Ford Bronco Full-Size vs Bronco Sport
Ford Bronco Full-Size vs Bronco Sport
Posted on November 9, 2021
A lengthy wait made even longer by a global health crisis and supply chain issues finally resulted in Ford unveiling both the Ford Bronco and Ford Bronco Sport SUVs on the very same day. While it might seem confusing, these two SUVs do share some of the same stylistic qualities and design while offering very different capabilities.
But that is not a bad thing--the Bronco full-size SUV vs the Bronco Sport debate is not an either/or situation. They both have an appropriate place among drivers and their wants and needs.
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What's Different Between the Bronco full size and Bronco Sport?
There are more differences than similarities between the Bronco full-size SUV and the Bronco Sport, so it is important to analyze these differences to determine which vehicle works for each driver.
Chassis
The Bronco is based on the next-generation Ford Ranger pickup truck and is a body-on-frame truck-based traditional SUV. On the flip side, the Bronco Sport is what is typically described as a "car-based SUV," and it is based on the transverse-engine, FWD-based Ford Escape crossover SUV.
Suspension
The Bronco gets some serious off-road perks with a control-arm front suspension and an optional front anti-roll bar disconnect device. The rear features a live axle located by trailing arms, and locking front and rear differentials and substantial underbody armoring are available as well. Based on its chassis and suspension, it is easy to see that the Bronco full-size SUV is built for off-roading capability instead of daily driving around town.
The Bronco Sport continues to copy the Ford Escape with the same basic, fully independent front strut and rear multilink suspension design. The Bronco's unibody, or "car-based SUV," construction with this independent suspension delivers a smoother on-road driving experience than the full-size Bronco.
Size
The Bronco Sport has been appropriately nicknamed the "Baby Bronco" because it shares a similar look with the full-size Bronco but in a smaller form. The Bronco Sport is built on a 105.1-inch wheelbase, which slides in between the two- and four-door Broncos' 100.4-inch and 116-inch sizes. However, the Bronco Sport is smaller in length, height, and width compared to even the two-door full-size Bronco.
Powertrain
The Bronco offers more power to match its larger size, including two engine options. These are either a 2.3-litre turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that delivers 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque or a 2.7-litre twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 that delivers 310 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque.
Again, the Bronco Sport copies the popular Escape with the same two turbocharged gas engine options: a 1.5-litre EcoBoost three-cylinder (181 hp and 190 lb-ft) or a 2.0-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder (245 hp and 275 lb-ft).
Transmission
The full-size Bronco features a new-to-Ford Getrag 7MTI550 seven-speed manual gearbox that is perfect for off-road adventurers. It features a super-low "granny gear" first ratio for extreme rock crawling that cannot be found on any other vehicle. The Bronco can also be built with a 10-speed automatic, while the Bronco Sport again mimics the Ford Escape with the same eight-speed automatic transmission.
Bronco Full-Size vs Bronco Sport
It is easy to see that the full-size Bronco SUV is built for off-road play while the Bronco Sport is built for on-road driving with some light weekend adventuring thrown in.