2026 Ford Bronco Sport vs. 2026 Mazda CX-30

TrueCar says the Mazda CX-30's $27,870 MSRP undercuts the Ford Bronco Sport's $33,840 by $5,970, while the Bronco Sport wins on fuel economy at 25 city/30 highway mpg versus the CX-30's 24 city/31 highway, a real-world price gap that narrows only slightly based on what buyers actually pay. Lithia, citing NHTSA testing, says the Bronco Sport is safer than the CX-30 in both 35-mph front-crash and side-impact testing, with lower neck stress, hip force, and abdominal force readings across driver and passenger positions in the front-crash test, and lower abdominal and hip force in the side-impact test.

Which to choose, and why

$5,970 cheaper CX-30, thriftier Bronco Sport

TrueCar (opens in a new tab) says the Mazda CX-30's $27,870 MSRP undercuts the Ford Bronco Sport's $33,840 by $5,970, while the Bronco Sport wins on fuel economy at 25 city/30 highway mpg versus the CX-30's 24 city/31 highway, a real-world price gap that narrows only slightly based on what buyers actually pay.

The Bronco Sport crash-tests safer

Lithia (opens in a new tab), citing NHTSA testing, says the Bronco Sport is safer than the CX-30 in both 35-mph front-crash and side-impact testing, with lower neck stress, hip force, and abdominal force readings across driver and passenger positions in the front-crash test, and lower abdominal and hip force in the side-impact test.

Questions buyers ask

Which is cheaper, the Ford Bronco Sport or Mazda CX-30?

TrueCar (opens in a new tab) says the CX-30, by $5,970 at MSRP.

Which is safer, the Ford Bronco Sport or Mazda CX-30?

Lithia (opens in a new tab), citing NHTSA testing, says the Bronco Sport, in both front-crash and side-impact tests.

Side-by-side matrix

The published fields that can change the decision.

Ford Bronco Sport: 3 records · Mazda CX-30: 2 records.

Decision field	Ford Bronco Sport	Mazda CX-30
Exact EPA records	3	2
Model / option labels	2	1
Drive layouts	4-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	4-Wheel Drive
Engines / propulsion	1.5L 3-cyl SIDI & PFI, 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI	2.5L 4-cyl SIDI
Transmissions	Automatic (S8), Automatic 8-spd	Automatic (S6)
Fuel types	Regular	Regular
EPA classes	Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD	Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Combined efficiency	23–27 MPG/MPGe	25–27 MPG/MPGe
Electric range	Not listed	Not listed
Annual fuel / energy estimate	$2400–2800 per year	$2400–2600 per year

Head to head

Ford Bronco Sport vs. Mazda CX-30: size, power, capability and price.

Measure	Ford Bronco Sport	Mazda CX-30
Starting price (KBB base)	$33,840	$27,870
Top trim price (KBB base)	$42,260	$39,395
Horsepower	180-250 hp	186-227 hp
Torque	200-280 lb-ft	186-310 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph	n/a	6.3-8.8 sec
Curb weight	3,458-3,809 lb	3,395-3,527 lb
Length	173.1-173.4 in	173 in
Wheelbase	105.1 in	104.4 in
Cargo volume	60.6-65.2 cu ft	45.2 cu ft
Towing capacity	2,200-2,700 lb	n/a
Seating	5 seats	5 seats
Basic warranty	3 years	3 years

Figures are ranges across each model’s trims from Kelley Blue Book records (2026 model year); prices are KBB base prices.

The Mazda CX-30 starts $5,970 lower: $27,870 against $33,840 before options and fees.
On peak horsepower, the Ford Bronco Sport leads: 250 hp against 227 hp.
On peak torque, the Mazda CX-30 leads: 310 lb-ft against 280 lb-ft.
The Mazda CX-30 is lighter, comparing lightest trims: 3,395 lb against 3,458 lb.
On length, the Ford Bronco Sport leads: 173.4 in against 173 in.
On wheelbase, the Ford Bronco Sport leads: 105.1 in against 104.4 in.
On cargo volume, the Ford Bronco Sport leads: 65.2 cu ft against 45.2 cu ft.
Both list the same seating capacity: 5 seats.
Both list the same basic warranty: 3 years.

