Compare the2023 Ford Bronco SportVS 2023 Lexus NX

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 NX 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 NX.

Both the Bronco Sport and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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 rear parking sensors.

There are over 12 times as many Ford dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Bronco Sport’s warranty.

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 NX doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

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

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

On the EPA test cycle the Bronco Sport gets better mileage than the NX running its gasoline engine:

Both the Bronco Sport and the NX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Bronco Sports have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Bronco Sport uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Bronco Sport Badlands for maximum performance). The NX 350 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Bronco Sport has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the NX (16 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

The Bronco Sport stops much shorter than the NX:

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 NX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better maneuverability, the Bronco Sport’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the NX’s (37.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Bronco Sport Base/Big Bend has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX (7.8 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the Bronco Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Bronco Sport’s minimum ground clearance is 1.1 inches higher than on the NX (8.8 vs. 7.7 inches).

The Bronco Sport is 10.8 inches shorter than the NX, 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 NX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Bronco Sport Badlands is quieter than the NX 350 AWD (69 vs. 70 dB).

The Bronco Sport has 3.2 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 3.2 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear legroom, .9 inches more rear hip room and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The Bronco Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (32.5 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Bronco Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (65.2 vs. 46.9 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 NX’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus NX is limited to 2000 pounds. The Bronco Sport offers up to a 2200 lbs. towing capacity.

The power windows standard on both the Bronco Sport and the NX 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 NX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 NX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Bronco Sport’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The NX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

Insurance will cost less for the Bronco Sport owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Bronco Sport will cost $305 less than the NX over a five-year period.

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 NX only retains 49.01% to 51.34%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Bronco Sport will be $8933 to $15985 less than for the Lexus NX.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its December 2021 issue and they ranked the Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks higher than the Lexus NX 350 AWD.

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 NX isn’t in the top three.

The Ford Bronco Sport outsold the Lexus NX by over two to one during 2022.