Ford Bronco Sport vs Kia Telluride 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 was functional, with center-console grab handles and auxiliary switches for aftermarket accessories, while maintaining a durable feel suitable for off-road adventures.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold design that could polarize opinions. Its grille spanned the entire width of the front end, creating a flat, faceless look that divided opinions. The Telluride's personality varied with color and trim, with body-colored vertical strakes that could appear jarring in lighter shades. The X-Line and X-Pro models replaced these strakes with rectangular grille blocks and distinctive amber accent lights. The side profile featured angular fender sculpting and black plastic tabs atop each wheel well, while the rear view adopted a Range Rover-like style with rounded corners and vertical taillights. Inside, the Telluride Hybrid offered a simple horizontal dashboard layout with a luxurious two-tone palette in the SX Prestige trim, though some buttons were difficult to read.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport retained its powertrain options from the previous year. Most trims were equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands models featured a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Both engines came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The Bronco Sport excelled in off-road capabilities, offering features like Trail Control and a one-pedal feature for off-roading. The Sasquatch Package added 29-inch all-terrain tires, off-road suspension, and steel underbody protection. The Bronco Sport's G.O.A.T. modes allowed it to tackle various terrains, and it impressed with its on-road comfort and composure.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with electric motors, delivering a total output of 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. It featured a six-speed transmission and was available in the X-Line trim. The Telluride Hybrid offered a quiet and smooth ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas power. The X-Pro Prestige trim provided off-road capabilities, while the Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride due to its 20-inch wheels. The Telluride excelled in comfort, with a luxuriously smooth ride and minimal wind noise. It handled well on winding roads, though it wasn't particularly sporty. The brake pedal effort was soft, but the vehicle remained composed during panic stops.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport offered practicality without compromising its off-road focus. It provided more headroom in both rows compared to competitors like the Jeep Compass Trailhawk and Subaru Forester Wilderness. The Bronco Sport had competitive cargo space, with 32.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 65.2 cubic feet with them folded. It featured ample USB ports, a wireless charging pad, and a dedicated device tray. The Bronco Sport could tow up to 2,700 pounds with the turbo-four engine, surpassing the Jeep Compass Trailhawk but falling short of the Subaru Forester Wilderness.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid offered ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rear row was better suited for smaller passengers. The second row featured power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation in the Hybrid SX Prestige trim. The Telluride provided generous cargo space, with 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 89.3 cubic feet with the second-row seatbacks folded. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The Telluride could tow up to 5,000 pounds, or 4,500 pounds for the Hybrid. It featured convenient storage solutions, including a large center bin and deployable cupholders.

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. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, enhancing the premium feel with high-quality graphics. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though some functions relied on the touchscreen. An available 360-degree camera system provided safety and off-road assistance, with split-screen views for spotting obstacles.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch climate control screen. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with dual wireless phone chargers. The infotainment system was easy to use, though it occasionally required a hard tap to register inputs. The Telluride offered customizable themes and a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system in higher trims, delivering powerful and clear sound.

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 "Good" ratings in several tests and an "Acceptable" rating in the updated side-impact test. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Reverse automatic emergency braking and traffic sign recognition were optional on certain trims.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid had not yet received crash test scores from the NHTSA or IIHS. It offered standard advanced safety features, including frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added features like a surround-view camera system and automatic reverse braking. The Telluride's driver attention monitor occasionally triggered false alerts, but the highway driving assist was effective on long trips.