2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar 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 urban-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 city driving and weekend adventures. The vehicle's bold "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, along with its minimal Ford branding, added to its distinctive look. Inside, the Bronco Sport boasted a rugged yet tasteful interior with a unique design for the HVAC vents, an 8-inch infotainment screen, and a rotary gear selector. The interior trim varied across models, offering options from cloth to leather-trimmed seats, catering to different preferences.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar was a luxury SUV that exuded class and elegance, with a design that referenced the larger Range Rover's profile in a sportier package. Its long wheelbase, short overhangs, and trapezoidal roof were unmistakably Range Rover, while subtle adjustments like the sloping roof and wide shoulder crease added a streamlined look. The Velar's exterior featured special details like taillight lenses with depth illusions and air ducts reminiscent of a Bugatti. The R-Dynamic trim added bronze accents and a more aggressive front bumper. Inside, the Velar's cabin was sleek, with high-quality materials and a polished black center stack. The three screens offered sharp graphics, and upper trims provided additional luxury features.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine options, 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 with 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands and First Edition models came 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 generous ground clearance. It also featured a terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, enhancing its off-road capabilities. On-road, the 2.0-liter engine provided a better driving experience, while the 1.5-liter engine could feel strained under pressure.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar shared its chassis with the Jaguar F-Pace, offering a lower center of gravity and lighter weight for improved handling and braking. The base engine was a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 247 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The Velar's ride was smooth and controlled, with an optional air suspension providing a plush "magic carpet" experience. The Terrain Response system offered six driving modes, but the Velar's street-focused design limited its off-road capabilities. The optional 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system delivered 340 to 395 horsepower, offering high performance while reducing emissions.

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 support up to 150 pounds, and the vehicle could tow up to 2,200 pounds with the 2.0-liter engine. The cargo hold featured a flip-up rear glass and an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin offered ample storage compartments, though taller drivers might have found visibility challenging due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar offered a tighter interior compared to midsize SUVs, with limited headroom and visibility due to thick B-pillars and small rear windows. Cargo space was modest, with 16 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 49 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Velar's design sacrifices practicality for style, and it made a critical design error by combining the parking brake and transmission lock functions into one button, which could be confusing in emergencies. The Pivi Pro infotainment system improved the interface, and the steering wheel lost the touch-sensitive controls that were problematic in earlier models.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It offered Ford+Alexa, SiriusXM capability, and a standard FordConnect with 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The base audio system included six speakers, with an optional Bang & Olufsen sound system available on higher trims. The terrain management system's G.O.A.T. modes provided impressive off-road tech, and trail control technology allowed for focused off-road navigation. Intelligent access with push-button start was standard on all trims except the Base model.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar's Pivi Pro infotainment system was surprisingly reliable, with a simplified layout and customizable features. It included a voice assistant, PM2.5 air filter, heated windshield, and advanced navigation features. The 4x4 app provided detailed off-road information, and the 360-degree cameras offered a comprehensive view. The instrument panel could display full-width maps and reconfigure gauges, though the driving assist display lacked detail. Standard features included LED headlights, automatic high beams, and a 12-speaker Meridian stereo.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, which included pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and more. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and navigation features. All models featured AWD and a terrain management system with built-in traction control and electronic stability control. However, crash-worthiness ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar scored well in the European NCAP, with a five-star rating and a 93-percent score for impact tests. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Optional features included 360-degree cameras and adaptive cruise control with steering assist.