2021 Ford Bronco Sport
Starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $32,199 CDN
Pros
• Relatively powerful engine choices
• Roomy interior
• Excellent towing capabilities
Cons
• No front-wheel-drive base trim equals higher base price
• AWD versions suffer from poor fuel economy
• Relatively heavy overall weight
2021 Ford Bronco Sport Highlights
Unlike the new 2021 Ford Bronco 2- and 4-door SUVs based on the Ford Ranger body-on-frame mid-size truck, the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is derived from the unibody Ford Escape compact SUV. Slightly smaller than the Escape but larger than the Ford EcoSport, the 4-door/5-passenger Bronco Sport offers two turbocharged engines. Prices start at $32,199 CDN with a 181-horsepower 1.5-litre 3-cylinder. The topline $40,1999 CDN Badlands trim gets a 250-horsepower 2.0-litre 4-cylinder. Full-time all-wheel-drive (AWD) with an 8-speed automatic transmission with lock mode comes standard across all Bronco Sport trims.
The Bronco Sport's upright body style allows the interior to be large and accommodating for this vehicle's size. Except for rear legroom, this creates more space for the passengers and cargo than the Jeep Compass. The Ford's interior design is a simple, clean layout that uses large, easy-to-reach physical buttons and knobs. There is a digital display between the two primary gauges in the instrument cluster and a touchscreen near the top of the dash, with all infotainment and climate controls below.
The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is hailed as a rugged, compact SUV. It can easily handle snowy roads and rocky mountain trails that would have caused most small SUVs to bail. It might be the “little Bronco,” but the Bronco Sport is a true off-roader. Stick to paved roads, though, and the Bronco Sport’s pliable suspension delivers a supple ride, along with noticeable body lean when cornering swiftly. Even so, the Bronco Sport tracks with great stability, both in a straight line and in corners.
2021 Jeep Compass
Starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $30,690 CDN
Pros
• Traditional Jeep off-road ability
• Numerous options and packages
• Available front-wheel-drive
Cons
• Only one engine choice
• Cramped interior space
• Limited towing capabilities
2021 Jeep Compass Highlights
Bigger than the Renegade and a bit smaller than the Cherokee, the 2021 Compass is a small Jeep with some actual off-road ability. Only one engine—a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine making 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque—is offered. Front-wheel-drive (FWD) versions start at $30,690 CDN and use a 6-speed automatic transmission. Starting at $33,190 CDN, AWD variants get a 9-speed automatic. The topline Trailhawk Elite trim starts at $41,185 CDN.
Inside the 4-door/5-passenger 2021 Jeep Compass cabin, physical controls are located logically, and the dash contains large round air vents. The seats are comfortable, and rear-seat passengers enjoy more legroom than found in the Ford Bronco Sport. The Compass also has some hidden design elements that will surprise and delight buyers, like the Loch Ness monster on the rear hatch glass and Morse code on the dead pedal spelling out: sand, snow, river, rocks.
The small Jeep delivers a competent driving experience, with enough suspension travel to soak up big bumps yet keep body roll under control through tight turns. The off-road-oriented Trailhawk trim sits higher than the regular Compass and has added features like protective skidplates, full-size spare tire, Crawl mode (that holds the transmission in first gear), and Jeep’s Active Drive Low with a 20:1 crawl ratio. Compared to the Bronco Sport, power and torque deficits limit the Compass’s maximum towing capacity to 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms), a rating that matches the Ford 1.5-litre engine’s rating but falls below the Bronco Sport 2.0’s 2,200-pound (998-kilogram) capacity.
Final Recommendation
The 2021 versions of the Ford Bronco Sport and Jeep Compass offer more off-pavement capabilities than what buyers will find in the typical small SUV. The Compass scores with buyers who may only need FWD, offers plenty of trim lines, and Jeep’s off-road vehicle reputation when opting for the Trailhawk trims.
However, the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport wins this comparison. Over the Jeep, the newest small SUV from Ford offers a pair of powerful and torquey engines, a bigger cabin for occupants and their gear, as well as the ability to tow more.
Specs |
2021 Ford Bronco Sport |
2021 Jeep Compass |
Engine(s) |
1.5-litre Turbocharged I3 2.0-litre Turbocharged I4 |
2.4-litre I4
|
Horsepower |
1.5T - 181 hp @ 6,000 rpm 2.0T - 250 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
180 hp @ 6,400 rpm
|
Torque |
1.5T - 190 hp @ 3,000 rpm 2.0T - 277 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm |
175 lb-ft @ 3,900 rpm
|
Transmission(s) |
8-speed automatic |
FWD - 6-speed automatic AWD - 8-speed automatic |
Fuel Economy |
1.5T AWD – 8.9 L/100 km (9.3 city, 8.3 hwy) 2.0T AWD – 10.1 L/100 km (11.1 city, 8.9 hwy) |
FWD -9.3 L/100 km (10.6 city, 7.6 hwy) AWD – 9.5 L/100 km (10.8 city, 7.8 hwy) |
Warranty |
3 years/60,000 km |
3 years/60,000 km |
Max Seating Capacity |
5 |
5 |
Curb Weight |
1,568-1,684 kg |
1,509 kg |
Wheelbase |
2,670 mm |
2,637 mm |
Overall Length |
4,387 mm |
4,394 mm |
Width |
1,887 mm |
1,875 mm |
Height |
1,814 mm |
1,641 mm |
Headroom, Front |
1,054 mm |
996 mm |
Headroom, Rear |
1,059 mm |
978 mm |
Legroom, Front |
1,077 mm |
1,062 mm |
Legroom, Rear |
937 mm |
973 mm |
Shoulder Room, Front |
1,455 mm |
1,440 mm |
Shoulder Room, Rear |
1,412 mm |
1,400 mm |
Cargo Volume Behind Rear Seats |
920 L |
765 L
|
Max. Towing Capacity |
1.5T - 2,000 lbs (907 kgs) 2.0T - 2,200 lbs (998 kgs) |
AWD – 2,000 lbs (907 kgs) |