Ford Bronco Sport vs Hyundai IONIQ 9

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport was a compact SUV that embraced rugged styling, setting itself apart from the more urban-focused Ford Escape. It featured a rectangular grille with inset round headlights and "Bronco" lettering, reminiscent of the larger Bronco model. The Bronco Sport maintained a square silhouette with a long, flat hood and upright greenhouse, giving it a cute yet rugged appearance. For 2025, the styling remained largely unchanged, except for the introduction of off-road packages like the Black Diamond and Sasquatch, which added modular steel bumpers and underbody protection. The interior was functional, with centre-console grab handles and auxiliary switches for aftermarket accessories, though it lacked the distinctiveness of the exterior.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 was an electric crossover with a design that divided opinions. Its aerodynamic shape, inspired by smooth pebbles and midcentury modern sofas, aimed to house seven passengers comfortably. Measuring 5,060 millimetres in length with a 3,130 mm wheelbase, it offered impressive interior volume. Despite its size, the Ioniq 9 achieved a 0.27 drag coefficient, making it more aerodynamic than larger SUVs. The design featured a swooping roofline and a stubby rear end, with LED taillights wrapping around the rear. The Ioniq 9 was available in various paint colours, with trim-specific options, and offered wheels ranging from 19 to 21 inches. Inside, it boasted a spacious and airy cabin with flat floors, a sliding centre console, and a panoramic sunroof in higher trims.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport retained its powertrain options from the previous year. Most trims were equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands model featured a more powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with manual-shifting capability available on the 2.0-litre models. All-wheel drive was standard, featuring a dual-clutch rear-drive unit for torque vectoring. The Bronco Sport excelled in off-road capabilities, offering features like Trail Control and multiple drive modes, including Rally and Rock Crawl. Despite its off-road prowess, it remained composed and comfortable on highways.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 came with a 110.3-kWh battery pack on Hyundai's e-GMP platform. The base Essential trim featured a single rear-mounted 160-kW electric motor, delivering 215 horsepower. Other trims had a dual-motor AWD system, with power outputs ranging from 303 hp to 422 hp. The Ioniq 9 impressed with its energy efficiency, often exceeding the estimated 500-kilometre range. Its chassis was softly sprung, providing a smooth ride, though it lacked agility in corners. The Ioniq 9 was exceptionally quiet, thanks to active noise cancellation and sound-absorbing features. It offered towing capacities of 1,587 kilograms for RWD and 2,268 kilograms for AWD models. Charging options included Tesla-style NACS superchargers and CCS-port Level 3 chargers, with fast charging capabilities.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport offered practicality alongside 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 excelled in first-row legroom, it lagged in second-row legroom. Cargo space was competitive, with 920 litres behind the rear seats and 1,846 litres with them folded. The Bronco Sport featured ample storage solutions, including a device tray with USB ports and mounting points. It could tow up to 1,225 kilograms with the turbo-four engine, surpassing some rivals. Towing packages with Trailer Sway Control were available with certain packages.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 focused on family-SUV practicality, seating seven with a middle-row bench or six with captain's chairs in the Ultimate Calligraphy Package. It offered 1,086 millimetres of middle-row legroom, though the third row felt tight for adults. The Ioniq 9's interior space was comparable to the Hyundai Palisade, with easy access and generous headroom. Dual-zone climate control, air vents in all rows, and a heat pump were standard. Cargo space was ample, with 620 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,462 litres with seats folded. The small front trunk was best suited for storing charging cables.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport upgraded to the Ford Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring a 13.2-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, enhancing the premium feel. The system offered detailed graphics and animations, though some functions relied on the touchscreen. An available 360-degree camera system aided off-road driving, providing overhead and low-angle views with tire overlays.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 featured dual curved 12.3-inch displays, similar to those in other Hyundai models. While the screens looked good, they were prone to fingerprints and glare. Standard features included SiriusXM Satellite Radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a wireless charging pad. The Ioniq 9 offered six USB-C ports for device charging. A 14-speaker Bose audio system, standard in higher trims, delivered impressive sound quality.

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 a "Good" score in the small overlap front test and a "Marginal" score in the updated moderate overlap front test. Standard safety features included Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, with options for reverse automatic emergency braking and traffic sign recognition.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. However, it came equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including collision avoidance, lane-guidance technologies, and Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist 2. The Preferred AWD's Luxury package and Preferred AWD+ trims added a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor.