2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was a highly anticipated addition to the Ford lineup, serving as a smaller sibling to the iconic Bronco. It drew inspiration from the original Bronco models of 1966 to 1996, aiming to compete with rugged vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota 4Runner. The Bronco Sport, however, was designed as a more urban-friendly crossover, perfect for daily commutes and weekend getaways. Its design featured a modern retro aesthetic, reminiscent of Land Rover's style, with short front and rear overhangs for improved off-road capability. The vehicle's exterior was marked by bold "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, with a subtle "SPORT" postscript, and a single Ford blue oval badge on the tailgate.

The Bronco Sport's interior was rugged yet tastefully designed, with a focus on functionality. The cabin featured a unique shape for the HVAC vents, an 8-inch infotainment screen, and a rotary gear selector. The interior trim varied across models, offering options from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats. The vehicle also provided practical features like a rubberized cargo floor and second-row seat protector, catering to the needs of active buyers. The Bronco Sport's design and features made it a versatile choice for those seeking a blend of style and practicality.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 marked a significant departure from its predecessor, the original Ioniq, as it embraced a new era of electrified mobility. Unlike the original Ioniq, which offered hybrid and electric variants, the Ioniq 5 was part of Hyundai's new Ioniq brand, dedicated solely to electric vehicles. This new model featured a sleek and polished exterior design, characterized by minimal character lines and a unique Parametric Pixel design. The Ioniq 5's exterior was adorned with pixelated LED lighting elements, creating a futuristic and concept car-like appearance.

Inside, the Ioniq 5's cabin offered a stark contrast to its exterior, with a focus on simplicity and comfort. The interior, available in black and gray, was designed to provide a relaxing "Living Space" for occupants. The driver's seat featured a "Relaxation" mode, allowing for a zero-gravity resting position when parked. The Ioniq 5 also incorporated sustainable materials, with recycled fibres used in door inserts and plastic bottles in the production of armrests and seats. The interior design was understated yet comfortable, with a focus on providing a pleasant driving and relaxation experience.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine options, each tied to specific trim levels. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims were equipped with a 1.5-litre EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands model, on the other hand, featured a more powerful 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbo four-cylinder engine, delivering 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. All Bronco Sport models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD), along with a terrain management system offering up to seven G.O.A.T. modes (Go Over Any Type of Terrain).

The Bronco Sport excelled in off-road conditions, thanks to its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and generous ground clearance. It provided a drama-free off-road experience, making it suitable for adventurous souls. However, it was also well-suited for everyday use, with good on-road manners. The 2.0-litre engine in the Badlands trim was particularly well-matched to the Bronco Sport's character, while the 1.5-litre engine could feel strained when pushed hard.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 offered a range of powertrain options, catering to different preferences. In Canada, it was available in two trims, Essential and Preferred, with the latter offering long-range, AWD, and Ultimate Package options. The base model featured a single 125-kW rear-mounted electric motor, producing 168 horsepower and offering a range of 354 kilometres. The Preferred long-range variants boasted a larger 168-kW rear motor, delivering 225 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, with a range of 488 kilometres. Opting for AWD added a dual-motor system, providing a total of 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque, with a range of 414 kilometres.

The Ioniq 5's performance was in line with its midsize crossover segment, offering a balanced driving experience. While not designed for driving enthusiasts, it provided a comfortable and composed ride. The vehicle featured four drive modes, including Sport mode, which added excitement by re-tuning the torque split and steering feel. However, using Sport mode could quickly deplete the available range. The Ioniq 5 also offered paddle shifters for adjusting regenerative braking properties, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was designed with active buyers in mind, offering clever features that went beyond the typical compact crossover. Its cargo space was engineered to accommodate two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes, and Ford provided a catalog of over 100 factory and aftermarket accessories for transporting outdoor gear. The roof could support up to 68 kilograms (150 pounds) or 45 kilograms (100 pounds) with a moonroof. The Bronco Sport's towing capacity varied by engine, with the 2.0-litre engine capable of towing up to 997 kilograms (2,200 pounds) and the 1.5-litre engine towing up to 907 kilograms (2,000 pounds).

The cargo area featured smart design elements, including a rear glass that flipped up and an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin offered ample storage compartments, including large door pockets and multiple cubbies. However, some drivers found the driving position challenging, with limited outward visibility due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 was built on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), designed to maximize interior space and utility. Despite its hatchback appearance, the Ioniq 5 was sized like an electric SUV, with a longer wheelbase than the seven-passenger Palisade. It offered a total interior volume of 3,786 litres, surpassing competitors like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4. While the Ioniq 5's rear cargo space was slightly smaller than its rivals, it prioritized passenger comfort.

The interior design followed the "Living Space" theme, with soft touchpoints and a focus on comfort. The centre console was designed as a moveable island, allowing for flexible use of space. The flat floor and modern front bench seat design provided easy access and exit from the vehicle. The leatherette seats were comfortable and supportive, catering to a range of driver sizes.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was equipped with the latest infotainment systems, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with SYNC 3 compatibility. It supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM, with FordPass Connect offering a subscription-based 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The base audio system included an AM/FM stereo with six speakers, while a Bang & Olufsen sound system was available on higher trims. The Bronco Sport's terrain management system offered multiple G.O.A.T. modes, with additional off-road assistance through trail control technology.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 boasted advanced technology, including a high-voltage, energy-dense system with vehicle-to-load capabilities. It supported ultra-fast charging, reaching 80 percent battery capacity in just 18 minutes, and could charge other devices or vehicles. The Ioniq 5 featured a redesigned Blue Link connected car app, offering simplified vehicle information and EV charge management. It also included Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, digital key, and over-the-air updates. The vehicle's 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment system were elegantly designed with anti-glare coating.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and more. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a voice-activated navigation system. The Bronco Sport received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with a Top Safety Pick+ and a five-star overall rating, respectively.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 featured Hyundai SmartSense, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems. It included lane keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and forward collision avoidance. The Ioniq 5 also offered Hyundai Highway Drive Assist I, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system with machine-learning adaptive cruise control. The vehicle's head-up display with augmented reality overlays provided additional driving information. While official safety ratings were not yet available, Hyundai's track record suggested high marks for the Ioniq 5.