Compare the2022 Ford Bronco SportVS 2021 Mazda CX-3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Bronco Sport have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Mazda CX-3 doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Bronco Sport are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Ford Bronco Sport has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The CX-3 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Bronco Sport has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Bronco Sport. But it costs extra on the CX-3.

The Bronco Sport’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 CX-3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Bronco Sport and the CX-3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available rear parking sensors.

The Ford Bronco Sport weighs 473 to 882 pounds more than the Mazda CX-3. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Bronco Sport is safer than the Mazda CX-3:

	Bronco Sport	CX-3
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	140	163
Neck Injury Risk	26%	27%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	334 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	153	157
Neck Injury Risk	37%	39%
Neck Stress	177 lbs.	198 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Bronco Sport is safer than the Mazda CX-3:

	Bronco Sport	CX-3
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	80	183
Abdominal Force	198 lbs.	199 lbs.
Hip Force	205 lbs.	334 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	144	241
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	85 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	255	287
Hip Force	512 lbs.	629 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Bronco Sport its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 116 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CX-3 is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

There are over 5 times as many Ford dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Bronco Sport’s warranty.

Reliability

The Bronco Sport has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

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 Bronco Sport’s reliability 12 points higher than the CX-3.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 14th in initial quality. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 23rd.

Engine

The Bronco Sport’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 33 more horsepower (181 vs. 148) and 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (190 vs. 146) than the CX-3’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Bronco Sport Badlands’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 102 more horsepower (250 vs. 148) and 131 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 146) than the CX-3’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Ford Bronco Sport turbo 3 cyl. is faster than the Mazda CX-3:

	Bronco Sport	CX-3
Zero to 30 MPH	3.3 sec	3.5 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.9 sec	9.6 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.3 sec	5.9 sec
Quarter Mile	16.9 sec	17.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85 MPH	82.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the Bronco Sport’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The CX-3 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Bronco Sport has 4.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-3 AWD’s standard fuel tank (16 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Bronco Sport has 3.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-3 FWD’s standard fuel tank (16 vs. 12.7 gallons).

The Bronco Sport has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Bronco Sport higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Mazda CX-3 (3 to 7). This means the Bronco Sport produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CX-3 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Bronco Sport, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-3.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Bronco Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-3:

	Bronco Sport	CX-3	CX-3 AWD
Front Rotors	12.1 inches	11 inches	11.6 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	11.1 inches	11.1 inches

The Bronco Sport stops much shorter than the CX-3:

	Bronco Sport	CX-3
70 to 0 MPH	163 feet	181 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	126 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Bronco Sport has larger standard tires than the CX-3 (225/65R17 vs. 215/60R16). The Bronco Sport’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-3 (235/65R17 vs. 215/60R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Bronco Sport has standard 17-inch wheels. Only 16-inch wheels are available on the CX-3. The Bronco Sport offers optional 18-inch wheels.

The Bronco Sport offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the CX-3; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Ford Bronco Sport has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda CX-3 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Bronco Sport has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CX-3’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Bronco Sport has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Bronco Sport flat and controlled during cornering. The CX-3’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Bronco Sport’s wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than on the CX-3 (105.1 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Bronco Sport is 3.4 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than on the CX-3.

For greater off-road capability the Bronco Sport Base/Big Bend has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-3 (7.8 vs. 6.1 inches), allowing the Bronco Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Bronco Sport’s minimum ground clearance is 2.7 inches higher than on the CX-3 (8.8 vs. 6.1 inches).

Chassis

The front grille of the Bronco Sport uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CX-3 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Bronco Sport Badlands is quieter than the CX-3 AWD:

	Bronco Sport	CX-3
At idle	38 dB	39 dB
Full-Throttle	73 dB	78 dB
70 MPH Cruising	69 dB	71 dB

Passenger Space

The Bronco Sport has 18.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-3 (105.7 vs. 87.6).

The Bronco Sport has 3.1 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, 2.9 inches more front hip room, 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, 4.5 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom, 4.4 inches more rear hip room and 5.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-3.

Cargo Capacity

The Bronco Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-3 with its rear seat up (32.5 vs. 17.8 cubic feet). The Bronco Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-3 with its rear seat folded (65.2 vs. 42.7 cubic feet).

An optional locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Bronco Sport. The CX-3 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Bronco Sport’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The CX-3’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Towing

The Bronco Sport Badlands offers up to a 2200 lbs. towing capacity. The CX-3 has no towing capacity.

Optional Trailer Sway Control on the Bronco Sport uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The CX-3 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The Bronco Sport uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The CX-3 uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Bronco Sport (except Base/Big Bend) offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The power windows standard on both the Bronco Sport and the CX-3 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Bronco Sport is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-3 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Bronco Sport’s optional front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The CX-3’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Bronco Sport the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the CX-3 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Bronco Sport’s available exterior PIN entry system. The CX-3 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Intelligent Access optional on the Bronco Sport (except Base) allows you to unlock the driver’s door, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Mazda CX-3’s Pushbutton Start doesn’t unlock the doors or the cargo door.

The Bronco Sport’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The CX-3’s power window (except driver window) and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Bronco Sport’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the CX-3’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Bronco Sport Big Bend/Outer Banks/Badlands’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The CX-3 doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.

The Bronco Sport (except Base) offers optional heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the CX-3.

On extremely cold winter days, the Bronco Sport’s optional (except Base/Big Bend) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Bronco Sport (except Base/Big Bend)’s optional dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The CX-3 doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Bronco Sport and the CX-3 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Bronco Sport Big Bend/Outer Banks/Badlands has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The CX-3 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Ford Bronco Sport (except Base) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The CX-3 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Bronco Sport Outer Banks/Badlands/First Edition has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Ford Bronco Sport and the Mazda CX-3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ford Bronco Sport outsold the Mazda CX-3 by over 13 to one during the 2021 model year.