Compare the2023 GMC AcadiaVS 2022 Ford Bronco Sport

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
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Acadia Denali’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front shoulder belts of the GMC Acadia are height-adjustable, and the middle seat shoulder belts have child comfort guides to move the belt to properly fit children. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages children to buckle up. The Ford Bronco Sport has only front height-adjustable seat belts.

The Acadia has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The Acadia SLT/AT4/Denali offers an optional Surround Vision System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Bronco Sport only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the Acadia and the Bronco Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

The GMC Acadia weighs 422 to 1058 pounds more than the Ford Bronco Sport. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

	Acadia	Bronco Sport
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	26%

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, results indicate that the GMC Acadia is safer than the Ford Bronco Sport:

	Acadia	Bronco Sport
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	156 lbs.	198 lbs.

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

Warranty

The Acadia’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Bronco Sport’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Acadia’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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks GMC 6 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

The Acadia’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 47 more horsepower (228 vs. 181) and 68 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 190) than the Bronco Sport’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder. The Acadia’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 60 more horsepower (310 vs. 250) than the Bronco Sport Badlands’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Acadia gets better mileage than the Bronco Sport:

			MPG
Acadia
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy
Bronco Sport
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/26 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Acadia’s fuel efficiency. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Acadia 2.0 Turbo’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Acadia FWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Bronco Sport (19.4 vs. 16 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Acadia AWD’s standard fuel tank has 5.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Bronco Sport (21.7 vs. 16 gallons).

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the GMC Acadia higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Ford Bronco Sport (5 to 7). This means the Acadia produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Bronco Sport every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the GMC Acadia, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Bronco Sport.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Acadia	Bronco Sport
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	12.1 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	11.9 inches

The Acadia’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Bronco Sport are solid, not vented.

The Acadia stops shorter than the Bronco Sport:

	Acadia	Bronco Sport
60 to 0 MPH	126 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Acadia has larger standard tires than the Bronco Sport (235/65R18 vs. 225/65R17). The Acadia AT4’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Bronco Sport (255/65R17 vs. 235/65R17).

The Acadia’s optional 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 Acadia offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Bronco Sport’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The GMC Acadia’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Ford Bronco Sport only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Acadia has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Acadia offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Bronco Sport’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Acadia’s wheelbase is 7.4 inches longer than on the Bronco Sport (112.5 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Acadia is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Bronco Sport.

The Acadia Denali AWD 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 Acadia SLT AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Bronco Sport Outer Banks (26.9 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

Chassis

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

The Acadia 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.

Passenger Space

The Acadia offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Bronco Sport can only carry 5.

The Acadia has 38.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Bronco Sport (143.8 vs. 105.7).

The Acadia has .5 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear legroom and 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Bronco Sport.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Acadia’s middle row seats recline. The Bronco Sport’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Acadia’s cargo area provides more volume than the Bronco Sport.

	Acadia	Bronco Sport
Third Seat Folded	41.7 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	32.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	79 cubic feet	65.2 cubic feet

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Acadia’s second row 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 when your hands are full, the Acadia’s liftgate can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Acadia also offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The Acadia’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Bronco Sport’s (1000 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Ford Bronco Sport is only 2200 pounds. The Acadia offers up to a 4000 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Acadia (except SLE), the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Acadia (except SLE)’s optional 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 Acadia (except SLE) offers an available heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Acadia’s front power windows open fully with one touch of the switches and its driver’s window also automatically closes, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Bronco Sport’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

The Acadia’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Bronco Sport Big Bend/Outer Banks/Badlands.

When the Acadia with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Bronco Sport’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Acadia SLT/AT4/Denali’s standard rear view mirror and optional side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Bronco Sport offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Acadia and the Bronco Sport offer available heated front seats. The Acadia also offers optional heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Bronco Sport.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Acadia (except SLE) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Acadia has a standard 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. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Bronco Sport and isn’t available on the Bronco Sport Base/Big Bend.

Model Availability

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

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Acadia owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Acadia will cost $230 less than the Bronco Sport over a five-year period.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the GMC Acadia and the Ford Bronco Sport, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The GMC Acadia outsold the Ford Bronco Sport by over 14 to one during 2020.