Which is your off-road spirit animal — the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport or 2025 Ford Bronco? Our comparison guide is here to help you understand how these SUVs differ. By the end, you’ll know which model can handle your outdoor adventures, Ford’s all-wheel-drive compact crossover or its four-wheel-drive midsize SUV!
Key Takeaways
- Compared to the Bronco (from $38,995*), the smaller Bronco Sport (from $30,995*) saves you a healthy stack of bills.
- These SUVs have a lot of comfort and tech features in common, but the Bronco Sport comes standard with more of them!
- Both models are powerful segment options, but, with up to 418 horses, the full-size Bronco delivers the strongest ride!
- As a body-on-frame SUV, the Bronco can’t help but deliver stronger off-roading capabilities than the unibody Bronco Sport.
Price Tag
Here at Brighton Ford, we run into plenty of people asking themselves, “Should I get the Bronco Sport or the full-size Bronco?” If that’s you, price is a great place to start. The Bronco Sport, a small, crossover-style SUV, delivers sporty capabilities starting at $30,995*. Ford’s iconic midsize SUV — the bigger, stronger Bronco — starts at $38,995*. For especially intrepid explorers, the Bronco makes up for the price difference by giving you the ability to travel further into the wild!
*Price as of 6/5/25.
Style, Comfort, and Technology
In spite of its lower price, the Bronco Sport is loaded with the most comfort and convenience features. This compact SUV keeps you comfy with automatic climate control and soft, stain-resistant cloth upholstery. And thanks to an update for 2025, every Bronco Sport now treats you to an expansive, 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and 13.2-inch SYNC 4 infotainment interface. Wireless smartphone charging and satellite radio are also standard! Every Bronco Sport trim helps you navigate Colorado’s rolling highways with the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ advanced suite of safety aids, which includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, and evasive steering assistance.
By comparison, the Bronco Base trim model is more rough-and-ready. That’s not a bad thing, especially for drivers who want a rugged ride at a great price. The Bronco’s standard lineup does include a few niceties, including SYNC 4 infotainment, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a 12-inch central touchscreen. And just like the compact Bronco Sport, the midsize Bronco offers a wide range of upgrades on its higher trim models, including leather-trimmed seats and adaptive cruise control.
Engine Options
Both the compact Bronco Sport and midsize Bronco come to play, but each model is in a class of its own. Depending on trim model, the smaller Bronco Sport is available with your choice of two peppy engine options. All-wheel drive is standard, making it possible to explore popular off-road trails. This performance gear comes in handy all winter long, too, helping you maintain control on slippery pavement.
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Powertrain Options
- Big Bend, Heritage, Free Wheeling, Outer Banks: Turbocharged 1.5L three-cylinder engine (181 hp, 190 lb-ft of torque)
- Badlands: Turbo 2.0L four-cylinder engine (250 hp, 277 lb-ft) (Badlands only)
- Eight-speed automatic transmission
- All-wheel drive
For 2025, the Bronco’s three engine options are also sorted according to trim model. All Bronco engines deliver more power than the Bronco Sport can provide, taking off-roading capabilities to the next level. Better still, every Bronco treats you to true four-wheel drive, helping you traverse boulder fields and steep inclines in style. And only the Bronco is available with a manual transmission, which isn’t merely fun to drive — it helps you tackle off-road obstacles with enhanced precision!
2025 Ford Bronco Powertrain Options
- Standard 2.3L turbocharged four-cylinder engine (300 horsepower, 325 lb-ft of torque)
- Optional 2.7L turbo V6 (330 hp, 415 lb-ft)
- Raptor-specific 3.0L turbo V6 (418 horsepower, 440 lb-ft of torque)
- Seven-speed manual transmission
- Optional 10-speed automatic transmission
- Four-wheel drive
Off-Road Adventure
As you may have noticed, Bronco Sport, a compact, car-based crossover, isn’t quite as sturdy as the midsize, truck-based Bronco. Still, the Bronco Sport feels at home on most trails, and it’s also available with plenty of upgrades. For instance, the new Sasquatch package takes your adventures up a notch, with features that include all-terrain tires and enhanced all-wheel drive. Around town, the Bronco Sport’s car-style platform makes it easy to handle, in addition to providing the most comfortable cruise!
Not only does the bigger Bronco deliver more power, but it’s also available with the most incredible upgrades. For instance, the Bronco offers four versions of its off-road-tuned suspension, and moving up the list means you can travel through the wilderness at higher and higher speeds! And the top-of-the-line Bronco Raptor helps you charge through the mountains with exclusive upgrades, including Fox Live Valve 3.1 internal bypass semi-active dampers and 37-inch all-terrain tires.
Choose Your Bronco
In the end, choosing between these rugged SUVs comes down to how far you plan to venture into the wilderness! The Bronco Sport hits the trail with plenty of gusto, and it’s a comfy commuter during the week. Meanwhile, the Bronco can travel through extra-rugged terrain, making it the best choice for drivers who want to venture deep into the Rockies.
Ready to leave the beaten path? Visit us at Brighton Ford to test-drive the 2025 Bronco Sport or Bronco (or both)!