Compare the2026 Kia Sportage PHEVVS 2026 Ford Bronco

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Kia Sportage PHEV are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Ford Bronco doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

With its standard Auto Emergency Braking with Junction Turning, the Kia Sportage PHEV is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Ford Bronco, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Sportage PHEV	Bronco
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	-10 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-3 MPH
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-23 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-10 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-21 MPH
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-22 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2 sec	1 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-23 MPH	-8 MPH
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.4 sec	.6 sec

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Kia Sportage PHEV achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the Ford Bronco, which scored only an “Acceptable” in these critical safety features.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige has standard Parking Collision Avoidance-Reverse that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Bronco doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sportage PHEV has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Ford charges extra for Cross Traffic Alert on the Bronco and it’s not available on the Base and the Bronco’s Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Sportage PHEV uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Bronco uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Sportage PHEV and the Bronco have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Sportage PHEV is much safer than the Bronco:

	Sportage PHEV	Bronco
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Chest Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the general design of front seat head restraints for their ability to protect front seat occupants from whiplash injuries. The IIHS also performs a dynamic test on those seats with “good” or “acceptable” geometry. In these ratings, the Sportage PHEV with standard seats is safer than the Bronco:

	Sportage PHEV	Bronco
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Restraint Design	GOOD	GOOD
Distance Below Top of Head	-24 mm	20 mm
Dynamic Test Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Seat Design	Pass	Pass
Torso Acceleration	10.1 g’s	13.8 g’s
Neck Force Rating	Low	Medium
Max Neck Shearing Force	3	132
Max Neck Tension	383	770

(Lower numerical results are better in all tests.)

The Kia Sportage PHEV has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Bronco is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

The Sportage PHEV comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Bronco’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage PHEV 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Ford covers the Bronco. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Bronco ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sportage PHEV’s reliability 17 points higher than the Bronco.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 1 place higher in reliability than Ford.

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage PHEV running on electricity gets better mileage than the Bronco 4-Door:

			MPGe
Sportage PHEV
AWD	Auto	Electric Motor	87 city/78 hwy
Bronco 4-Door
			MPG
AWD	Manual	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	18 city/22 hwy
		Badlands 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	17 city/18 hwy
		Sasquatch 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	16 city/18 hwy
AWD	Auto	3.0 turbo V6	15 city/16 hwy
		2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	18 city/22 hwy
		Outer Banks 2.7 turbo V6	19 city/21 hwy
		Sasquatch 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	17 city/19 hwy
		Big Bend 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	17 city/19 hwy
		Badlands 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	17 city/17 hwy
		Badlands/Stroppe/Heritage 2.7 turbo V6	17 city/17 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage PHEV running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Bronco 4-Door:

			MPG
Sportage PHEV
AWD	Auto	1.6 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	35 city/36 hwy
Bronco 4-Door
AWD	Manual	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	18 city/22 hwy
		Badlands 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	17 city/18 hwy
		Sasquatch 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	16 city/18 hwy
AWD	Auto	3.0 turbo V6	15 city/16 hwy
		2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	18 city/22 hwy
		Outer Banks 2.7 turbo V6	19 city/21 hwy
		Sasquatch 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	17 city/19 hwy
		Big Bend 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	17 city/19 hwy
		Badlands 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	17 city/17 hwy
		Badlands/Stroppe/Heritage 2.7 turbo V6	17 city/17 hwy

The Sportage PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 34 miles. The Bronco can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Sportage PHEV’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Bronco doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sportage PHEV uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Bronco requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Sportage PHEV has a standard locking fuel door, which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Bronco. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Sportage PHEV higher (6 out of 10) than the Ford Bronco (5 to 6). This means the Sportage PHEV produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Bronco every 15,000 miles.

The Kia Sportage PHEV comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Bronco.

For better stopping power the Sportage PHEV’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the Bronco:

	Sportage PHEV	Bronco
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	12.2 inches

The Sportage PHEV stops much shorter than the Bronco:

	Sportage PHEV	Bronco
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	221 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	149 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	146 feet	168 feet	Consumer Reports

The Sportage PHEV’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Bronco Big Bend’s standard 75 series tires. The Sportage PHEV’s tires are lower profile than the Bronco’s optional 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sportage PHEV has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Bronco Base. The Bronco’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For superior ride and handling, the Kia Sportage PHEV has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Ford Bronco has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Sportage PHEV has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Sportage PHEV flat and controlled during cornering. The Bronco’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige handles at .84 G’s, while the Bronco Raptor pulls only .68 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sportage PHEV is 5 inches shorter than the Bronco 4-Door, making the Sportage PHEV easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sportage PHEV is 5.9 inches narrower on average than the Bronco, making the Sportage PHEV easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

Unibody construction lowers the Sportage PHEV’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Bronco doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

The Sportage PHEV’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Bronco’s swing out door blocks loading from the passenger’s side.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sportage PHEV’s power cargo door can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Sportage PHEV’s power cargo door can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Bronco doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening cargo door.

The Sportage PHEV has a higher standard payload capacity than the Bronco (1164 vs. 1100 lbs.).

When two different drivers share the Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Bronco doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Bronco doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Bronco doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Sportage PHEV’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Bronco’s available power window controls are spread out on the center console where they can’t be seen without the driver completely removing his eyes from the road.

The Sportage PHEV’s standard Smart Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from pocket or purse. Push Button Start standard on the Bronco only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Bronco doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Sportage PHEV has a standard rear wiper. The Bronco Soft Top doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Sportage PHEV’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Bronco’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

The Sportage PHEV’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Bronco’s power mirror controls are on the center console where they can’t be seen without the driver completely removing his eyes from the road.

When the Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Bronco’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Kia Sportage PHEV and Ford Bronco offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Sportage PHEV offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Bronco’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Sportage PHEV has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Bronco. The Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Bronco.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Bronco doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Sportage PHEV has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Bronco and isn’t available on the Bronco Base.

The Sportage PHEV’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Bronco Base doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

Both the Sportage PHEV and the Bronco offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Sportage PHEV has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Bronco doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Sportage PHEV has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Bronco Outer Banks/Badlands/Wildtrak/Raptor offers wireless charging and it costs extra.

The Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Bronco doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Sportage PHEV, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Ford Bronco isn't recommended.

The Kia Sportage outsold the Ford Bronco by 25% during 2025.