2021 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

Ford had been teasing the return of the Bronco for years, and the anticipation culminated with the reveal of the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, a more compact sibling preceding the hardcore off-roader. While the bigger Bronco aimed to revive memories of the 1966-1996 Bronco era, the Bronco Sport was crafted with a balance of rugged aesthetics and suburban usability, something ready for both daily commutes and weekend escapades. The Bronco Sport offered a modern retro aesthetic reminiscent of the Land Rover lineup. The vehicle's design included a very short front overhang and an equally impressive rear overhang, both enhancing its off-road approach and departure angles.

The tall fender wells and streamlined body sides were deliberately designed to mitigate any unnecessary snags while trail driving. The front fascia, echoing the yet-to-launch big Bronco, featured bold white lettering declaring "BRONCO," with a smaller "SPORT" inscription. The Ford blue oval made a modest appearance only on the tailgate.

Visual appeal extended to the wheels, starting with 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels on the Base model, increasing to 17-inch Carbonized Gray-painted high-gloss aluminum wheels on the Big Bend model, and further to 18-inch machined-face aluminum Ebony Black-painted wheels on the Outer Banks. The Badlands model featured the same 18-inch design but paired with 28.5-inch all-terrain tires, and the First Edition model came outfitted with 17-inch Ebony Black-painted wheels with 29-inch all-terrain tires. The interior design maintained a rugged yet tasteful aesthetic, with uncluttered layouts and consistent shapes for the HVAC vents.

The center stack introduced several practical storage cubbies topped by an 8-inch infotainment screen, while the rotary gear selector resided in the center console alongside two cupholders. Interior materials and features saw a predictable enhancement across trim levels, from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats, culminating in Navy Pier Leather power front seats on the First Edition. Floor coverings transitioned from rubberized cargo and second-row protectors to carpeted floor mats and back to rubberized flooring, each serving a distinct purpose.

The Honda CR-V had long been a staple in the compact crossover segment, though its styling often fell into the ubiquitous design trap of the 1990s and later years, making it indistinguishable from many rivals. The CR-V's design boasted a faint resemblance to other crossovers, with few standout features other than a slightly unique grille and sporadic chromed plastic elements. Buyers in the segment often didn't prioritize looks, given the segment’s largely uniform design language.

Honda offered the CR-V in eight color choices, though several were varying shades of gray, along with black and white. More vibrant options included Obsidian Blue Pearl, Aegean Blue Metallic, and Radiant Red Metallic, but these were limited to higher trims. The available colors for the base LX trim were limited to black, silver, and white, with the latter being a $395 upcharge.

The interior palette varied with black, gray, and ivory cloth or leather, enhancing with trim levels to include wood panels and additional chrome for an upscale feel. The front and rear seats featured more angular designs compared to competitors, asserting a more modern edge. Despite this, vehicles like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson often presented more distinctive styling at similar price points.

Ford provided a range of driving experiences for the Bronco Sport, from groomed trails to public roads in Holly, Michigan. The crossover came with two engine options, each tied to different trims. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks models featured a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands and First Edition models received a more robust 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and came with all-wheel drive as standard, accompanied by a terrain management system offering up to seven G.O.A.T. modes (Go Over Any Type of Terrain).

Off-road performance was where the Bronco Sport shone, thanks in part to its short wheelbase (105.1 inches), independent suspension setup (MacPherson struts in the front and double lateral link rear), and generous suspension travel (7.4 inches front and 8.1 inches rear). Ground clearance ranged from 7.8 to 8.8 inches depending on wheel and tire size. Despite its off-road prowess, the Bronco Sport behaved well on pavement, suited to commuter and family-friendly roles. The 2.0-liter engine offered a better match in terms of performance feel, whereas the 1.5-liter could sound somewhat strained under pressure.

The 2021 Honda CR-V wasn’t designed to wow with neck-snapping acceleration or high cornering speeds. Instead, it promised smooth, steady merging onto highways and predictable handling. Every CR-V trim came equipped with a 190-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Real-world tests clocked its 0-60 mph time at around 7.8 seconds. This wasn’t blisteringly fast, but respectable enough for daily driving needs.

