Compare the2025 Mazda CX-50VS 2025 Ford Bronco Sport

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

Safety

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The Mazda CX-50 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mazda CX-50 achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Ford Bronco Sport has not been tested.

Both the CX-50 and the Bronco Sport 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, 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-50 is safer than the Bronco Sport:

	CX-50	Bronco Sport
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	114	184
Neck Tension	268 lbs.	335 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Pelvis Force	982 lbs.	1383 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	47	142
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.87 in	1.77 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.71 in	1.34 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	491 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Mazda CX-50 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Bronco Sport is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the CX-50’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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 7 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

The CX-50 has more powerful engines than the Bronco Sport:

	Horsepower	Torque
CX-50 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	187 HP	185 lbs.-ft.
CX-50 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	219 HP	163 lbs.-ft.
CX-50 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder	256 HP	320 lbs.-ft.
Bronco Sport 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder	181 HP	190 lbs.-ft.
Bronco Sport Badlands 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	250 HP	277 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-50 4 cyl. is faster than the Ford Bronco Sport turbo 3 cyl.:

	CX-50	Bronco Sport
Zero to 60 MPH	8.5 sec	9.2 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	16.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	84.1 MPH	80.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-50 gets better mileage than the Bronco Sport:

			MPG
CX-50
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	39 city/37 hwy
		2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/31 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
Bronco Sport
	AWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	25 city/29 hwy
		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 CX-50 (except Turbo/Hybrid)’s fuel efficiency. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the CX-50 Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The CX-50 has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Bronco Sport. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

The CX-50 has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CX-50’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Bronco Sport:

	CX-50	Bronco Sport
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	12.1 inches
Rear Rotors	12.8 inches	11.9 inches

The CX-50 stops much shorter than the Bronco Sport:

	CX-50	Bronco Sport
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Bronco Sport (245/45R20 vs. 235/65R17).

The CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 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 CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo has standard 20-inch wheels. The Bronco Sport’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-50’s wheelbase is 5.7 inches longer than on the Bronco Sport (110.8 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Bronco Sport.

The CX-50 handles at .87 G’s, while the Bronco Sport Outer Banks pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Bronco Sport Outer Banks (26.8 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-50 Hybrid’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Bronco Sport’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The CX-50’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Bronco Sport’s (36 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

Chassis

The CX-50 4x4 is 6.7 inches shorter in height than the Bronco Sport, making the CX-50 much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

For excellent aerodynamics, the CX-50 has standard flush composite headlights. The Bronco Sport has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-50’s 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, especially for short adults, the CX-50 Preferred/Premium/Turbo has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Ford Bronco Sport is limited to 2700 pounds. The CX-50 offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

The CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo Premium 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 CX-50’s 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 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. With the Bronco Sport Outer Banks/Badlands’ power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

The CX-50’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Bronco Sport’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Consumer Reports rated the CX-50’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Bronco Sport’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Bronco Sport’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The CX-50 Turbo’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

When the CX-50 Turbo 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 CX-50’s optional rear and 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 Mazda CX-50 and Ford Bronco Sport offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The CX-50 offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Bronco Sport’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

Both the CX-50 and the Bronco Sport offer available heated front seats. The CX-50 Turbo 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 CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo 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 CX-50 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 is only available on the Bronco Sport Outer Banks/Badlands.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-50 and the Ford Bronco Sport, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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