Ford Bronco Sport vs. the competition: Crosstrek, RAV4, and Compass compared
01 · The short version
Small SUVs that promise to leave the pavement
The Ford Bronco Sport is a compact SUV built to go further off the road than most of its class, and it is usually shopped against three others: the Subaru Crosstrek, the Toyota RAV4, and the Jeep Compass. Each comes at the job from a different angle. Here is what the makers publish, side by side.
The short version
Pick the Bronco Sport for standard 4×4 with terrain modes, more cargo room than the Compass, and the 250-hp Badlands. Pick the RAV4 for fuel economy, the Crosstrek for a lower price and more ground clearance, and the Compass Trailhawk for a true low-range crawl gear.
02 · Side by side
The numbers, from each maker
Checked Sept. 23, 2026 against each maker’s own website and press materials. Where a maker did not publish a figure we could confirm, the cell is left blank.
| 2026 Ford Bronco Sport | 2026 Subaru Crosstrek | 2026 Toyota RAV4 | 2026 Jeep Compass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $31,845 (Big Bend) | $26,995 | $31,900 (LE) | — |
| Engines | 1.5L EcoBoost, 180 hp; 2.0L EcoBoost, 250 hp (Badlands) | 2.5L, 180 hp; hybrid, 194 hp | Hybrid; plug-in hybrid available | 2.0L turbo, 200 hp |
| Hybrid | No | Available | Standard | No |
| All-wheel drive | 4×4 standard | AWD standard | Available | 4×4 standard |
| EPA mpg, city/highway | 25/30 (1.5L) | — | 47/40 est. (LE, SE, XLE Premium) | 31 highway |
| Cargo behind rear seat | 32.5 cu ft (1.5L) | — | — | 27.2 cu ft |
| Cargo, rear seat folded | 65.2 cu ft (1.5L) | — | — | 59.8 cu ft |
| Ground clearance | 7.8 in; 8.1 in Badlands | 8.7 in; 9.3 in Wilderness | — | — |
| Maximum towing | 2,200 lb; 2,700 lb Badlands | 1,500 lb; 3,500 lb Wilderness | — | 2,000 lb |
| IIHS 2026 award | None | None (gas); Top Safety Pick+ (hybrid) | Not yet rated for 2026 | None |
Starting MSRPs exclude destination ($1,995 on the Bronco Sport) and are the makers’ prices, not ours. — means the maker did not publish a figure we could confirm.
03 · Where the Bronco Sport wins
What the Bronco Sport does best
4×4 with terrain modes
Every trim has 4×4 and G.O.A.T. modes: five on most trims, seven on the Badlands, which also adds a twin-clutch rear drive unit that can send torque to one rear wheel.
The most power here
The Badlands’ 2.0L EcoBoost makes 250 hp and 280 lb-ft, the most of any gas engine in this group.
Room behind the seats
32.5 cu ft behind the rear seat and 65.2 cu ft folded, against 27.2 and 59.8 in the Compass.
A big screen as standard
A 13.2-inch center touchscreen comes on every 2026 Bronco Sport.
04 · Where the others win
Where each rival beats the Bronco Sport
If one of these matters most, the other SUV may be the better buy.
RAV4: fuel economy
Every 2026 RAV4 is a hybrid, rated at an estimated 47 mpg city and 40 highway on the LE, SE, and XLE Premium, against 25 and 30 for the Bronco Sport 1.5L. A plug-in hybrid is also available. The Bronco Sport has no hybrid.
Crosstrek: price, clearance, towing
It starts $4,850 lower. It sits higher, at 8.7 inches and 9.3 on the Wilderness. The Wilderness also tows 3,500 lb to the Badlands’ 2,700. The Crosstrek Hybrid is a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+.
Compass Trailhawk: crawl ratio
Jeep’s Active Drive Low gives the Trailhawk a 20:1 crawl ratio, a true low range the Bronco Sport does not have, and it carries a full-size spare.
On crash tests, the Bronco Sport, the gas Crosstrek, and the Compass have no 2026 IIHS award, and the 2026 RAV4 has not been rated yet. The Bronco Sport is rated Marginal in the updated moderate overlap front test and Poor for whiplash protection in the rear.
05 · Which one fits
Match the SUV to how you drive
- Trails, boat ramps, and unplowed roads. The Bronco Sport Badlands, or the Crosstrek Wilderness if clearance and towing matter more than power.
- Commuting on Randall Road and I-90. The RAV4 hybrid’s mileage is hard to beat. The Bronco Sport is the choice if 4×4 and cargo room matter more.
- The most room for gear and a dog. The Bronco Sport’s 65.2 cu ft beats the Compass’s 59.8.
- More off-road ability. The full-size Ford Bronco adds a removable roof and doors and a true low-range transfer case.
See the Badlands and Big Bend side by side. The difference is clearest from the driver’s seat.
06 · FAQ
Questions about the Bronco Sport and its rivals
Bronco Sport or RAV4: which gets better gas mileage?
The RAV4, by a wide margin. Toyota estimates 47 mpg city and 40 highway for the 2026 RAV4 LE, SE, and XLE Premium hybrids. The Bronco Sport 1.5L is rated at 25 city and 30 highway, and there is no Bronco Sport hybrid.
Is 4×4 standard on the Bronco Sport?
Yes, on every trim. The Crosstrek’s AWD and the Compass’s 4×4 are standard too, and the RAV4 offers AWD.
Which small SUV tows the most?
Of these, the Crosstrek Wilderness at 3,500 lb. The Bronco Sport Badlands tows 2,700 lb, the other Bronco Sports 2,200 lb, and the Compass 2,000 lb.
Is the Bronco Sport a real off-roader?
For a compact SUV, yes. It has standard 4×4, up to seven terrain modes, and 8.1 inches of clearance on the Badlands. It does not have a low-range gear, which the Compass Trailhawk and the full-size Bronco do.
Which of these is safest?
The Bronco Sport, the gas Crosstrek, and the Compass have no 2026 IIHS award, and the 2026 RAV4 has not been rated yet. The Crosstrek Hybrid is a 2026 Top Safety Pick+, and so is the larger Subaru Forester.
Is the Bronco Sport more expensive than a Crosstrek?
Yes. The Bronco Sport Big Bend starts at $31,845 and the Crosstrek at $26,995, before destination. The gap narrows at the top, where the Badlands and the Crosstrek Wilderness compete.
07 · Sources
Where these figures come from
Every source was read Sept. 23, 2026.
- Huntley Ford: 2026 Ford Bronco Sport, from ford.com and Ford’s technical specifications
- Subaru: 2026 Crosstrek pricing and Subaru Crosstrek
- Toyota: 2026 RAV4
- Jeep: 2026 Compass questions and specifications
- IIHS: 2026 Top Safety Pick awards
Take a Bronco Sport down a gravel road
Every Bronco Sport we have in stock, with its trim and price.