Park a 2026 Ford Bronco ® next to a Bronco Sport ® and the family resemblance is obvious. Start looking at the hardware and the relationship gets more interesting. Both come standard with 4x4 and G.O.A.T. Modes®, but Bronco Sport is a compact, 5-passenger SUV with independent suspension and an 8-speed automatic. Bronco is a body-on-frame off-roader available with 2 or 4 doors, removable body panels, locking differentials, big tires, and even a manual transmission. Bronco Sport Wins When Space Gets Tight At roughly 173 inches long, Bronco Sport is compact enough to fit easily into suburban life while retaining enough cargo room for camping equipment, bikes, or weekend gear. Models with the 1.5L EcoBoost® provide up to 32.5 cu. ft. behind the second row and 65.2 cu. ft. with it folded. Bronco dimensions depend on body style. The 2-door seats 4 and provides up to 52.0 cu. ft. behind the front seats, while the 4-door seats 5 and offers considerably greater capacity. A 4-door hardtop reaches 77.6 cu. ft. of maximum cargo room, while the soft top stretches that to 83.0 cu. ft. Bronco gives you more room at the upper end, but Bronco Sport asks for less real estate everywhere you take it. Bronco Sport Badlands® Packs Serious Hardware into a Small SUV Every Bronco Sport comes with 4x4 and a Terrain Management System™ with G.O.A.T. Modes®. Most versions use a 1.5L EcoBoost® 3-cylinder producing 180 hp and 200 lbs. ft. of torque, but Badlands® is where the spec sheet gets entertaining. Its 2.0L EcoBoost® 4-cylinder produces 250 hp and 280 lbs. ft. of torque, while Advanced 4x4 adds a twin-clutch rear drive unit capable of directing torque across the rear axle. HOSS 2.0 suspension, metal bash plates, all-terrain tires, Trail Control™, and 7 G.O.A.T. Modes® complete the package. That's genuine trail equipment packed into a compact crossover architecture, making Badlands® far more than a Bronco Sport with tougher-looking trim. Full-Size Bronco Brings the Heavy Off-Road Toolbox Bronco begins from a more specialized foundation. The standard 2.3L EcoBoost® 4-cylinder produces up to 300 hp and 325 lbs. ft. of torque, while the available 2.7L EcoBoost® V6 raises output to 330 hp and 415 lbs. ft. of torque. Then there's Bronco Raptor®, whose 3.0L EcoBoost® V6 generates 418 hp and 440 lbs. ft. of torque because apparently 330 hp wasn't causing enough trouble. Select Bronco configurations add front and rear electronic-locking differentials, a front stabilizer-bar disconnect, 35-inch tires, and high-clearance suspension. The available 7-speed manual with the 2.3L engine gives drivers direct control over gear selection, while a 10-speed automatic is offered elsewhere in the lineup. Removable doors and roof configurations complete the transformation from SUV into something approaching a very large outdoor toy. The Smaller Bronco Gets the Bigger Screen Both models use SYNC® 4 with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility, although there's a mildly amusing reversal in screen size. Bronco Sport gets a 13.2-inch center touchscreen, while Bronco uses a standard 12-inch display. Bronco Sport Badlands® also includes a 360-Degree Camera with Trail View and Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist 2.0. Bronco offers its own trail-camera and driver-assistance technology depending on trim and package. Screens are nice, but off pavement the cameras earn their keep by showing obstacles that disappear beneath the hood line. Bronco Sport or Bronco Comes Down to the Trail Bronco Sport is the easier vehicle to live with when most miles happen on pavement and weekend exploration doesn't involve extreme terrain. Badlands® makes a strong case for itself with Advanced 4x4, a twin-clutch rear drive unit, all-terrain tires, HOSS 2.0 suspension, and underbody protection. Bronco starts farther along the off-road spectrum and keeps going, offering greater engine output, locking differentials, a disconnecting front stabilizer bar, 35-inch tires, removable body panels, and a manual-transmission option. One is a compact SUV engineered to be impressively capable off pavement. The other was designed around the idea that pavement might be optional. Compare Bronco and Bronco Sport at Gerald Ford North Aurora, IL, drivers can visit Gerald Ford to browse new Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport inventory, compare Badlands® and other off-road configurations, explore available 4x4 hardware and packages, review financing options, value a trade-in, or schedule a test drive online now. If your weekends involve little more than snowy roads and a gravel trailhead, Bronco Sport may supply all the capability you need. If 35-inch tires, locking differentials, and removable doors sound less like excess and more like a shopping list, Bronco is playing an entirely different game.
