2026–27 Ford Bronco vs Ford Bronco Sport: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Bronco — it leads our weighted scorecard 4.5–4 across 7 categories, winning on better 5-year value retention (62.2% vs 52.9%) and more available power (418 hp vs 250 hp). Choose the Bronco Sport if the lower sticker matters most ($32,190 vs $41,295 to start).
Scorecard: Bronco 4.5 pts · Bronco Sport 4 pts across 7 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2026 Bronco | 2027 Bronco Sport | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $41,295 | $32,190 | Bronco Sport |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 62.2% | 52.9% | Bronco |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 20 mpg | 27 mpg | Bronco Sport |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 418 hp | 250 hp | Bronco |
| Max towing (1) | 4,500 lb | 2,700 lb | Bronco |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 38.3 cu ft | 32.5 cu ft | Bronco |
| Standard seats (1) | 4 | — | No data |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 10.5% off MSRP | — | No data |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 35 | 21 | Bronco Sport |
| Weighted points | 4.5 | 4 | Bronco |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the Bronco Sport — 27 mpg vs 20 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: the Bronco — 38.3 cu ft vs 32.5 cu ft (cargo behind rear seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Bronco Sport — $32,190 vs $41,295 (starting MSRP).
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the Bronco — 62.2% vs 52.9% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: the Bronco — 4,500 lb vs 2,700 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The Bronco starts at $41,295 and tops out at $80,990; the Bronco Sport runs $32,190 to $37,255 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified Bronco buyers paid a median 10.5% off MSRP across 6 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 11.9% off.
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- Bronco: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Bronco Sport: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: Bronco 35, Bronco Sport 21.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Bronco 2023 (avoid), 2024 (solid), 2025 (solid) · Bronco Sport 2023 (caution), 2024 (solid), 2025 (solid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2026 Bronco | 2027 Bronco Sport | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $41,295 | $32,190 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $80,990 | $37,255 |
| Horsepower | 300–418 hp | 180–250 hp |
| Max torque | 440 lb-ft | 280 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 15–20 mpg | 23–27 mpg |
| Max towing | 4,500 lb | 2,700 lb |
| Max payload | 1,417 lb | — |
| Seats (standard / max) | 4 / 5 | — / 5 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 38.3 cu ft | 32.5 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Size
| Bronco | Bronco Sport | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 189.4 in | 173.1 in |
| Width | 75.9 in | 74.3 in |
| Height | 73 in | 70.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 116.1 in | 105.1 in |
| Ground clearance | 8.4 in | — |
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) Bronco lists for a median $35,447 — 62.2% of today's median new price of $56,969. A 5-year-old (2021) Bronco Sport lists for a median $20,067 — 52.9% of today's median new price of $37,928.
Shop both
- See new 2026 Ford Broncos for sale →
- See 2,129 new 2027 Ford Bronco Sports for sale →Median listed price $37,475 · 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
More on the Ford Bronco Sport
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Bronco better than the Bronco Sport?
On our data, yes. Our pick: the Bronco — it leads our weighted scorecard 4.5–4 across 7 categories, winning on better 5-year value retention (62.2% vs 52.9%) and more available power (418 hp vs 250 hp). Choose the Bronco Sport if the lower sticker matters most ($32,190 vs $41,295 to start).
Which is more reliable, the Bronco or the Bronco Sport?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet. NHTSA lists 35 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 Bronco and 21 for the Bronco Sport.
Which holds its value better, the Bronco or the Bronco Sport?
The Bronco: a 5-year-old example lists for 62.2% 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 or the Bronco Sport?
The Bronco Sport starts lower: $32,190 vs $41,295 starting MSRP (before destination).
Which has better gas mileage, the Bronco or the Bronco Sport?
The Bronco Sport: up to 27 mpg combined vs 20 mpg for the Bronco (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, "2026–27 Ford Bronco vs Ford Bronco Sport: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/ford-bronco-vs-ford-bronco-sport, updated November 8, 2026.