Background on each vehicle

What public sources say about the Ford Bronco Sport and the Mazda CX-30.

2026 Ford Bronco Sport

The Ford Bronco Sport is a compact crossover SUV sold by the Ford Motor Company and marketed under the Ford Bronco nameplate. It was released alongside the sixth generation Bronco body-on-frame SUV, featuring a similar retro and off-road styling in a smaller footprint. The vehicle is based on the front-wheel drive-based, unibody C2 platform, which is also used by the Ford Escape crossover and Maverick pickup.

Safety: The 2022 Bronco Sport was awarded the "Top Safety Pick +" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Source: Ford Bronco Sport (Wikipedia)

Powertrain. The Bronco Sport has two engine options. The base engine is a turbocharged 1.5-liter Ecoboost I3 engine producing 181 hp (184 PS; 135 kW) at 6,000 rpm, and 190 lb⋅ft of torque at 3,000 rpm.

NHTSA rated the 2024 Ford Bronco Sport overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.

Recent recalls (17 campaigns across the latest model years)

August 2026, Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles. The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power. Consequence: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
August 2026, Structure:Body. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Maverick, F-150, and Bronco Sport vehicles. Certain vehicle joints may be improperly tightened. This can lead to detached parts, unsecured cargo, degraded crash protection, electrical system failure, or a loss of vehicle stability. Consequence: Improperly tightened vehicle joints may lead to a loss of vehicle control, electrical failure, or detached parts, increasing the risk of a crash or fire.
May 2026, Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Bronco Sport and 2022-2026 Maverick vehicles. The front lower control arm ball joints may have been incorrectly installed or incorrectly repaired at the vehicle assembly plant, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the… Consequence: A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Owners filed 108 complaints with NHTSA for the 2024 Ford Bronco Sport, most often about electrical system (27), engine (24), power train (21).

2026 Mazda CX-30

The Mazda CX-30 is a subcompact crossover SUV produced by Mazda. Based on the fourth-generation Mazda3, it debuted at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, to slot in between the CX-3 and the CX-5.

Safety: Safety features The CX-30 is equipped with seven airbags, Isofix, ABS, and EBS.
Reception: The CX-30 received positive reviews upon its release. Top Gear gave it a score of 7 out of 10, with the verdict being: "Good car, the Mazda CX-30.
Awards: The CX-30 won the 2020 Red Dot Design Award in the Passenger Car category, as well as the 2020 Autozeitung Design Trophy in the SUV category.

Source: Mazda CX-30 (Wikipedia)

NHTSA rated the 2025 Mazda CX-30 overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.

Recent recalls (2 campaigns across the latest model years)

May 2025, Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module:Software. Mazda North American Operations is recalling certain 2024-2025 Mazda3 and CX30 vehicles. The Sophisticated Air Bag Sensor (SAS) units may set an error code and deactivate the air bags, due to a low battery condition. Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy in the event of a crash increase the risk of injury.
September 2024, Lane Departure: Sensing System: Camera. Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024 Mazda 3, CX-30, and 2025 CX-50 vehicles. A malfunction in the forward sensing camera (FSC) may prevent the automatic emergency braking system and the lane-keep assist system from functioning. In addition, the headlights… Consequence: Automatic braking, steering assist, and headlight control systems that do not function as intended can increase the risk of a crash.

Owners filed 26 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Mazda CX-30, most often about electrical system (12), unknown or other (10), visibility/wiper (3).

Open both dossiers

Resolve the exact engine, drive and EPA ID.

01 · 2026Ford Bronco Sport3 configurations →02 · 2026Mazda CX-302 configurations →

Comparison answer desk

12 answers for this exact pairing.

Q01Which is more efficient: the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport or the 2026 Mazda CX-30?

Efficiency

The 2026 Mazda CX-30 lists the higher combined-efficiency midpoint in this snapshot (26 vs. the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport's 25 MPG/MPGe).