2021 Land Rover Range Rover vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was a compact crossover that captured the rugged spirit of its larger sibling, the Bronco, while offering a more suburban-friendly design. It featured a modern retro aesthetic with short front and rear overhangs, tall fender wells, and a tucked-in body, making it suitable for both urban driving and weekend adventures. The Bronco Sport's exterior was marked by bold "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, with a modest Ford badge on the tailgate. The SUV's wheels varied by model, with options ranging from 17-inch to 18-inch, and the interior boasted a rugged yet uncluttered design, with a focus on practicality and comfort.

In contrast, the 2021 Land Rover Range Rover exuded luxury and sophistication, having evolved from its rugged origins to become a symbol of opulence. Starting at $92,000, the Range Rover offered a wide range of powertrains and personalization options, with the potential to reach prices upwards of $250,000. The HSE Westminster special edition, priced at $106,715, featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged inline-six engine and a luxurious interior with Ivory-color leather and mid-century modern design elements. Despite its age, the Range Rover maintained a timeless look with hallmark design cues and a high-contrast cabin ambiance.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims 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 were equipped with a more powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes. On-road, it provided a comfortable ride, with the 2.0-liter engine offering a more refined driving experience.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover offered a variety of powertrains, including turbodiesel V6, supercharged V8, mild-hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options. The HSE Westminster edition featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged inline-six engine, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Range Rover's four-wheel drive system, with a two-speed transfer case and Terrain Response 2 traction control, ensured its legendary off-road capabilities. On-road, the Range Rover provided a smooth and quiet ride, with an adaptive air suspension and a commanding driving position. However, its steering response was relatively slow, and its weight and tall center of gravity affected handling on winding roads.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was designed with active buyers in mind, offering clever features like a cargo space engineered to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes. It also had over 100 factory and aftermarket accessories for transporting outdoor gear. The roof could support up to 150 pounds, and the vehicle could tow up to 2,200 pounds with the 2.0-liter engine. The interior featured ample storage compartments, though visibility was somewhat limited for taller drivers. The rear glass flipped up for easy access, and an optional cargo management package added practical features like a slide-out work table and liftgate floodlamps.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover featured an air suspension with a kneel mode for easier entry and exit. The front seats were decadently comfortable, wrapped in quality leather, but the second row lacked thigh support and adjustability, resulting in an uncomfortable seating position. The Range Rover offered quad-zone climate control and a premium sound system, but storage space was limited, with dual glove compartments compensating for a small center-console bin. The cargo area provided 25 cubic feet of space, expandable to 59.8 cubic feet, with a suspension kneel function for easier loading.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came equipped with the latest infotainment systems, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with SYNC 3, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and FordConnect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims offered a Bang & Olufsen sound system and a 360-degree camera. The terrain management system included up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, and trail control technology assisted with off-roading. Intelligent access with push-button start was standard on all but the Base model, and higher trims featured heated steering wheels and a digital instrument panel.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover boasted a fully digital instrumentation and infotainment system with three displays. The InControl Touch Pro Duo system, while not entirely intuitive, offered numerous features and functions. The Range Rover also included a head-up display, though it was not visible with polarized sunglasses. The SUV featured a waterproof Activity Key wristband and an iGuide smartphone app for easy access to the owner's manual. The touch-sensing steering wheel controls and voice assistants with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto enhanced the user experience.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and a reversing camera. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a voice-activated navigation system. All models featured all-wheel drive and a terrain management system with traction control, anti-lock braking, and electronic stability control. However, crash-worthiness ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover included standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance. Optional packages added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera. The HSE Westminster Edition included the Drive Pro and Park packages, though the adaptive cruise control was slow to respond. Overall, the safety features were effective, but the Driver Assist Pack's advanced technology was not assessed.