Bronco Sport is the appearance.
While the Ford Bronco follows the chassis of the Ford Ranger pickup truck, the Bronco Sport follows the chassis of the Ford Escape crossover.
The latter can be considered a uni-body or a car-based SUV.
Thus, the Ford Bronco appears more rugged, while the Bronco Sport seems more practical.
Additionally, the Ford Bronco is more versatile in design.
There are three hard and soft roof design options, and the roof can be set as fully open, fully closed, or in between the two.
The doors are removable for those who wish to experience the outdoors as much as possible.
Built with adventure in mind, Ford designers knew that the car would become dirty quickly.
To combat this, the vinyl upholstery is waterproof and easy to clean, and there are optional rubber-like floor covers.
Plus, there are drains in the footwells for easy cleaning.
Although the roof and doors of the Bronco Sport cannot be removed, it still works well for off-roading.
The overhangs are shorter and the suspension is lifted compared to the Ford Escape to allow for adventures.
The Mechanics
When it comes to ride quality, your preference will play a key role.
The Ford Bronco was built to stand up to difficult conditions, with a front anti-roll bar disconnect device option and control-arm front suspension.
On the other hand, the Bronco Sport offers a smoother ride with a completely independent front strut and rear multilink suspension design.
The transmissions of the Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport are quite different.
The Ford Bronco has a Getrag 7MTI550 seven-speed manual gearbox.
This gearbox has a low gear that allows for intense rock crawling.
Customers may also choose a 10-speed automatic that was developed in combination with General Motors.
The Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport are both 4-wheel-drive trucks.
The former is an electric shift-on-the-fly unit, but customers can upgrade to electromechanical shifting.
The Ford Bronco also offers a G.O.A.T. mode that ‘goes over any terrain’ using settings such as:
- Eco
- Sport
- Slippery
- Sand
- Baja
- Mud
- Rock crawl
The Bronco Sport has two power takeoff units but lacks a low range or creeper transmission gear.
Engine
You can find a Ford Bronco with two or four doors.
Both can have a 7-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission.
The deciding factor here is the engine. 2.3L EcoBoost engines can use either transmission, while the 2.7L EcoBoost engines only offer a 10-speed automatic.
Some Ford Broncos are also available with 3.0L EcoBoost engines.
Two engines are available for the Bronco Sport.
The 1.5L EcoBoost uses a 1.5L Ti-VCT GTDI I-3 engine, and the 2.0L EcoBoost uses a 2.0L Ti-VCT GTDI I-4 engine.
Both have 8-speed automatic transmissions, but the 2.0L has SelectShift with Paddle shifters.
Horsepower
The horsepower provided will depend upon the type of engine and type of fuel.
All trims of the Ford Bronco with a 2.3L EcoBoost engine produce 275hp with regular fuel.
With premium fuel, however, they produce 300hp.
A 2.7L EcoBoost engine in a Ford Bronco will provide 315hp with regular fuel.
If you decide to use premium fuel, the horsepower will increase to 330hp.
The Ford Bronco Sport, on the other hand, may use a 1.5L EcoBoost engine or a 2.0L EcoBoost engine.
The 1.5L engine can provide 181@6,000rpm of horsepower with premium fuel. The 2.0L engine can produce 250@5,500rpm of horsepower with premium fuel
Torque
A 2.3L EcoBoost engine can produce 315 lb-ft of torque with regular fuel or 325 lb-ft with premium fuel.
With a 2.7L EcoBoost engine, the Bronco Big Bend can produce 410 lb-ft of torque with regular fuel or 415 lb-ft with premium fuel.
1.5L EcoBoost engines in Ford Bronco Sport Big Bends can provide 190 lb-ft@3,000rpm of torque, while 2.0L EcoBoost engines provide 277lb-ft@3,000rpm of torque.
Ford Bronco Big Bends can tow more weight than Bronco Sport Big Bends.
A two- or four-door Ford Bronco with a 2.3L or 2.7L EcoBoost can tow up to 3,500 lbs.
A 3.0L EcoBoost engine with four doors can tow up to 4,500 lbs.
Ford Bronco vs. Bronco Sport: Mileage
For the Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims, the mileage of the Ford Bronco is the same.
In the city, the Ford Bronco travels about 20 miles for each gallon.
On the highway, it travels 22 miles to the gallon. Combined, it can travel 21 miles on one gallon.
The Ford Bronco Badlands receives fewer miles to the gallon compared to the other trims.
The Badlands gets 18 MPG in the city, 17 MPG on the highway, and 17 MPG combined.
The mileage of all trims of the Ford Bronco Sport with a 1.5L EcoBoost engine is also identical.
The mileage in the city is 25 MPG.
On the highway, it is 28 MPG. If you are driving under both conditions, you will get about 26 MPG.
Any Ford Bronco Sport with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine will drive 21 miles to the gallon in the city. On the highway, these Broncos get 26 MPG.
When combined, the mileage drops to 23 MPG.
The fuel tank capacities are as follows:
- Ford Bronco all trims (two-door): 16.9 gallons
- Ford Bronco all trims (four-door): 20.8 gallons
- Ford Bronco Sport all trims: 16 gallons
The Ford Bronco requires regular unleaded fuel, but premium fuel provides more horsepower and torque.
