Compare the2023 Hyundai Santa FeVS 2022 Ford Bronco Sport

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Santa Fe and Bronco Sport have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Santa Fe has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Bronco Sport’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy has standard Parking Collision Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Santa Fe SEL Premium/Limited/Calligraphy has a standard Surround View Monitor 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 Santa Fe 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

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

	Santa Fe	Bronco Sport
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	16%	26%
Neck Stress	149 lbs.	178 lbs.
Neck Compression	13 lbs.	29 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	50/51 lbs.	123/237 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	27%	37%
Neck Stress	99 lbs.	177 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	222/167 lbs.	385/291 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, results indicate that the Hyundai Santa Fe is safer than the Ford Bronco Sport:

	Santa Fe	Bronco Sport
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	61	80
Abdominal Force	164 lbs.	198 lbs.

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

Warranty

The Santa Fe comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Bronco Sport’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Santa Fe 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Ford covers the Bronco Sport. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Bronco Sport ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Santa Fe’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Bronco Sport’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Santa Fe for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Bronco Sport.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 40 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 16th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 16 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

The Santa Fe’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (191 vs. 181) than the Bronco Sport’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder. The Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 31 more horsepower (281 vs. 250) and 34 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 277) than the Bronco Sport Badlands’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Bronco Sport Badlands 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

	Santa Fe	Bronco Sport
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	98.4 MPH	87.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Santa Fe
	FWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/28 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
Bronco Sport
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/26 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Santa Fe uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Bronco Sport Badlands requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Santa Fe has 2.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Bronco Sport (18.8 vs. 16 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The Santa Fe offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Santa Fe	Santa Fe 2.5T	Bronco Sport
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	13.6 inches	12.1 inches
Rear Rotors	12 inches	12 inches	11.9 inches

The Santa Fe stops much shorter than the Bronco Sport:

	Santa Fe	Bronco Sport
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Santa Fe has larger standard tires than the Bronco Sport (235/60R18 vs. 225/65R17). The Santa Fe Calligraphy’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Bronco Sport (255/45R20 vs. 235/65R17).

The Santa Fe’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Bronco Sport’s standard 65 series tires. The Santa Fe Calligraphy’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Bronco Sport’s optional 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Santa Fe has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Bronco Sport. The Santa Fe Calligraphy’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the Bronco Sport.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Santa Fe’s wheelbase is 3.8 inches longer than on the Bronco Sport (108.9 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Santa Fe is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Bronco Sport.

The Santa Fe Calligraphy AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Bronco Sport Outer Banks pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Santa Fe Calligraphy AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Bronco Sport Outer Banks (26.7 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

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

Chassis

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

Passenger Space

The Santa Fe has 5.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Bronco Sport (111.5 vs. 105.7).

The Santa Fe has 1.7 inches more front legroom, 2.3 inches more front hip room, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, 4.8 inches more rear legroom, 2.9 inches more rear hip room and 2.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Bronco Sport.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Santa Fe’s rear seats recline. The Bronco Sport’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Santa Fe has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Bronco Sport with its rear seat up (36.4 vs. 32.5 cubic feet). The Santa Fe has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Bronco Sport with its rear seat folded (72.1 vs. 65.2 cubic feet).

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Santa Fe’s (except SE) optional 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 when your hands are full, the Santa Fe SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Santa Fe’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The Santa Fe’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Bronco Sport’s (2000 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Ford Bronco Sport is only 2200 pounds. The Santa Fe offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

A Trailer Sway Assist is standard on the Santa Fe, using the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the Bronco Sport.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy’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 Santa Fe Calligraphy has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts 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 Santa Fe’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.

The Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Bronco Sport’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Santa Fe to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy 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.

Both the Santa Fe and the Bronco Sport offer available heated front seats. The Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Bronco Sport.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy 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 Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

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

Recommendations

The Hyundai Santa Fe outsold the Ford Bronco Sport by 39% during the 2021 model year.

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