2027 Ford Bronco Sport vs Ford Explorer: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Bronco Sport — it leads our weighted scorecard 3.5–2 across 5 categories, winning on better 5-year value retention (52.9% vs 43.2%) and better fuel economy (27 mpg vs 23 mpg best EPA combined). Choose the Explorer if you want the most power (400 hp vs 250 hp).
Scorecard: Bronco Sport 3.5 pts · Explorer 2 pts across 5 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2027 Bronco Sport | 2027 Explorer | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $32,190 | — | No data |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | — | 0.92 | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 52.9% | 43.2% | Bronco Sport |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 27 mpg | 23 mpg | Bronco Sport |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 250 hp | 400 hp | Explorer |
| Max towing (1) | 2,700 lb | 5,000 lb | Explorer |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 32.5 cu ft | — | No data |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | — | 7% off MSRP | No data |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 21 | 34 | Bronco Sport |
| Weighted points | 3.5 | 2 | Bronco Sport |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the Bronco Sport — 27 mpg vs 23 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the Bronco Sport — 52.9% vs 43.2% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: the Explorer — 5,000 lb vs 2,700 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
A current starting MSRP isn't on file for both models. Verified Explorer buyers paid a median 7% off MSRP across 8 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 12.6% off. Used, the median asking price is $25,175 for the Bronco Sport and $24,001 for the Explorer (all model years, US dealer listings).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- Bronco Sport: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Explorer: 0.92 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 25th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: Bronco Sport 21, Explorer 34.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Bronco Sport 2023 (caution), 2024 (solid), 2025 (solid) · Explorer 2016 (avoid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2027 Bronco Sport | 2027 Explorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $32,190 | — |
| Top-trim MSRP | $37,255 | — |
| Horsepower | 180–250 hp | 300–400 hp |
| Max torque | 280 lb-ft | 415 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 23–27 mpg | 19–23 mpg |
| Max towing | 2,700 lb | 5,000 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | — / 5 | — / 7 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 32.5 cu ft | — |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) Bronco Sport lists for a median $20,067 — 52.9% of today's median new price of $37,928. A 5-year-old (2021) Explorer lists for a median $23,237 — 43.2% of today's median new price of $53,756.
Shop both
- See 2,129 new 2027 Ford Bronco Sports for sale →Median listed price $37,475 · updated Nov 7, 2026
- See 41,369 new 2027 Ford Explorers for sale →Median listed price $50,563 · updated Nov 7, 2026
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Ford Bronco Sport
More on the Ford Explorer
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Bronco Sport better than the Explorer?
On our data, yes. Our pick: the Bronco Sport — it leads our weighted scorecard 3.5–2 across 5 categories, winning on better 5-year value retention (52.9% vs 43.2%) and better fuel economy (27 mpg vs 23 mpg best EPA combined). Choose the Explorer if you want the most power (400 hp vs 250 hp).
Which is more reliable, the Bronco Sport or the Explorer?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet. NHTSA lists 21 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 Bronco Sport and 34 for the Explorer.
Which holds its value better, the Bronco Sport or the Explorer?
The Bronco Sport: a 5-year-old example lists for 52.9% of the new price, versus 43.2% for the Explorer, based on median used asking prices against today's median new price.
Which is cheaper, the Bronco Sport or the Explorer?
We don't have a current starting MSRP for both models.
Which has better gas mileage, the Bronco Sport or the Explorer?
The Bronco Sport: up to 27 mpg combined vs 23 mpg for the Explorer (best EPA rating across each lineup).
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2027 Ford Bronco Sport vs Ford Explorer: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/ford-bronco-sport-vs-ford-explorer, updated November 8, 2026.