2025 Ford Bronco Sport vs 2025 Subaru Forester

2025 Ford Bronco Sport vs 2025 Subaru Forester
The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport is a great pick for whoever wants a thrilling-to-drive but adventure-ready compact SUV. It has turbocharged, powerful engines, four-wheel drive standard, and an off-road, aggressive look. It's pitted against another offering, the 2025 Subaru Forester. These two go head-to-head on this Ford vs Subaru review.
Interior Comparison
The Bronco Sport's cabin is spacious and well-designed. Even though it features some intrusive hard plastics, the materials as a whole are solid and high-grade. Seating five, this little SUV's boxy design ensures ample headroom in both rows.
On the other hand, the Forester has distinctive accents on each trim, such as bronze on the Sport trim and suede on the Touring trim. The Sport trim also features StarTex® synthetic leather seats. Overall, the interior is characterized by great materials and attention to detail, which places it among competitors.
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2025 Ford Bronco Sport |
2025 Subaru Forester |
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Rows: 2 Max Seating: 5 Max Cargo Capacity: 65.2 Cubic Feet Upholstery Options: Easy-to-Clean Cloth, Unique Plaid Cloth Inserts, Leather-Trimmed Seats With Mini-Perforations |
Rows: 2 Max Seating: 5 Max Cargo Capacity: 74.4 Cubic Feet Upholstery Options: Cloth, Premium Cloth, StarTex (Water-Repellent), Leather |
Exterior Comparison
Ford draws inspiration from the larger Bronco to develop the smaller Bronco Sport. Roof rails are positioned on a square glass turret atop broad shoulders, featuring just the right amount of body cladding on the fenders and bumpers. A textured hood slopes down to a vertical front face marked by bold Bronco letters. It's accented by running lights and round headlights resembling eyehole screws. Rectangular panels broaden its visual appearance, while its tall design gives it a more prominent presence than its size suggests.
Meanwhile, the Forester has a boxy shape, featuring vertical ends and an expansive glass canopy that provides excellent outward visibility. Subaru tones down the rubberized cladding on the 2025 model but introduces air outlets within the existing cladding. Bronze accents on Sport models add a touch of flair.
Power and Performance
The Bronco Sport truly shines off-road, where it maneuvers beautifully in mild to moderate off-road conditions. Every Bronco Sport is equipped with a 181-horsepower turbocharged engine, except for the top-spec Badlands model, which receives a 238-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
All trims come standard with four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base engine delivers ample power for daily tasks and city driving. Compared to that, the Badlands' turbo-4 provides a welcome jolt of power for both on-road and off-road uses. The transmission works well most of the time.
The Forester features a suspension that is ideally tuned to provide a smooth ride, strongly absorbing off-road potholes and road bumps while maintaining comfort and control. The steering feels light but precise. In 2025, the Forester's 2.5-liter engine has been updated to be more efficient as well as quieter running, although its horsepower has dropped slightly to 180.
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2025 Ford Bronco Sport |
2025 Subaru Forester |
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Base Engine: Turbocharged 1.5-Liter 3-Cylinder Horsepower: 181 Torque: 190 lb-ft Transmission: 8-Speed Automatic |
Base Engine: 2.5-Liter 4-Cylinder Horsepower: 180 Torque: 178 lb-ft Transmission: Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT) |
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Available Engine: Turbocharged 2.0-Liter 4-Cylinder Horsepower: 238 Torque: 277 lb-ft Transmission: 8-Speed Automatic |
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Max Towing Capacity: 2,700 Pounds |
Max Towing Capacity: 3,000 Pounds |
Tech and Entertainment
The Bronco Sport's infotainment system features a large touchscreen that displays clear graphics, has quick response times, and has an intuitive user interface. There are also a few physical buttons located on the steering wheel and center stack.
The Forester's infotainment system features several useful functions. However, it does not measure up to the top systems offered by many competitors. Its touchscreen can sometimes respond slowly. Meanwhile, the optional Harman Kardon audio system delivers excellent sound quality.
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2025 Ford Bronco Sport Top 5 Technology Features |
2025 Subaru Forester Top 5 Technology Features |
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Safety Features
The Bronco Sport is equipped with a comprehensive array of standard driver-assistance technologies, including features such as blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention alert system.
The Forester is equipped with the latest EyeSight driver-assist technology, featuring an enhanced field of view, advanced software, and an electric brake booster.
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2025 Ford Bronco Sport Safety Features |
2025 Subaru Forester Safety Features |
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Wichita Falls Ford’s Bottom Line
This 2025 Ford Bronco Sport vs 2025 Subaru Forester comparison reveals that they are both great compact SUVs, ideal for slightly different drivers. The Bronco Sport is ideal for those who love the outdoors, need more power, and want a compact SUV that looks and feels ready to take on anything. On the other hand, the Forester is perfect for those who want a smooth and quiet ride.
In the end, the Bronco Sport is the better off-roader. Try one out today at Wichita Falls Ford near New Lawton, TX.
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*Disclaimer: This content was drafted with AI assistance for initial drafting, reviewed by a subject-matter expert for accuracy, and edited by our team of writers and editors.