Ford Bronco vs. Bronco Sport: What’s the Difference?

Two Fords wear the Bronco badge, and they are built for very different drivers. The Ford Bronco vs. Bronco Sport question really comes down to how far off the pavement you plan to go and how you use your SUV the rest of the week. The Bronco is a body-on-frame 4×4 with removable doors and a removable top. The Bronco Sport is a unibody SUV with standard 4×4 and an easygoing daily personality. Here is how they compare, using Ford’s own numbers, so you can visit Palm Springs Motors knowing which one fits you.

The Bronco Raptor sits at the top of the Bronco lineup with a twin-turbo 3.0L EcoBoost V6 and 13.1 inches of ground clearance. Image: Ford

How Each Bronco Is Built

The biggest difference is under the skin. The Bronco rides on a body-on-frame chassis with a fully boxed, high-strength steel frame and seven cross members. That is a traditional truck-style design made to handle rough terrain. You can pick a 2-door that seats four or a 4-door that seats five.

The Bronco Sport uses unibody construction, where the body and frame are one structure, like most crossovers. It is a five-door SUV that seats up to five. That design gives it a more car-like feel on the road, which you will notice on a daily commute down Highway 111 or a quick run to Desert Hot Springs.

Both come standard with 4×4, but the hardware differs. Every Bronco uses a two-speed transfer case, either the part-time electronic shift-on-the-fly system or the Advanced 4×4 System with on-demand engagement. That gives you a low range for slow, controlled crawling.

Ford Bronco vs. Bronco Sport: Engines, Power and Specs

The Bronco starts with a 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder making 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. It is the only Bronco engine offered with the 7-speed manual (six speeds plus a crawler gear), and a 10-speed automatic is also available. Step up to the available twin-turbo 2.7L EcoBoost V6 and you get 330 horsepower and 415 lb-ft. The Bronco Raptor uses a twin-turbo 3.0L EcoBoost V6 rated at 418 horsepower and 440 lb-ft.

The Bronco Sport keeps things simpler. The Big Bend, Heritage and Outer Banks trims use a 1.5L EcoBoost with 180 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque, and Ford rates that engine at up to 25 mpg city, 30 mpg highway and 27 mpg combined. The Badlands trim gets a standard 2.0L EcoBoost with 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft.

The Bronco Sport Badlands adds a 2.0L EcoBoost engine, Advanced 4×4 and seven G.O.A.T. Modes. Image: Ford

Off-Road Capability: G.O.A.T. Modes, Badlands and Raptor

Both SUVs use G.O.A.T. Modes (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain), which tune the vehicle for the surface under your tires.

Bronco Sport Badlands

Every Bronco Sport comes with five modes: Normal, ECO, Sport, Slippery and Off-Road. The Badlands adds Rock Crawl and Rally, plus an Advanced 4×4 system with a twin-clutch rear drive unit. An available 360-Degree Camera with Trail View turns on in Off-Road and Rally modes. With available all-terrain tires, the Bronco Sport reaches 8.8 inches of ground clearance.

Bronco Badlands and Raptor

The Bronco offers up to seven G.O.A.T. Modes, with the full set on Badlands, Stroppe Edition and Raptor. The available Sasquatch Package adds electronic-locking front and rear axles and 35-inch tires. At the top sits the Raptor, with HOSS 4.0 suspension and FOX Live Valve dampers, 13.1 inches of ground clearance and up to 37 inches of water fording.

If your weekends lead to the unpaved roads around Joshua Tree or toward Box Canyon Road and the Mecca Hills, be honest about how rough those routes get. For graded dirt, a Bronco Sport may be all you need. Rocky, technical terrain is where the Bronco’s frame, low range and locking axles earn their keep.

Open Air, Cargo and Daily Life in the Desert

Only the Bronco lets you take the doors off, and Ford calls them class-exclusive removable doors. The 2-door comes with a hard top as standard, the 4-door comes with a soft top, and the top comes off on both. On a cool spring morning in Palm Springs, that open-air feel is hard to beat. In the summer heat, you will likely keep the roof on and the air conditioning running.

For cargo, the Bronco Sport holds 32.5 cubic feet behind the second row with the 1.5L engine. The Bronco 4-door hard top offers 35.6 cubic feet behind the second row, while the 2-door has 20.6. If you load up for errands in Rancho Mirage, compare those numbers to the gear you actually carry.

Choose the Bronco if you

• Want to take the doors and roof off
• Plan on rocky, technical trails where low range and locking axles help
• Need to tow up to 3,500 lbs, or up to 4,500 lbs with the Raptor
• Prefer a 7-speed manual transmission

Choose the Bronco Sport if you

• Drive mostly on pavement with the occasional dirt road
• Want standard 4×4 in a crossover-style unibody SUV
• Care about fuel economy (up to 27 mpg combined with the 1.5L)
• Want five seats and a usable cargo area for everyday life

Comparing budgets too? Our auto finance center walks you through your options, and you can estimate your trade-in value online before you visit. You can also browse our pre-owned inventory to see what is available right now.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a Ford Bronco and a Bronco Sport?

The Bronco is a body-on-frame 4×4 with removable doors and roof, a two-speed transfer case and engines up to 418 horsepower. The Bronco Sport is a unibody SUV with standard 4×4, seating for up to five and engines up to 250 horsepower.

Is the Bronco Sport a real 4×4?

Yes. Ford lists 4×4 as standard on every Bronco Sport. The Badlands trim goes further with an Advanced 4×4 system that uses a twin-clutch rear drive unit, plus Rock Crawl and Rally G.O.A.T. Modes. It does not use the Bronco’s body-on-frame design, so the Bronco remains the stronger choice for the toughest terrain.

Can you take the doors off a Bronco Sport?

No. Removable doors and a removable roof are Bronco features. The Bronco 2-door comes standard with a hard top, the 4-door comes standard with a soft top, and both have removable doors. If open-air driving matters to you, the Bronco is the one to shop.

How much can a Ford Bronco Sport tow?

With the 1.5L engine and the Class II Trailer Tow Package, the Bronco Sport tows up to 2,200 lbs. The Badlands with the 2.0L engine tows up to 2,700 lbs when properly equipped.

Can I test drive a Bronco or Bronco Sport at Palm Springs Motors?

Yes. Palm Springs Motors is at 69200 Highway 111, Cathedral City, CA 92234. Call our sales team at 760-558-5189 to check which Bronco and Bronco Sport models are on the lot and set up a time to drive them back to back.

Find Your Bronco in Cathedral City

The right Bronco depends on your roads, your cargo and how much open air you want. If rocky trails and removable doors sound like you, start with the Bronco. If you want a capable daily driver with standard 4×4, the Bronco Sport makes a strong case. Browse our new Ford inventory to see current Bronco and Bronco Sport availability, then contact our team to set up a test drive. We are happy to help you compare them in person.