2022 Ford Bronco vs 2021 Honda CR-V

The 2021 Honda CR-V had a design that blended into the crowded compact crossover market. Its styling was nearly identical to its competitors, with only minor details like the grille and some chromed plastic features setting it apart. The CR-V was available in eight colors, but most were shades of gray, black, or white, with vibrant colors like Aegean Blue Metallic and Radiant Red Metallic limited to higher trims. Inside, the CR-V offered black, gray, and ivory cloth or leather, with higher trims featuring wood panels and more chrome for a more upscale appearance. However, vehicles like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson had more distinctive styling, especially at mid-tier trims.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Bronco stood out with its attractive retro styling and go-anywhere attitude. The Bronco returned with two new range-topping models: the Everglades and the Bronco Raptor. The Everglades model was built for swamp trekking and deep water, featuring an intake snorkel, a Warn winch, and 35-inch Goodyear mud-terrain tires. The Bronco lineup included seven distinct trims, each with increasing off-road capabilities. Despite its rugged appearance, the Bronco offered a comfortable and refined ride on pavement, making it a versatile choice for both off-road adventures and daily driving.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was not designed for high-performance driving but rather for smooth and steady acceleration. It featured a 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine across all nine trims, excluding the hybrid versions. The CR-V's acceleration was around 7.8 seconds to 60 mph, which was competitive within its class. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) provided a consistent driving experience, though it lacked the engagement of conventional transmissions found in competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. The CR-V came standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available as an option. Its suspension setup included a MacPherson strut in the front and a multi-link suspension in the rear, offering decent handling and ride quality.

The 2022 Ford Bronco offered more powerful engine options, starting with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. An optional turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine delivered 330 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Bronco's seven-speed manual transmission, available only with the four-cylinder engine, featured a unique crawl gear for low-speed driving. A 10-speed automatic transmission was available for both engines. All Broncos came with four-wheel drive and an electronic two-speed transfer case. The Bronco excelled in off-road performance, with models like the Wildtrak and Everglades conquering challenging terrains with ease. Despite its off-road prowess, the Bronco provided a smooth and comfortable ride on pavement, outperforming rivals like the Jeep Wrangler.

The 2021 Honda CR-V prioritized functionality, offering 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 75.8 cubic feet of total cargo volume with the rear seats folded. The CR-V's cargo area could be accessed via a manual tailgate on lower trims, a power tailgate on the EX-L, and a hands-free power tailgate on the Touring trim. Roof rails were standard only on the top-of-the-line Touring trim. The CR-V's interior was designed to fit five people comfortably and carry their gear, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2022 Ford Bronco's boxy design contributed to its spacious interior, providing ample headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers. Cargo capacity varied depending on the model and roof type, with the two-door hard top offering up to 52.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and the four-door hard top providing up to 77.6 cubic feet. The Bronco featured clever storage solutions, including large armrest bins, netted door pockets, and accessory rails atop the dash. The Bronco's utility was further enhanced with external hard mounting points and removable fender flares, making it a versatile and practical choice for outdoor enthusiasts.

The 2021 Honda CR-V's base LX trim had a 5-inch color screen with Bluetooth connectivity, while higher trims featured a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The Special Edition and EX trims had a 180-watt audio system with six speakers, while the EX-L added two more speakers. The Touring trim offered a 300-watt system with a subwoofer and satellite navigation. Charging ports were available throughout the CR-V, with the Touring trim adding a wireless phone charger.

The 2022 Ford Bronco smartly integrated technology to enhance its off-road capabilities. The G.O.A.T. modes allowed drivers to select drivetrain and chassis settings optimized for specific terrains. The forward-looking trail camera provided confidence by showing where the tires would travel, while the Trail Turn Assist feature enabled sharper turns in tight spaces. The Bronco's Sync 4 infotainment system offered quick responses, sharp graphics, and helpful off-road apps. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with an available wireless charging pad.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star NHTSA overall crash test rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. It featured the Honda Sensing system, which included a multi-angle rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beam headlamps. The only feature not standard on the base LX trim was the blind spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, which was standard on the EX and higher trims.

The 2022 Ford Bronco included standard safety features like hill-start assist, hill descent control, and trailer sway control. Optional safety features included frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assist, rear parking sensors, and automatic high beams. The High package added front parking sensors and a surround-view camera system, while the Luxe package included adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist. The Bronco received four-out-of-five stars for frontal crash protection and three-out-of-five stars for rollover protection from the NHTSA. The IIHS awarded the Bronco its best score of "Good" in frontal, side, and roof strength tests.