2027 Ford Bronco Sport vs Subaru Forester: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Forester — it leads our weighted scorecard 7.5–1 across 7 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($29,995 vs $32,190) and better 5-year value retention (55.6% vs 52.9%). Choose the Bronco Sport if you want the most power (250 hp vs 194 hp).
Scorecard: Bronco Sport 1 pts · Forester 7.5 pts across 7 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2027 Bronco Sport | 2027 Forester | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $32,190 | $29,995 | Forester |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | — | 0.53 | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 52.9% | 55.6% | Forester |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 27 mpg | 35 mpg | Forester |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 250 hp | 194 hp | Bronco Sport |
| Max towing (1) | 2,700 lb | 3,500 lb | Forester |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 32.5 cu ft | 35.4 cu ft | Forester |
| Standard seats (1) | — | 5 | No data |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | — | 7.3% off MSRP | No data |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 21 | 5 | Forester |
| Weighted points | 1 | 7.5 | Forester |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the Forester — 35 mpg vs 27 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: the Forester — 35.4 cu ft vs 32.5 cu ft (cargo behind rear seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Forester — $29,995 vs $32,190 (starting MSRP). Used, the median asking price is $25,175 for the Bronco Sport vs $23,085 for the Forester.
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the Forester — 55.6% vs 52.9% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: the Forester — 3,500 lb vs 2,700 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The Bronco Sport starts at $32,190 and tops out at $37,255; the Forester runs $29,995 to $41,545 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified Forester buyers paid a median 7.3% off MSRP across 5 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 9% off. Used, the median asking price is $25,175 for the Bronco Sport and $23,085 for the Forester (all model years, US dealer listings).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- Bronco Sport: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Forester: 0.53 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 52th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: Bronco Sport 21, Forester 5.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Bronco Sport 2023 (caution), 2024 (solid), 2025 (solid) · Forester 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 Forester | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $32,190 | $29,995 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $37,255 | $41,545 |
| Horsepower | 180–250 hp | 180–194 hp |
| Max torque | 280 lb-ft | 178 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 23–27 mpg | 26–35 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | 2,700 lb | 3,500 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | — / 5 | 5 / 5 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 32.5 cu ft | 35.4 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Size
| Bronco Sport | Forester | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 173.1 in | 183.3 in |
| Width | 74.3 in | 72 in |
| Height | 70.4 in | 68.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 105.1 in | 105.1 in |
| Ground clearance | — | 8.7 in |
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) Forester lists for a median $22,000 — 55.6% of today's median new price of $39,595.
Shop both
- See 2,129 new 2027 Ford Bronco Sports for sale →Median listed price $37,475 · updated Nov 7, 2026
- See new 2027 Subaru Foresters for sale →
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 Subaru Forester
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Bronco Sport better than the Forester?
On our data, no — the Forester comes out ahead. Our pick: the Forester — it leads our weighted scorecard 7.5–1 across 7 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($29,995 vs $32,190) and better 5-year value retention (55.6% vs 52.9%). Choose the Bronco Sport if you want the most power (250 hp vs 194 hp).
Which is more reliable, the Bronco Sport or the Forester?
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 5 for the Forester.
Which holds its value better, the Bronco Sport or the Forester?
The Forester: a 5-year-old example lists for 55.6% of the new price, versus 52.9% for the Bronco Sport, based on median used asking prices against today's median new price.
Which is cheaper, the Bronco Sport or the Forester?
The Forester starts lower: $29,995 vs $32,190 starting MSRP (before destination).
Which has better gas mileage, the Bronco Sport or the Forester?
The Forester: up to 35 mpg combined vs 27 mpg for the Bronco Sport (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 Subaru Forester: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/ford-bronco-sport-vs-subaru-forester, updated November 8, 2026.