2022 Hyundai Palisade vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was a highly anticipated addition to Ford's lineup, designed as a smaller sibling to the rugged Bronco. It featured a modern retro aesthetic reminiscent of the Land Rover lineup, with short front and rear overhangs, tall fender wells, and a tucked-in body for trail driving. The front end echoed the larger Bronco, with bold "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, and minimal Ford branding. The wheels varied by trim, from 17-inch Sparkle Silver on the Base model to 18-inch machined-face aluminum on the Outer Banks, with options for all-terrain tires on higher trims. Inside, the Bronco Sport offered a tastefully rugged design with an 8-inch infotainment screen, rotary gear selector, and a range of interior trims from cloth to leather, depending on the model.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade, introduced as Hyundai's flagship SUV, replaced the Santa Fe XL and stood out with its elegant and striking design. It featured distinctive lines, a prominent grille, and sculpted wheel arches, with a continuous strip of glass around the tailgate creating a floating roof effect. LED headlights, running lights, and taillights added to its sophisticated look. Inside, the Palisade offered a horizontally arrayed screen, high-quality materials, and a spacious cabin with options for a second-row bench or captain's chairs. The third row was roomy enough for adults on short trips, and the fit and finish were near-luxury levels, especially in the top-of-the-line Calligraphy model.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices: a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder with 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque for the Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims, and a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder with 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque for the Badlands and First Edition trims. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, with a terrain management system offering up to seven G.O.A.T. modes. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road with its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and decent ground clearance, while also providing a comfortable on-road experience, especially with the more powerful 2.0-liter engine.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade came with a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine featured gasoline direct injection, dual variable valve timing, and Atkinson-cycle capability for improved efficiency. The Palisade's fuel economy was estimated at 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway/22 mpg combined for FWD models and 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway/21 mpg combined for AWD models. Despite its middling efficiency, the V6 provided ample power with no turbo lag and a pleasing engine note. The Palisade handled well, thanks to its four-wheel independent suspension and self-leveling system on higher trims, and could tow up to 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes.

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 and a catalog of over 100 accessories for transporting outdoor gear. The roof could hold up to 150 pounds, and the 2.0-liter engine could tow up to 2,200 pounds. The cargo hold included a flip-up rear glass, optional slide-out work table, 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin offered ample storage compartments, though taller drivers might find visibility challenging due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade excelled as a minivan replacement with comfortable seating throughout the cabin, including third-row access and cupholders. The second-row captain's chairs were particularly comfortable, and the front row offered extensive storage options. Luggage space measured 18.0 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded and 86.4 cubic feet with both rows down. The Palisade also featured a compact shift-by-wire gear selector, intuitive controls, and a dual-panel sunroof on higher trims, enhancing the cabin's ambiance.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Ford+Alexa, and SiriusXM. A 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard, and 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 provided cruise-control-like assistance for off-roading. Intelligent access with push-button start was available on all trims except the Base model, and higher trims included a digital instrument panel.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade showcased Hyundai's technological prowess with a high-resolution touchscreen, Harman Kardon premium audio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and multiple USB ports. The infotainment system could connect up to two devices simultaneously, and higher trims included a Qi wireless charging pad, 115-volt power outlet, and surround view monitor. Hyundai's Blue Link connected car system offered remote engine start and vehicle monitoring, while the Limited and Calligraphy trims featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with integrated turn signal and blind-spot monitor cameras.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, including pre-collision assist, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ added adaptive cruise control, lane centering, evasive steering assist, and more. All models featured AWD and a terrain management system with traction control, anti-lock braking, and electronic stability control. However, crash-worthiness ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade boasted a comprehensive list of standard and available safety features, including seven airbags, three-point seat belts, LATCH anchors, active head restraints, and more. Standard active safety features included anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance, forward collision-avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS and a five-star rating from NHTSA for both FWD and AWD models.