2022 Subaru Ascent vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was a highly anticipated addition to the Ford lineup, designed as a smaller sibling to the rugged Bronco. It featured a modern retro aesthetic reminiscent of the Land Rover, with short front and rear overhangs for better off-road capability. The vehicle's tall fender wells and tucked-in body sides were crafted for trail driving, minimizing the risk of catching on obstructions. The Bronco Sport's front end echoed the larger Bronco, with bold white "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, and a smaller "SPORT" postscript. The wheels varied by trim, ranging from 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels on the Base model to 18-inch machined-face aluminum Ebony Black-painted wheels on the Outer Banks model.

Inside, the Bronco Sport offered a rugged yet tasteful design. The HVAC vents had a unique shape that lent unity to the cabin, and the center stack featured several open storage cubbies topped by an 8-inch infotainment screen. The rotary gear selector and two cupholders were conveniently located in the center console. Interior trim levels ranged from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats, with the First Edition model boasting Navy Pier Leather power front seats. The cargo area was designed with practicality in mind, featuring a rubberized cargo floor and second-row seat protector.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent introduced a new Onyx Edition trim level, which featured blacked-out exterior trim and badges, black 20-inch aluminum wheels, a unique grille design, and special interior trim. The Onyx Edition's seats were wrapped in water-repellant StarTex synthetic leather, and the trim level was priced at $37,995, with an optional package adding a panoramic moonroof, navigation system, and cargo cover for an additional $2,000. The blacked-out treatment gave the Ascent a sporty appearance that it previously lacked.

Inside, the Ascent Onyx Edition featured a gray two-tone StarTex upholstery with light gray stitching, which was preferable to an all-black interior. Metallic trim on the dashboard and door panels added to the overall aesthetic. However, the StarTex material had a tendency to trap sweat against the body, making it uncomfortable on hot days. Ventilated seats would have been a welcome addition, but they were only available on the Ascent Touring trim.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims were equipped with a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands and First Edition models featured a more powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. All models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD), along with a terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes (Go Over Any Type of Terrain). The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, four-wheel independent suspension, and generous ground clearance. 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 Subaru Ascent was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It came standard with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The Ascent's fuel economy was rated at 22 mpg combined for versions with 20-inch wheels, and it averaged 20.5 mpg during testing. The flat-four engine layout contributed to a lower center of gravity, improving handling. The CVT featured eight programmed ratios and manual shift control, allowing for brisk acceleration and commendable passing power. The Ascent could tow up to 5,000 pounds and offered Subaru’s X-Mode off-road traction control system, hill descent control, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance. The Ascent felt nimble and maneuverable in urban and suburban settings, though its suspension tuning could result in more body motion than desired on country and mountain roads.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was designed with active buyers in mind, offering features like a cargo space engineered to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes. Ford provided a catalog of over 100 factory and aftermarket 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, while the 1.5-liter engine could tow 2,000 pounds. 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, though taller drivers might find outward visibility challenging due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent could carry up to eight people with a second-row bench seat, though the third row was best suited for children. The Ascent Onyx Edition featured water-resistant seat material, triple-zone climate control, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, and a wiper de-icer. Loading the second-row seat was easy, thanks to wide rear doors that opened nearly 90 degrees. Captain’s chairs were available, and the panoramic sunroof extended over the second-row seats. The Ascent offered plenty of storage, including a useful shelf running the width of the dashboard and large cupholders in the second row. The cargo capacity was 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 47.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 86.5 cubic feet with both rows folded down.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Ford+Alexa, and SiriusXM. FordConnect with 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard, and the base audio system included six speakers. Higher trims offered a Bang & Olufsen sound system and a 360-degree camera with split view and a washer. The terrain management system included up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, and 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 model, and higher trims included heated and leather-wrapped steering wheels and a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent came with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, satellite radio, and a CD player. The Premium trim added an 8-inch display with Starlink connected services, including a WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting with climate control pre-conditioning. The system included volume and tuning knobs and shortcut buttons. However, the voice recognition technology needed improvement, requiring specific commands for accurate responses. The Onyx Edition used standard stereo speakers, while the Touring trim offered a Harman Kardon premium sound system. Additional technology features for the Touring trim included a digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree-view front camera.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, evasive steering assist, a voice-activated touchscreen navigation system, SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link, and road-sign recognition. Trailer sway control was included with the tow package. All models featured AWD and a terrain management system with G.O.A.T. modes. Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA had released crash-worthiness ratings for the Bronco Sport.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent received a "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and five-star crash-test ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rating in rollover resistance. The Ascent came standard with Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assistance tech, including advanced adaptive cruise control with lane-centering technology. However, EyeSight's performance could be affected by direct sunlight, and the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology lacked refinement. Additional safety features included steering responsive LED headlights with automatic high-beam assist, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was available starting from the Premium trim. Reverse automatic braking and a Starlink Safety and Security subscription plan were also available.