Compare the2023 Ford Bronco SportVS 2023 Audi Q3

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

Safety

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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 Q3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Q3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Bronco Sport and the Q3 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available rear parking sensors.

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 Audi Q3:

	Bronco Sport	Q3
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	140	326
Neck Injury Risk	26%	39%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	343 lbs.
Neck Compression	29 lbs.	35 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	123/237 lbs.	235/363 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	153	346
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	177 lbs.	186 lbs.
Neck Compression	54 lbs.	83 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 Audi Q3:

	Bronco Sport	Q3
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	80	88
Hip Force	205 lbs.	333 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	144	159
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	43 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	255	504
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	47 G’s

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 vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Bronco Sport its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 112 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Q3 was last a “Top Safety Pick Plus” in 2019 but no longer qualifies.

Warranty

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Bronco Sport 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 10 times as many Ford dealers as there are Audi 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 Q3 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Bronco Sport has a standard 760-amp battery. The Q3’s 680-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Bronco Sport third among small SUVs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Q3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 72 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

Engine

The Bronco Sport Badlands’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (250 vs. 228) and 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 258) than the Q3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Bronco Sport Badlands 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Audi Q3:

	Bronco Sport	Q3
Zero to 60 MPH	6.5 sec	8.5 sec
Quarter Mile	15.3 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87.8 MPH	85.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Bronco Sport 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder gets better fuel mileage than the Q3 45 TFSI (25 city/28 hwy vs. 21 city/28 hwy).

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 Q3 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

The Bronco Sport stops shorter than the Q3:

	Bronco Sport	Q3
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and 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 Q3; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Bronco Sport is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .9 inches wider in the rear than on the Q3.

For better maneuverability, the Bronco Sport’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Q3’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Bronco Sport Base/Big Bend has a 2.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q3 (7.8 vs. 5.5 inches), allowing the Bronco Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Bronco Sport’s minimum ground clearance is 3.3 inches higher than on the Q3 (8.8 vs. 5.5 inches).

Chassis

The Ford Bronco Sport may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 450 pounds less than the Audi Q3.

The Bronco Sport is 3.9 inches shorter than the Q3, making the Bronco Sport easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 Q3 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Bronco Sport has 21.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Q3 (105.7 vs. 84).

The Bronco Sport has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, 4.1 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear legroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q3.

Cargo Capacity

The Bronco Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q3 with its rear seat up (32.5 vs. 23.7 cubic feet). The Bronco Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q3 with its rear seat folded (65.2 vs. 48 cubic feet).

The Bronco Sport’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Q3’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Audi Q3 is limited to 1500 pounds. The Bronco Sport offers up to a 2200 lbs. 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 Q3 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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 Q3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Q3 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost Audi Connect CARE can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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 Q3’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Bronco Sport has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q3 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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 Q3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

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 Q3 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

The Bronco Sport will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Bronco Sport will retain 59.2% to 61.37% of its original price after five years, while the Q3 only retains 50.79% to 50.87%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Bronco Sport will be $8122 to $8828 less than for the Audi Q3.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Bronco Sport first among small SUVs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Q3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Ford Bronco Sport outsold the Audi Q3 by almost four to one during 2022.

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