Compare the2023 Ford Bronco SportVS 2022 Jeep Cherokee

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
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 Jeep Cherokee doesn’t offer pretensioners for its 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 Cherokee doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee.

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 Cherokee doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Bronco Sport and the Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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 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 Jeep Cherokee:

	Bronco Sport	Cherokee
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	140	204
Neck Injury Risk	26%	38.2%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	408 lbs.
Neck Compression	29 lbs.	41 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	123/237 lbs.	368/516 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	153	166
Neck Injury Risk	37%	37%
Neck Stress	177 lbs.	218 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 Jeep Cherokee:

	Bronco Sport	Cherokee
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	205 lbs.	363 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	144	264
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	53 G’s
Hip Force	689 lbs.	938 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	43 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 101 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Cherokee has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

There are over 25 percent more Ford dealers than there are Jeep dealers, which makes it 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee’s 700-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 58 points higher than the Cherokee.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Bronco Sport third among small SUVs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Cherokee 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 Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep 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 Jeep 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, Jeep is rated below average.

Engine

The Bronco Sport Badlands’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 38 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 239) than the Cherokee’s optional 3.2 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Bronco Sport Badlands 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Jeep Cherokee V6:

	Bronco Sport	Cherokee
Zero to 30 MPH	2.1 sec	2.9 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.5 sec	8.3 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	12.5 sec	14.3 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.5 sec	4.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.3 sec	16.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87.8 MPH	84.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Bronco Sport
	AWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	25 city/28 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/26 hwy
Cherokee
	FWD	3.2 DOHC V6	20 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
		Trailhawk 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy
		3.2 DOHC V6	19 city/27 hwy
		Active Drive II 3.2 DOHC V6	18 city/26 hwy
		Trailhawk 3.2 DOHC V6	18 city/24 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

The Bronco Sport stops much shorter than the Cherokee:

	Bronco Sport	Cherokee
70 to 0 MPH	163 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	126 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	153 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

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

The Bronco Sport Badlands handles at .76 G’s, while the Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4 pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Bronco Sport’s turning circle is .2 feet tighter than the Cherokee’s (37.4 feet vs. 37.6 feet). The Bronco Sport’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Cherokee 4x4 Trailhawk’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Bronco Sport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Cherokee Trailhawk (8.8 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the Bronco Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Ford Bronco Sport may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 550 pounds less than the Jeep Cherokee.

The Bronco Sport is 10.2 inches shorter than the Cherokee, making the Bronco Sport easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Bronco Sport Badlands is quieter than the Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4:

	Bronco Sport	Cherokee
At idle	38 dB	44 dB
Full-Throttle	73 dB	82 dB

Passenger Space

The Bronco Sport has 2.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Cherokee (105.7 vs. 103.5).

The Bronco Sport has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front hip room, 3.2 inches more rear headroom, 3.5 inches more rear hip room and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cherokee.

Cargo Capacity

The Bronco Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Cherokee with its rear seat up (32.5 vs. 27.6 cubic feet). The Bronco Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Cherokee with its rear seat folded (65.2 vs. 54.7 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 Cherokee’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Ergonomics

The Bronco Sport Outer Banks/Badlands’ 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 Cherokee’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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

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 Cherokee’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

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 Cherokee doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ford Bronco Sport, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Cherokee isn't recommended.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its April 2021 issue and they ranked the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands higher than the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4.

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 Cherokee isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Ford Bronco Sport outsold the Jeep Cherokee by almost three to one during the 2022 model year.