The Bronco Sport also requires regular unleaded fuel, but the premium is recommended for 2.0L EcoBoost engines.
Ford Bronco vs. Bronco Sport: Dimensions
The dimensions of Ford Broncos and Ford Bronco Sports depend mostly on the number of doors.
A two-door Ford Bronco is 173.7 inches long by 71.9 inches tall. The width without mirrors is 75.9 inches, and the width with mirrors is 86.2 inches.
The wheelbase is 100.4 inches.
The larger, four-door Ford Bronco is 189.4 inches long by 73 inches tall.
The width without mirrors is 75.9 inches, while the width with mirrors is 86.2 inches.
The wheelbase is longer than its two-door counterpart, measuring 116.1 inches.
The Ford Bronco Sport is 172.2 inches long. Without mirrors, it is 74.3 inches wide.
With mirrors, it is 82.2 inches wide.
The wheelbase is 105.1 inches. A Bronco Sport with a 1.5L EcoBoost engine is 70.2 inches tall, while a Bronco Sport with a 2.0L engine is 71.4 inches tall.
Interior dimensions are listed below.
| Interior Dimensions in inches | Ford Bronco Sport (all trims) |
| Head Room: First Row w/ Moon Roof | 39.1 |
| Head Room: First Row w/o Moon Roof | 41.5 |
| Head Room: Second Row w/ Moon Roof | 41.7 |
| Head Room: Second Row w/o Moon Roof | 41.7 |
| Leg Room: Maximum First Row | 42.4 |
| Leg Room: Second Row | 36.9 |
| Hip Room: First Row | 55.2 |
| Hip Room: Second Row | 53.4 |
| Shoulder Room: First Row | 57.3 |
| Shoulder Room: Second Row | 55.6 |
| Interior Dimensions in inches | Ford Bronco Two-Door (all trims) | Ford Bronco Four-Door (all trims) |
| Head Room: First Row w/ Hard Top | 41 | 40.8 |
| Head Room: First Row w/ Soft Top | N/A | 43.3 |
| Head Room: Second Row w/ Hard Top | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Head Room: Second Row w/ Soft Top | N/A | 41.1 |
| Leg Room: Maximum First Row | 43.1 | 43.1 |
| Leg Room: Second Row | 35.7 | 36.3 |
| Hip Room: First Row | 56.3 | 55.9 |
| Hip Room: Second Row | 43.3 | 54.8 |
| Shoulder Room: First Row | 57.1 | 57.1 |
| Shoulder Room: Second Row | 51.8 | 56.5 |
Differences by Model
The 4 trims shared by the Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport are:
- Base
- Big Bend
- Outer Banks
- Badlands
We will analyze each one in-depth. Note that there are price changes within each trim based on the options you choose.
Ford Bronco vs. Bronco Sport: Base
The base model of these Ford truck-based SUVs is the least expensive and does not include add-on features.
The Ford Bronco base model starts at $30,800 for two-door vehicles. The Ford Bronco Base Four-Door is $34,700.
If you are hoping to keep a budget under $30,000, the Bronco Sport is worth considering. Its base model is $28,265.
Ford Bronco vs. Bronco Sport: Big Bend
The Big Bend trim is one level up from the base trim we previously discussed. The Ford Bronco Big Bend starts at $35,285 if you buy a two-door vehicle.
For a four-door Ford Bronco Big Bend, the price is $37,380. Meanwhile, the Bronco Sport Big Bend starts at $29,980.
Ford Bronco vs. Bronco Sport: Outer Banks
The next highest trim is Outer Banks. The two-door Ford Bronco Outer Banks starts at $40,855. The four-door version, however, is $42,950.
The Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks starts at $33,900.
Ford Bronco vs. Bronco Sport: Badlands
The Badlands trim is the most expensive trim shared by the Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport.
The two-door Ford Bronco Badlands starts at $44,495, and a four-door Ford Bronco Badlands costs $46,590.
The Ford Bronco Sport Badlands starts at $36,590.
Other Ford Bronco Trims
If you have decided to purchase a Ford Bronco rather than a Ford Bronco Sport, you have a few additional options.
These include:
- Ford Bronco Black Diamond (two-door): $37,950
- Ford Bronco Black Diamond (four-door): $40,045
- Ford Bronco Wildtrak (two-door): $49,780
- Ford Bronco Wildtrak (four-door): $51,225
- Ford Bronco Everglades (four-door): $53,000
Ford Warranty
The Ford Bronco is under warranty for three years or 36,000 miles.
The drivetrain warranty lasts for five years and 60,000 miles.
There is also a rust warranty for five years with an unlimited number of miles.
The roadside warranty for three years and 36,000 miles is also very beneficial.
Final Thoughts
There are several factors to consider when discussing the Ford Bronco vs. Bronco Sport. If budget plays a big role for you, the Bronco Sport is more affordable across all trims.
Additionally, the Bronco Sport gets better gas mileage, which will save you money down the road.
For those looking for more power, however, the Ford Bronco is the way to go.
With increased horsepower and torque, the Ford Bronco is faster and strong enough to tow larger loads.
The appearance of the two trucks is also noticeably different.
While the Bronco Sport appears more practical and is similar to an SUV, the Ford Bronco resembles a Jeep Wrangler and screams adventure.
Regardless of the decision you make, you can rest assured that your Bronco will be built for off-roading and reliability.
