Compare the2022 Honda CR-VVS 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The CR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Bronco Sport’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The CR-V’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CR-V and the Bronco Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CR-V the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Bronco Sport has not been tested, yet.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the CR-V’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Bronco Sport’s camshafts. If the Bronco Sport’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CR-V’s reliability 43 points higher than the Bronco Sport.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 17 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The CR-V’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (190 vs. 181) than the Bronco Sport’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Honda CR-V is faster than the Ford Bronco Sport turbo 3 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V gets better mileage than the Bronco Sport:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda CR-V uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Bronco Sport Badlands/First Edition requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The CR-V has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the CR-V’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Bronco Sport:

The CR-V stops shorter than the Bronco Sport:

For better traction, the CR-V has larger tires than the Bronco Sport (235/65R17 vs. 225/65R17).

The CR-V Touring’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Bronco Sport’s optional 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CR-V Touring has standard 19-inch wheels. The Bronco Sport’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The CR-V Touring handles at .85 G’s, while the Bronco Sport Outer Banks pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CR-V EX-L AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Bronco Sport Badlands (27.5 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CR-V has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Bronco Sport Base/Big Bend (8.2 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the CR-V to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

For excellent aerodynamics, the CR-V has standard flush composite headlights. The Bronco Sport has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The CR-V uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The CR-V has .6 inches more front shoulder room and 3.5 inches more rear legroom than the Bronco Sport.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CR-V’s rear seats recline. The Bronco Sport’s rear seats don’t recline.

The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Bronco Sport with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 32.5 cubic feet). The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Bronco Sport with its rear seat folded (75.8 vs. 65.2 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CR-V’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the CR-V EX-L/Touring has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the CR-V Touring, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

When two different drivers share the CR-V EX-L/Touring, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer memory seats.

The CR-V EX-L/Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The CR-V’s standard driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Bronco Sport’s standard driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

If the windows are left open on the CR-V the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Bronco Sport can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CR-V has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

Consumer Reports rated the CR-V’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Bronco Sport’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The CR-V is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Honda CR-V has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The CR-V was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 20 years. The Bronco Sport has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

Motor Trend selected the CR-V as their 2018 Sport Utility of the Year. The Bronco Sport has never been chosen.