2022 Kia EV6 vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was a compact crossover that captured the rugged spirit of its larger sibling, the Bronco, while offering a more urban-friendly design. It featured a modern retro aesthetic reminiscent of a Land Rover, with short front and rear overhangs that enhanced its off-road capabilities. The vehicle's design included tall fender wells and a tucked-in body, minimizing unnecessary adornments that could catch on obstacles during trail driving. The Bronco Sport's bold white lettering on the grille and tailgate, along with a modest Ford badge, added to its distinctive look. Inside, the Bronco Sport boasted a tastefully rugged interior with an uncluttered design, featuring a unique shape for the HVAC vents and an 8-inch infotainment screen. The interior trim varied across models, offering options from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia EV6 presented a sportier and more svelte design, drawing comparisons to the Ford Mustang Mach-E. Its lower and wider stance, along with a highback tail and lip spoiler, contributed to its dynamic appearance. The EV6's design featured voluptuous curves for both style and stability, with squinting headlights and a V-shaped pattern on the bumper. The vehicle's wedgy profile and smooth, silken finish, especially in matte silver paint, added to its allure. The interior of the EV6 was equally impressive, with dual 12-inch screens on a linear dash, a floating center console, and seats covered in suede and leather. Ambient lighting and futuristic design elements, such as a hockey-puck shifter and digital controls, further enhanced the EV6's appeal.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices, each tied to specific trim levels. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims were equipped with a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands and First Edition models featured a more powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. All models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, along with a terrain management system offering up to seven G.O.A.T. modes. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and generous ground clearance. On-road, it provided a comfortable ride, although the 1.5-liter engine could feel strained under pressure.

The 2022 Kia EV6, particularly the GT-Line e-AWD model, delivered impressive performance with its dual electric motors producing 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. The EV6 could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a claimed 4.6 seconds, with the upcoming GT trim promising even more power. The vehicle's torque delivery was seamless, providing a thrilling driving experience in various conditions. The EV6 offered multiple regenerative braking settings, allowing for one-pedal driving, and featured a quick drive mode selection system. However, the EV6's range was affected by cold weather, with real-world efficiency falling short of Kia's estimates. Charging was relatively fast, but the EV6's performance powertrain consumed more energy than expected in colder climates.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with its versatile cargo space, designed to accommodate two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes. Ford offered a range of accessories for transporting outdoor gear, and the roof could support up to 150 pounds. The cargo area featured a flip-up rear glass and an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table and inverter. The front cabin provided ample storage compartments, although taller drivers might find visibility challenging due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The 2022 Kia EV6 offered innovative features like pop-out door handles and a dual-function touchscreen for climate and stereo controls. The interior provided generous legroom and headroom, with reclining rear seats and optional heated cushions. However, the cargo space was limited, with 24 cubic feet behind the seats and 50 cubic feet when folded. The EV6's towing capacity was 2,300 pounds, and it featured an onboard power generator for running equipment or charging other EVs.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came equipped with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It offered Ford+Alexa and SiriusXM capability, along with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims included a Bang & Olufsen sound system and a 360-degree camera. The terrain management system provided various drive modes, and trail control technology assisted in off-roading. Intelligent access with push-button start was available on most trims, along with a digital instrument panel on higher models.

The 2022 Kia EV6 featured a user-friendly infotainment system with dual 12-inch screens, although wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a wired connection. The instrument panel displayed live feeds of blind spots and offered a head-up display with augmented reality. The EV6 included a 360-degree camera system, customizable "engine" sounds, and a 14-speaker Meridian stereo on higher trims. However, Kia Connect features were disabled for Massachusetts residents due to compliance issues.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, including pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and more. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control and other advanced features. All models featured AWD and a terrain management system with built-in traction control and stability features. However, crash-worthiness ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available.

The 2022 Kia EV6 lacked published test results but offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including HDA, lane-keeping, and cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added features like evasive steering assist and machine learning for adaptive cruise control. The EV6 also included a driver's knee airbag and various parking sensors.