While they were unveiled together, the new Ford Bronco and Ford Bronco Sport are two very different animals when it comes to overall driving experience and what you can expect from each new SUV. At Stevens Jersey City Ford, we dove into each model to discover how they compare to one another, so we can help Jersey City and Newark drivers make an informed decision when it comes to which model is best for you.
The Ford Bronco is the larger, and more rugged of the two SUVs, but that makes sense considering it's body-on-frame build that throws back to the original SUV concept. Take a pickup truck frame, add a different body and some interior comforts, and you've got a family-friendly vehicle that is still prepared to take on the rugged off-road adventures that have always lived in your heart. In particular, the 2021 Ford Bronco is based on the recently reintroduced Ford Ranger pickup, a truck that is already making waves for its capability and quality.
Turning to the Ford Bronco Sport, this smaller SUV is based on the slightly softer Ford Escape platform. The unibody construction leads to a more comfortable, refined ride that is more suited to your daily commute and makes a cross-country road trip both accessible and enjoyable. Plus, it still has all-wheel drive capability and a ride height conducive to some light off roading, so you're free to embrace your ambitious side when the mood strikes.
Once again, raw power is on the side of the Ford Bronco, owing to the standard 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder turbo and optional 2.7-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 engine lineup. The former churns out 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, while the latter shoves 310 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque through the transmission to get things moving.
The baby Bronco will do well to keep up with its larger cousin, as the reduced horsepower numbers are compensated with the overall reduced weight of this more compact model. Even so, at 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque, the Bronco Sport delivers an impressive rush of acceleration when you put your foot down. Opting for the 2.0-liter EcoBoost four banger turns up the wick to 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, at which point you'll scarcely notice a difference in performance when compared to the larger Bronco SUV.
This is where the 2021 Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport most sharply diverge from one another. The Ford Bronco is all about allowing you to enjoy the open air, with hard and soft top options that are completely removable, along with removable doors for when you really want that open-air feeling. As such, the interior upholstery is made from a weatherproof vinyl and the floor coverings are made of a rubbery material, plus there is a drain in each floor panel to help dry out your cabin if you get caught in a sudden downpour with all of your panels stowed in the cargo area.
Meanwhile, Bronco Sport offers a traditional SUV experience thanks to the unibody design, and the doors will take a significant amount of sweat, a few wrenches, and probably a friend to remove, because they are meant to be permanent fixtures. The front and rear overhangs are shortened to make your off-road excursions easier to manage, but overall the Ford Bronco Sport presents a much more 'everyday' look and feel as you drive.
If you're as excited as we are to get behind the wheel of the new Ford Bronco and Ford Bronco Sport, make the trip from New York City or Elizabeth, NJ to visit Stevens Jersey City Ford today!