Ford Bronco Sport vs Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport was a compact SUV that embraced rugged styling, setting itself apart from its sibling, the 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, while less distinctive, was functional, with new centre-console grab handles and auxiliary switches for aftermarket accessories.

In contrast, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid was available in two trims: Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy. It boasted a massive grille with horizontal slats, LED projector headlights, and distinctive LED daytime running lights. The Palisade's profile featured body-colour, heated side mirrors with power-folding capability on the Luxury Hybrid trim. The rear design was equally striking, with wide-spaced letters spelling the vehicle's name and LED taillights wrapping around the corners. Inside, the Palisade Hybrid impressed with its thoughtful design, offering features like H-Tex synthetic leatherette upholstery, power-adjustable seats, and a rich sense of craftsmanship. The interior was filled with organic shapes and well-considered storage solutions, providing a more luxurious feel compared to other non-luxury crossovers.

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 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive was standard. 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, the Bronco Sport remained composed and comfortable on highways, showcasing impressive on-road dynamics.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid, on the other hand, delivered a powerful performance with its 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery. The combined output reached 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, providing ample power for various driving scenarios. The Palisade Hybrid featured an advanced eight-speed automatic transmission and a next-generation hybrid system that optimized power distribution. This resulted in a smooth and efficient driving experience, with minimal noise and vibration inside the cabin. The steering was sharp, and the vehicle offered a comfortable ride, making it an excellent choice for long road trips.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport offered practicality without compromising its off-road focus. It provided more headroom in both the first and second rows compared to competitors like the Jeep Compass Trailhawk and Subaru Forester Wilderness. The cargo space was competitive, with 920 litres available with the rear seats up and 1,846 litres with them folded. The Bronco Sport also featured convenient storage solutions, including a dedicated device tray with USB ports and mounting points for recording off-road adventures. It had a towing capacity of up to 1,225 kilograms with the turbo-four engine, making it suitable for hauling small trailers.

In comparison, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid offered a total cargo capacity of 2,455 litres, trailing some competitors but surpassing others like the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder. While the second-row legroom was slightly compromised due to the battery's position, the Palisade Hybrid still provided ample space for passengers. The third row, although not as spacious as some rivals, offered decent headroom. The Palisade Hybrid's cabin was comfortable, with dual-zone climate control, multiple USB-C power outlets, and available captain's chairs. It also featured numerous storage compartments, enhancing its practicality for families.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport received a significant technology upgrade with the introduction of the Ford Sync 4 infotainment system. It featured a larger 13.2-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, providing a more premium feel. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the graphics were of high quality. The Bronco Sport also offered an available 360-degree camera system, which was particularly useful for off-road driving, providing an overhead view and low-angle front view to spot obstacles.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came well-equipped with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen and a matching digital instrument cluster. It supported HD and Sirius XM satellite radio, as well as wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Palisade Hybrid featured a Driver Talk intercom system for easy communication between rows. Higher trims included a 14-speaker Bose stereo and a built-in dashcam, which recorded front and rear views. The Palisade Hybrid also introduced "Stay Mode," allowing the climate control and infotainment system to run while the gas engine was off, enhancing convenience during stops.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with high scores in frontal and side crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded it a top "Good" score in the small overlap front test and a "Good" headlight rating. The Bronco Sport came with Ford's Co-Pilot360 safety suite, including features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included reverse automatic emergency braking and traffic sign recognition.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came standard with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic assist, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection. The blind-view monitor, typically reserved for higher trims, was standard on the XRT Pro and up. The Palisade Hybrid also featured a safe-exit alert indicator on the rear doors. While crash-test ratings for the 2026 model were not available at the time of writing, the 2025 Palisade received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.