2022 Kia Sportage vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was a highly anticipated release, following years of teasers from Ford. It served as a precursor to the larger, more rugged Bronco, which harkened back to the 1966-1996 models. The Bronco Sport, however, was a unibody crossover designed for everyday driving with a flair for weekend adventures. Its design featured a modern retro aesthetic, reminiscent of Land Rover vehicles, with short front and rear overhangs, tall fender wells, and minimal adornments to enhance its off-road capabilities. The bold "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, along with various wheel options, added to its rugged charm.

Inside, the Bronco Sport offered a tastefully rugged interior with an uncluttered design. The HVAC vents had a unique shape, and the center stack featured convenient storage cubbies and an 8-inch infotainment screen. The rotary gear selector and various seating options, from cloth to leather-trimmed, catered to different preferences. The interior trim levels progressed from practical to luxurious, with features like rubberized cargo floors and heated sport-contour bucket seats.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, on the other hand, had a mixed reception regarding its exterior design. While Kia's tiger-nose grille worked well on other models, it seemed out of place on the Sportage, giving it an awkward appearance. However, the rest of the design details were spot-on, with stylish elements like the four-dot running lights and a symmetrical rear fascia. The SX Turbo trim, with its 19-inch wheels, gave the Sportage a planted stance and proper proportions.

Inside, the Sportage exuded a Germanic design influence with a black dashboard, polished metallic accents, and plain white markings on a black background. The SX Turbo trim added metal pedal covers and offered a choice of interior colors, enhancing the upscale feel. The controls were user-friendly, with buttons and knobs for easy adjustments, and the transmission shifter's solid operation added to the sense of quality.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices tied to its trim levels. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims featured a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. The Badlands and First Edition trims came with a more powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 245 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, along with a terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes.

Off-road, the Bronco Sport impressed with its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and generous ground clearance, making it capable of handling various terrains. On-road, it had good manners, though the 1.5-liter engine could feel strained under pressure. The 2.0-liter engine was better suited to the Bronco Sport's character, providing a more robust performance.

The 2022 Kia Sportage offered two engine options. Most trims had a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, which was competitive but unremarkable. The SX Turbo trim featured a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 240 horsepower (237 with AWD) and 260 lb-ft of torque. Both engines used a six-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive as standard and an optional Dynamax all-wheel-drive system.

The Sportage SX Turbo provided quick acceleration, with maximum torque available from 1,450 to 3,500 rpm, giving it a lively character. The suspension setup, with MacPherson struts in the front and an independent multi-link rear, offered a smooth and compliant ride. The SX Turbo also had upgraded brakes and exclusive 19-inch wheels, enhancing its sporty feel. However, the steering could be sharper, and the tires had a lower threshold before losing grip.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with its clever features. The cargo space was designed to accommodate two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes, and Ford offered over 100 accessories for transporting various 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 (2,000 pounds for the 1.5-liter engine). The cargo hold featured a flip-up rear glass, an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps.

The front cabin had ample storage compartments, including large door pockets and multiple cubbies. However, taller drivers might find outward visibility challenging due to the roof overhang, and the seating position could be improved for better off-road visibility.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, despite being on the smaller side of the compact crossover scale, offered a remarkably roomy passenger compartment. The SX Turbo trim provided perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching, ten-way power adjustment for the driver's seat, and eight-way power adjustment for the front passenger seat. The front seats were heated and ventilated, and a heated flat-bottom steering wheel was standard.

Rear seat passengers enjoyed generous legroom, comfortable seating, air conditioning vents, and a USB charging port. However, the cargo space was limited, with a maximum volume of 60.1 cubic feet and 30.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. The Sportage featured Kia's smart liftgate technology, which opened the liftgate hands-free by standing near the back of the vehicle.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came equipped with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring SYNC 3, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Ford+Alexa, and SiriusXM capability. FordConnect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard. The base audio system had six speakers, while higher trims offered a Bang & Olufsen sound system and a 360-degree camera with split view and a washer.

The terrain management system included five drive modes on Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims, with Badlands and First Edition adding Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl modes. Trail control technology provided a cruise-control-like feature for off-roading. Intelligent access with push-button start was available 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 2022 Kia Sportage featured a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Most trims had UVO Link connected services and satellite radio, while the SX Turbo added wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with knobs for volume and tuning, and logical onscreen menus.

However, the UVO Link system lacked some modern features, such as a WiFi hotspot and wireless smartphone mirroring. The voice-recognition technology was hit-and-miss, but overall, the system was simple and easy to use.

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, rear cross-traffic alert, 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 available with the tow package, and all models had AWD and a terrain management system with G.O.A.T. modes. Crash-worthiness ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available.

The 2022 Kia Sportage included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system as standard. Higher trims and packages added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Sportage received high safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, with the SX Turbo earning an Acceptable headlight rating, qualifying it for an IIHS Top Safety Pick.