2021 Land Rover Defender vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport had been eagerly anticipated as the smaller sibling to the resurrected Bronco. It aimed to capture the rugged spirit of its larger counterpart, harking back to the 1966-1996 Bronco era. The Bronco Sport featured a frameless (unibody) design, making it more suited for suburban life while still ready for weekend adventures. Its modern retro aesthetic, short front overhang, and tall fender wells were designed for trail driving, with minimal adornments to avoid catching on obstructions. The bold "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, along with the modest Ford blue oval badge, tied it visually to its big brother.

The Bronco Sport's wheels varied by model, with options ranging from 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels on the Base model to 18-inch machined-face aluminum Ebony Black-painted wheels on the Outer Banks. The interior was rugged yet tasteful, featuring an uncluttered design with unique HVAC vent shapes and an 8-inch infotainment screen. Interior trim levels progressed from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats, and Navy Pier Leather power front seats on the First Edition. The cargo area was designed with practicality in mind, offering rubberized flooring and a variety of storage solutions.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender sought to echo the timeless cool of its predecessors while firmly planting itself in the modern era. The new Defender replaced the round incandescent headlamps with half-round LED headlights, giving it a serious appearance. The grille's structural styling, flat-topped fenders, and floating roof were callbacks to earlier models. The spare tire mounted on the side-hinged tailgate and the functional vents behind the front fenders added to its rugged charm. Short overhangs and a planted stance made it look capable of tackling any obstacle.

Inside, the Defender's theme of exposed structure was prominent, with the dash appearing to be held between two horizontal beams and exposed Allen-head bolts securing the door panels. The controls were beefy, and the leather-upholstered seating was both tough and luxurious. A digital instrument panel and a center touchscreen interface added modern touches. The interior felt authentic and high-quality, with real metal and leather surfaces, and even the plastic parts had a substantial feel.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices tied to trim levels. 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 came with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 245 hp and 275 lb-ft. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD), along with a terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes. The Bronco Sport's short wheelbase, independent suspension, and decent ground clearance made it capable off-road, while its on-road manners were well-suited for daily driving.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender offered two powertrains in the U.S. The base powertrain was a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The more powerful option was a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid setup, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. All Defender models used an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD with low range and Terrain Response. The Defender's off-road capabilities were impressive, with a 30.1-degree approach angle, 37.6-degree departure angle, and a maximum wading depth of 35.4 inches. On-road, the Defender was quick and comfortable, with the 3.0-liter model accelerating from 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds. It also had a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds and a payload capacity of over 1,700 pounds.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with features like a cargo space designed to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes. Ford offered over 100 factory and aftermarket accessories for transporting outdoor gear. The roof could hold up to 150 pounds (100 with a moonroof), and the 2.0-liter engine could tow up to 2,200 pounds. The cargo area featured a flip-up rear glass, an optional slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin had ample storage compartments, though taller drivers might find outward visibility challenging due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender rode on a unibody platform shared with the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and Discovery, making extensive use of aluminum for weight reduction and strength. Its four-wheel independent multi-link air suspension enhanced both on-road and off-road performance. The Defender offered a jump seat between the front seats for three-across seating and a third-row seat for two in the long-wheelbase 110 model. The Defender 110 had 34-34.6 cubic feet of luggage space behind the second row and 78.8 cubic feet behind the first row. The three-door 90 model had 58.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also had Ford+Alexa and SiriusXM capability, along with FordConnect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The base audio system was an AM/FM stereo with six speakers, while a Bang & Olufsen sound system was available on higher trims. The terrain management system offered up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, and trail control technology provided a cruise-control-like feature for off-roading. Intelligent access with push-button start, heated and leather-wrapped steering wheels, and a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel were available on higher trims.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender used Land Rover's Electronic Vehicle Architecture 2.0, allowing for remote software updates. It featured the new Pivi Pro infotainment system with a 10-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, along with multiple USB and 12-volt outlets. The Defender offered a "transparent hood" view using the 3D surround-camera system, a six-speaker audio system, and optional Meridian sound systems with up to 700 watts of amplification. A full-color head-up display and a ClearSight rear-view mirror were also available.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, a voice-activated touchscreen navigation system, and road-sign recognition. Trailer sway control was included in the tow package. AWD and a terrain management system with G.O.A.T. modes provided additional safety enhancements. Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA had released crash-test ratings for the Bronco Sport.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender had an extensive list of standard safety features, including a perimeter alarm, front airbags with a passenger seat occupant monitor, a tire pressure monitoring system, electronic traction control, dynamic stability control, roll stability control, emergency braking, anti-lock braking, emergency brake assist, cruise control speed limiter, blind spot assist, lane-keep assist, driver condition monitor, traffic sign recognition, rear traffic monitor, clear exit monitor, and a 360-degree parking aid. The Defender underwent extensive durability testing, and its front and rear recovery points could withstand up to 10 tons of pull. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had released crash-test ratings for the Defender.