2020 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

Subaru had a winning formula with the Outback and aimed for incremental improvements in 2020. The sixth-gen Outback was built on Subaru’s Global Platform, boasting a 70% increase in structural rigidity. The base 2.5-liter engine, though seemingly similar to the 2019 model, had 90% new parts and offered 182 horsepower. For those seeking more power, the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine from the Ascent was available in higher trims. Externally, changes were subtle, mainly noticeable in the head- and taillights. Inside, the 2020 Outback featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen for all but the base trim, which had dual 7-inch screens. The innovative DriverFocus system used infrared monitoring to detect and alert sleepy or distracted drivers, adding a touch of luxury tech to the mix.

The Outback was available in seven trims, starting with the 2.5i at an MSRP of $26,645, which included LED headlights, keyless entry, and automatic climate control. The Premium trim, starting at $28,895, introduced the 11.6-inch touchscreen, dual-zone auto climate control, and heated front seats. The Limited trim, priced at $33,445, added features like blind-spot monitoring and a power liftgate. The Touring trim, at $37,345, offered ventilated front seats and a sunroof. The new Onyx Edition XT, starting at $34,895, included the more powerful engine and off-road enhancements. The Limited XT and Touring XT trims followed, adding the turbocharged engine for respective MSRPs of $37,745 and $39,695.

Ford had been teasing the new Bronco for years, and the 2021 Bronco Sport was introduced as its smaller sibling. The Bronco Sport captured some of the rugged styling cues of the larger Bronco but was a unibody crossover designed for everyday driving with weekend adventure capabilities. It had a modern retro look, reminiscent of the Land Rover lineup, with short front and rear overhangs for better trail driving. The front grille and tailgate featured bold "BRONCO" lettering, with a smaller "SPORT" postscript. The wheels varied by trim, with options to upgrade and upsize.

The interior of the Bronco Sport was tastefully rugged, with an uncluttered design and an 8-inch infotainment screen. The center stack had convenient storage cubbies, and the rotary gear selector was located in the center console. The interior trim stepped up from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats, and Navy Pier Leather power front seats on the First Edition. The cargo area was designed to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes, and the roof could support up to 150 pounds. The Bronco Sport also offered a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps as part of an optional cargo management package.

The 2020 Subaru Outback featured an upgraded 2.5-liter engine with 182 horsepower, a 7-hp increase over the 2019 model. This engine offered 26 mpg city and 33 highway, adding 1 mpg to both categories over the previous year. For those needing more power, the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine in the XT trims produced 260 hp and 277 pound-feet of torque, allowing the Outback to hit 60 mph in around 7 seconds. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which Subaru tuned to mimic a traditional automatic transmission, minimizing the typical CVT drawbacks.

The Outback's symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD) system was active all the time, providing consistent power delivery and reducing wear on components. With 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the Outback could handle most off-road conditions, though it wasn't a Jeep. The upgraded X-Mode on the Onyx XT, coupled with hill-descent control, enhanced its off-road capabilities. The Outback's approach, departure, and breakover angles were 18.6, 21.7, and 19.4 degrees, respectively, making it capable but not invincible off-road.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices. 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 trims had a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 245 hp and 275 lb-ft. All models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and 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 suspension travel. It had ground clearance ranging from 7.8 to 8.8 inches, depending on tire and wheel size. On-road, the Bronco Sport had good manners, though the 1.5-liter engine could sound strained when pressed hard. The 2.0-liter engine was better suited to the Bronco Sport's character, providing a more satisfying driving experience.

The 2020 Subaru Outback offered the functional benefits of a station wagon, with plenty of room for passengers and cargo. It had 32.5 cubic feet of trunk space, expandable to 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The increased width between the rear wheels contributed to a 1-cu-ft increase in passenger volume and a 2.4-cu-ft increase in overall volume. The Outback's interior was spacious, with ample legroom and headroom, even for taller passengers. Visibility was excellent, though the rear quarters had a significant blind spot.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with features like a cargo area designed to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes. The roof could support up to 150 pounds, 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 had smart features like a flip-up rear glass, 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 2020 Subaru Outback featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen, which was large and easy to navigate but suffered from lag. The screen was gorgeous, but climate-control functions were buried, and the system experienced lag in nearly every function, including map navigation and volume control. The camera resolution was also lacking, making the large screen's potential feel underutilized.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport had an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also offered Ford+Alexa and SiriusXM capability, with a standard FordConnect 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The base audio system had six speakers, while a Bang & Olufsen sound system was available on higher trims. The Bronco Sport's terrain management system had 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 standard on all trims except the Base model.

The 2020 Subaru Outback had a strong safety suite, including standard AWD and Subaru’s EyeSight system. However, the optical nature of EyeSight meant it could be obstructed by snow, mud, fog, or direct sunlight. The DriverFocus system, designed to alert distracted drivers, was problematic, frequently giving false alerts. Despite these issues, the Outback's safety features were impressive for the price.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, including pre-collision assist, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, a voice-activated touchscreen navigation system, and road-sign recognition. Trailer sway control was available with the tow package. AWD and the terrain management system with G.O.A.T. modes enhanced the Bronco Sport's safety.