The CR-V utilized a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which maintained engine revs at a consistent level during acceleration, a feature not notable for driving engagement. Competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson offered more conventional eight-speed transmissions, providing sport modes at higher trims for a more spirited driving experience. Front-wheel drive was standard across all CR-V trims, with all-wheel drive available as an added-cost option. The Subaru Forester stood apart in offering all-wheel drive as standard.

The CR-V had a unibody structure typical of the segment, with a MacPherson strut setup in the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear. Ride quality and handling remained decent, contributing to a comfortable driving experience.

The Bronco Sport embraced its active lifestyle target market with clever, practical features. Inside the cargo space, the height was engineered to accommodate two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes. Ford’s catalog offered over 100 factory and aftermarket accessories to transport outdoor gear like kayaks, surfboards, and camping equipment. The roof could handle up to 150 pounds (100 with moonroof), aiding in carrying additional gear. The 2.0-liter engine variant could tow up to 2,200 pounds, and the 1.5-liter version up to 2,000 pounds.

In the cargo hold, a flip-up rear glass eased rear access (a retro-chic touch). An optional cargo management package introduced practical additions like a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin housed ample storage compartments with large door pockets, multiple cubbies, and covered storage. Minor complaints included limited outward visibility for taller drivers due to the roof overhang and hood bulges obscuring off-road trail views.

The CR-V excelled in form dictated by function, designed to comfortably seat five and carry their belongings. It boasted 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume, surpassing the Toyota RAV4 by four cubic feet. Its cargo space also had a slight edge over the Toyota, offering 75.8 cubic feet of total cargo volume with the rear seats folded. The CR-V could swallow all the rolling luggage most families owned.

Accessing the cargo area varied by trim. The LX to EX trims required manual tailgate operation, while the EX-L included a power tailgate activated via the remote or a button on the tailgate. The Touring trim featured a hands-free version, operated by waving a foot under the bumper—a useful feature provided it worked as intended.

Roof rails were standard only on the top Touring trim, contrasting with Subaru’s approach of standard roof rails across all but the base model.

Ford equipped the Bronco Sport with the latest in infotainment systems. The 8-inch touchscreen housed the SYNC 3 system, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and offered Ford+Alexa and SiriusXM capabilities. Standard FordConnect provided a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The base model's audio system included an AM/FM stereo with six speakers. Outer Banks and above trims had the option for a Bang & Olufsen sound system, ranging from $1,595 to $2,595 as part of a package, and a 360-degree camera for off-road utility.

The G.O.A.T. modes offered significant tech integration into the terrain management system, with Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims featuring five drive modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, and Sand. Badlands and First Edition added Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl modes. Additional off-road help came from trail control technology, similar to cruise control but for off-road use, allowing precise navigation at controlled speeds.

Intelligent access with push-button start was standard from all trims except Base, and features like heated leather-wrapped steering wheels and a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel appeared in higher trims.

Comparatively, the base CR-V LX model offered a basic 5-inch color screen with limited Bluetooth connectivity. Higher trims from Special Edition and up included a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SMS text messaging functions.

Audio system quality improved up the trims: Special Edition and EX models had a 180-watt system with six speakers, the EX-L added two more speakers, and the Touring trim offered a 300-watt system with a subwoofer. Sirius XM and HD radio were standard from the EX trim upwards, and the Touring trim uniquely offered satellite navigation with voice recognition.

Charging ports were abundant in these trims, featuring a mix of USB and 12-volt outlets, with higher trims offering second-row USB ports and the Touring trim including a wireless phone charger.

Every trim level of the Bronco Sport came with Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features. This suite comprised pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, dynamic brake support, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera.

For enhanced safety, Co-Pilot360 Assist+ ($795) was available on all trims except Base, adding adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane centering, evasive steering assist, and a voice-activated touchscreen navigation system. For towing, a $495 tow package with trailer sway control was essential.

The AWD system on all Bronco models, combined with the terrain management system, GRE modes, traction control, anti-lock braking, and electronic stability control, further added to the safety credentials.

Safety was the one area where the Honda CR-V truly excelled, earning a five-star NHTSA overall crash test rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. It didn't achieve the highest IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating due to headlight performance and newer side crash test scores. The CR-V received a “Good” rating in the original side crash test but an “Acceptable” rating for LATCH system ease of use.

The standout safety feature for the CR-V was the Honda Sensing system, which made all advanced safety technologies standard across all trims. This suite included a multi-angle rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beam headlamps. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard from the EX trim upwards.