2021 Subaru Forester vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport had been eagerly anticipated as a smaller sibling to the resurrected Bronco. It featured a modern retro design reminiscent of the Land Rover lineup, with short front and rear overhangs for better approach angles. The tall fender wells and tucked-in body sides were tailored for trail driving, minimizing unnecessary adornments. The front end echoed the larger Bronco, with bold "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, while the Ford blue oval appeared modestly on the tailgate. The wheels varied by trim, from 17-inch Sparkle Silver on the Base model to 18-inch Ebony Black-painted wheels on the Outer Banks and Badlands models. The interior was rugged yet tasteful, with a unique HVAC vent design, an 8-inch infotainment screen, and a rotary gear selector. Interior trims ranged from cloth to leather, with practical features like a rubberized cargo floor and second-row seat protector.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, redesigned in 2019, retained a boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The styling was clean and unpretentious, with 17-inch steel wheels on the Base trim and black 18-inch alloy wheels on the Sport model. The Forester Sport added orange striping and a rear spoiler, enhancing its visual appeal. The Forester shared its platform with other Subaru models, maintaining a rugged SUV image. The interior was practical, with materials designed to withstand years of use. The Sport trim added orange accents, while higher trims offered leather upholstery and heated front seats. The Forester's interior was functional, with large knobs for audio and climate control, though the steering wheel had an overwhelming number of buttons.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices. 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 trims came with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD), with a terrain management system offering up to seven G.O.A.T. modes. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and generous ground clearance. On-road, the 2.0-liter engine felt better suited to the vehicle's character, while the 1.5-liter engine could feel strained under pressure.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with a single powertrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine had a boxer configuration, providing a lower center of gravity. Subaru quoted a 1,500-pound towing capacity, with Trailer Stability Assist as standard. The Forester's power felt adequate for most situations but lacked the thrust needed for highway merging and overtaking. The suspension was softly tuned, resulting in poor body control and a bouncy ride on uneven pavement. AWD was standard, with X-Mode for different surfaces and Dual X-Mode on Sport models. The Forester had 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it capable on mud and dirt, though not as off-road capable as the Bronco Sport.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with features like cargo space designed to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes. Ford offered over 100 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 hold had a flip-up rear glass, a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin had ample storage compartments, though taller drivers might struggle with visibility due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roof. The roofline also provided excellent outward visibility and a roomy feel. Cargo space was generous, with 35.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them down. The Forester had more cargo space than some competitors but lacked a sliding second-row bench. A power liftgate was optional on the Sport trim and standard on higher trims. The Forester had decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, though the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average phone, and wireless charging was not available. A power-adjustable driver's seat was only available on the Premium trim and above.

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, with a standard 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The base audio system had 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, with trail control technology for off-roading. Intelligent access with push-button start was standard on all trims except the Base, and higher trims had heated and leather-wrapped steering wheels and a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with the Subaru Starlink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and front-row USB ports. Sport models had an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while higher trims added navigation and rear USB ports. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls, though the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also had a secondary screen in the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying secondary information like fuel economy and tire pressure.

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, lane centering, evasive steering assist, and a voice-activated touchscreen navigation system. Trailer sway control was available with the tow package. AWD and a terrain management system with G.O.A.T. modes were standard on all models. Crash-worthiness ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. The Forester came standard with EyeSight, a suite of driver-assist features including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. EyeSight used a camera-based system, allowing Subaru to roll it out quickly across its lineup. The Forester also had a driver-monitoring system called DriverFocus, which checked for signs of distraction. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking.