2021 Ford Bronco vs 2022 Kia EV6

The 2021 Ford Bronco had been a long-awaited revival, with Ford teasing its return since 2004. The new Bronco took inspiration from its original 1966 model, blending retrofuturism with modern technology and design. The Bronco featured a single-piece grille with bold B-R-O-N-C-O lettering, round headlights, and a rugged body with 32-inch standard tires, expandable to 35 inches with the Sasquatch package. Available in two-door and four-door configurations, the Bronco offered a modular removable hardtop or a black soft-top, and came in eleven paint colors, including eye-catching options like Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat and Antimatter Blue. Inside, the Bronco combined retro styling with modern tech, featuring an 8-inch or optional 12-inch touchscreen, a digitized cluster, and rugged materials designed for durability.

The 2022 Kia EV6, in contrast, presented a sportier and more futuristic design. It was lower and wider than many of its competitors, with a highback tail and a lip spoiler that doubled as a lightbar. The EV6's wheels were pushed to the corners of the chassis, giving it a wide stance and a sleek, blade-sharp profile. The interior featured dual 12-inch screens on a linear dash, a floating center console, and seats covered in suede and leather. Ambient lighting added to the futuristic feel, and the EV6's design included unique touches like flush door handles and a hidden rear charge port. The EV6's interior was spacious, with generous legroom and headroom, although its cargo space was more limited compared to its competitors.

The 2021 Ford Bronco offered two engine options: a standard 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four with 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, and an optional 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 310 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The 2.3-liter engine came with a seven-speed manual transmission, while the 2.7-liter engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, which was also optional for the 2.3-liter. All Bronco models featured standard four-wheel drive. During testing in Holly, Michigan, the Bronco demonstrated its off-road prowess, handling challenging terrain with ease. The 2.7-liter engine provided ample power for both on-road and off-road driving, and the Sasquatch package's 35-inch tires enhanced its off-road capabilities. The Bronco's performance on pavement was solid, though the aggressive off-road tires made for a noisier ride.

The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line e-AWD, the most powerful model available at launch, featured two electric motors producing a combined 320 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque. With a 77-kilowatt-hour battery, the EV6 could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a claimed 4.6 seconds. The EV6's performance was impressive, with quick torque delivery and smooth power distribution. The regenerative braking system offered multiple settings, including a strong I-Pedal mode for one-pedal driving. However, the EV6's driving range was disappointing in cold weather, with the car delivering only 65 percent of its EPA-estimated range in below-freezing temperatures. Charging times varied, with the EV6 capable of accepting up to 240 kW, but real-world charging speeds were often lower due to the limitations of available charging stations.

The 2021 Ford Bronco's design emphasized modularity and practicality. The removable doors were designed with integrated grip handles and protective storage bags, and could be easily stored in the cargo hold. The Bronco also featured removable fenders and bumpers for easy repair and replacement, and trail sights on the hood for managing roof-mounted cargo. Inside, the Bronco's controls were designed for ease of use in off-road situations, with accessible switches for suspension settings and auxiliary equipment. The Bronco's interior was rugged and functional, with reinforced heavy-use points and stretchy mesh door pockets for storage.

The 2022 Kia EV6 reinvented several core functions, including pop-out door handles, paddle shifters, and a rotary shifter. The EV6's climate controls and stereo shortcuts were combined in a thin touchscreen, which could be frustrating to use while driving. The interior offered generous legroom and headroom, with reclining rear seats and optional heated cushions. However, the cargo space was limited, with just 24 cubic feet behind the seats and 50 cubic feet when folded. The EV6's towing capacity was rated at 2,300 pounds, and it featured an onboard power generator for running 120-volt equipment or charging another EV.

The 2021 Ford Bronco featured the latest version of Ford's SYNC 4 infotainment system, with an 8-inch standard touchscreen and an optional 12-inch upgrade. The G.O.A.T. (Go Over Any Terrain) system offered up to seven drive modes, depending on the trim level. The Bronco also offered a 10-speaker B&O sound system, voice-activated navigation, and a wireless charging pad with the Lux Package. The Sasquatch Package included position-sensitive Bilstein shock absorbers for enhanced off-road capability.

The 2022 Kia EV6's infotainment system was user-friendly, with dual 12-inch screens and a head-up display with augmented reality. The system included features like blind-spot monitoring, fast-charging, and a 14-speaker Meridian stereo on higher trims. The EV6 also offered a remote parking system and Highway Driving Assist (HDA), which included lane-keeping, adaptive cruise control, and automatic lane-changing on models with HDA 2. However, Kia Connect features were disabled for cars registered in Massachusetts due to compliance issues with state laws.

The 2021 Ford Bronco's safety features were packaged by trim level. The Base model included airbags, while higher trims added features like Ford Co-Pilot 360, pre-collision assist, blind-spot information, and a lane-keeping system. The High Package added a 360-degree camera and forward-sensing system. The Bronco also featured side curtain airbags designed to deploy appropriately in off-road situations.

The 2022 Kia EV6 came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including HDA, lane-keeping, cyclist and pedestrian detection, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added features like front parking sensors, automatic rear braking, and 360-degree cameras. The GT-Line trim included evasive steering assist and adaptive cruise control with machine learning. However, the EV6 had no published crash-test results from U.S. agencies.