2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid vs 2025 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport was a compact SUV that embraced rugged styling, setting itself apart from its sibling, the Ford Escape. Built on the C2 unibody platform, the Bronco Sport featured a rectangular grille with inset round headlights and "Bronco" lettering, reminiscent of the larger Bronco model. Its square silhouette, long flat hood, and upright greenhouse gave it a distinctive look that was both approachable and rugged. For 2025, the Bronco Sport introduced new off-road packages, such as the Black Diamond and Sasquatch Packages, which added modular steel bumpers, bash plates, and skid plates for enhanced off-road protection. The interior, while less distinctive, was functional, with center-console grab handles and auxiliary switches for aftermarket accessories, maintaining a balance between style and practicality.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid continued the evolutionary improvements seen in previous generations, with a focus on maintaining its attractive design. The third-generation Crosstrek featured a new sheet metal and chassis construction, with a frameless grille and aerodynamic air inlets around the wheel arches for improved efficiency. The Crosstrek Hybrid was available in two trims, Sport and Limited, and offered a cabin that balanced rugged utility with refined comfort. The interior featured soft-touch surfaces, durable plastics, and distinctive orange contrast stitching on the StarTex seats. The Limited Hybrid trim added upscale touches like chrome-trimmed power window switches and a heated steering wheel, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport retained its powertrain options from the previous year, offering a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque for most trims. The Badlands model featured a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, with the AWD system including a dual-clutch rear-drive unit for torque vectoring. The Bronco Sport's off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like Trail Control and a new one-pedal feature for 2025. The Sasquatch Package added 29-inch all-terrain tires, off-road suspension, and steel underbody protection, making it a serious contender for off-road enthusiasts. Despite its off-road prowess, the Bronco Sport remained composed and comfortable on the road, offering a balance of capability and drivability.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid offered a new hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter Atkinson/Miller-cycle engine with a 118-horsepower traction motor for a total system output of 194 horsepower. This made it the fastest Crosstrek to date, with smoother acceleration compared to the gas-only version. The hybrid system utilized two motor-generators, one for engine start/stop and battery charging, and the other as a drive motor and for regenerative braking. During testing, the Crosstrek Hybrid achieved 31 miles per gallon, slightly below the EPA estimate of 36 mpg, likely due to off-road driving conditions. The Crosstrek's AWD system, combined with Subaru's X-Mode traction management, provided excellent capability on variable terrain, although the steering feel remained light and somewhat disconnected. The Crosstrek Hybrid offered a balance of efficiency and off-road capability, appealing to those seeking a versatile crossover.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport offered practicality without compromising its off-road focus. It provided more headroom in both rows compared to competitors like the Jeep Compass Trailhawk and Subaru Forester Wilderness. While it lagged in second-row legroom, it offered competitive cargo space, with 32.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 65.2 cubic feet with them folded. The Bronco Sport featured a rotary shifter, wireless charging pad, and multiple USB ports for convenience. It could tow up to 2,700 pounds with the turbo-four engine, surpassing some rivals but falling short of the Forester Wilderness's capacity.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid improved upon its predecessors by offering more horsepower and cargo space. With 18.6 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rear seats and 50.6 cubic feet with them folded, it provided ample storage without the compromises of previous hybrid models. The Crosstrek Hybrid retained a 16.6-gallon gas tank, allowing for an impressive range of up to 597 miles. Rear-seat legroom measured 36.7 inches, surpassing competitors like the Corolla Cross Hybrid. While front storage was limited, the Crosstrek Hybrid offered practical features like a wireless charging pad and deep door pockets.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport upgraded to the Ford Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring a 13.2-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, enhancing the vehicle's premium feel. The infotainment system included detailed animations and easy-to-read text, although some functions relied on the touchscreen. An available 360-degree camera system provided safety and off-road assistance, with split-screen views for obstacle detection.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid came equipped with an 11.6-inch touchscreen, but the infotainment system lagged behind competitors. The software was slow, and many controls were touchscreen-based, which could be frustrating. However, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, allowing drivers to bypass the Starlink software. The Limited Hybrid trim featured a Harman Kardon stereo and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, offering configurable displays, although the navigation map was limited to the native system.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side crash tests. The IIHS awarded it "Good" scores in several tests, with an "Acceptable" rating in the updated side-impact test. Standard safety features included Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, with options for reverse automatic emergency braking and traffic sign recognition on higher trims.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid did not receive a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, scoring "Marginal" in the updated moderate overlap front crash test. However, the NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating. Subaru's EyeSight ADAS suite was standard, offering features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and pre-collision braking, although it lacked a semi-autonomous driving system.