2024 Ford Bronco vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2024 Ford Bronco embraced a retro design that harkened back to the 1960s, particularly in its two-door variant, which was more successful in capturing the nostalgic aesthetic than the four-door version. The Sasquatch Package, a notable upgrade, enhanced the Bronco's rugged appearance with a suspension lift and 35-inch mud-terrain tires, giving it a wide stance and purposeful look. Without this package, the Bronco's design seemed incomplete, as the factory tires failed to fill the fender flares adequately. The interior of the Bronco, especially in the Big Bend trim, featured marine-grade upholstery that was practical but not breathable, making it less comfortable in hot conditions. The dashboard design paid homage to the original Bronco with a BRONCO-stamped panel and grab handles, while the 8-inch digital display and 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system provided modern functionality.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport presented a sportier image within the Range Rover family, with a shorter wheelbase and chopped top contributing to its athletic appearance. Despite its tall stance, the Sport's design sometimes appeared narrow from certain angles. The SV Edition 2, the highest-performance model, featured unique elements like carbon-fiber wheels and a hood with an exposed patch of the lightweight material. Inside, the Range Rover Sport maintained a minimalist aesthetic, with a focus on luxury and comfort. The interior was adorned with red leather upholstery and sport seats, while the dashboard and center console were smooth and uncluttered. The high console and door panels created a cockpit-like feel, which, while sporty, made the front seats feel slightly cramped. Material quality was high, though the use of reflective piano black plastic was a bit excessive.

The 2024 Ford Bronco offered a range of powertrains, starting with a standard turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. This engine could be paired with a seven-speed manual transmission or a 10-speed automatic. The optional 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 delivered 330 hp and 415 lb-ft, while the Raptor model boasted a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 with 418 hp and 440 lb-ft, allowing for a higher towing capacity of 4,500 pounds. The Bronco's part-time 4WD system was standard, with an advanced automatic 4WD system available. Off-road technologies like Trail Control, Trail One-Pedal Drive, and Trail Turn Assist enhanced its capability on challenging terrain. However, the Bronco's fuel efficiency was lacking, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg combined for the Big Bend Sasquatch. Despite its off-road prowess, the Bronco's on-road performance was less refined, with noticeable wind and tire noise.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. The base SE model featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with 355 hp and 369 lb-ft, while the Dynamic SE offered a higher output of 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. The plug-in hybrid powertrain in the Autobiography model delivered 543 hp and 590 lb-ft, and the SV Edition Two's twin-turbo BMW V8 produced 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. The SV Edition Two could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, with a top speed of 180 mph. The Range Rover Sport's sport-tuned air suspension and four-wheel steering provided agile handling, while its Terrain Response system and off-road capabilities remained strong. The SV Edition Two's carbon-ceramic brakes and luxurious ride quality further enhanced its performance credentials.

The 2024 Ford Bronco, particularly in the four-door configuration, offered ample interior space, accommodating four adults comfortably. The absence of a rollbar in front of the rear-seat passengers, unlike its rival the Jeep Wrangler, provided a more spacious feel. The marine-grade vinyl upholstery, while practical, trapped moisture, making cloth seats a preferable option. The Bronco's modular design allowed for removable roof panels and doors, offering a customizable open-air experience. Cargo space was generous, with the two-door model providing 22.4 cubic feet and the four-door offering up to 83 cubic feet with seats folded. The Bronco's tailgate swung open to the right, and the hardtop's back window lifted for easy access to the cargo area.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, offered a midsize two-row, five-seater configuration. While it lacked a third row, it provided adequate headroom and legroom for most passengers, with reclining rear seats and 20-way power-adjustable front seats enhancing comfort. The cargo space measured 31.9 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 53 cubic feet with seats folded. Although less than some competitors, it was still substantial. The Range Rover Sport's power-operated tailgate and air suspension's "access height" setting facilitated loading and unloading. The vehicle's towing capacity was impressive, with turbo-six and V8 models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds.

The 2024 Ford Bronco came equipped with a 12-inch touchscreen Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect services, and a seven-speaker stereo. Higher trims offered a connected navigation system and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. However, the Sync 4 system experienced connectivity issues with Apple CarPlay and inconsistent voice recognition performance. The Bronco Trail App provided access to trail maps and information, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition 2 test car included "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers, offering a unique, albeit slightly gimmicky, experience. The Meridian audio system, with up to 29 speakers, delivered high-quality sound.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend included standard safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and a backup camera. The Mid Package added Ford Co-Pilot360 technologies, including lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Bronco received favorable crash test ratings from the IIHS, except for its headlight performance, and a four-star frontal-impact rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a comprehensive suite of driver-assist features, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. The standard 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though the parking sensors were overly sensitive. At the time of publication, safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available for the current-generation Range Rover Sport.