2026 Ford Bronco Sport vs. 2027 Subaru Outback

CarGurus found no notable flaws with the redesigned Outback in terms of price, performance and practicality, calling it a top choice for adventure-bound shoppers, while it says the Bronco Sport was designed primarily with off-road enthusiasts in mind but is still a good all-around crossover. The Bronco Sport generally starts at a slightly lower price than the Outback. Choose the Bronco Sport for the lower price and more overt off-road styling; choose the Outback if CarGurus' broader endorsement matters more to you.

Which to choose, and why

The verdicts on each

CarGurus (opens in a new tab) says in terms of price, performance and practicality, it found no notable flaws with the redesigned Outback, making it a top choice for adventure-bound shoppers, and that the Bronco Sport, launched for the 2021 model year on the Ford Escape platform with the styling and off-road focus of its namesake, was designed primarily with off-road enthusiasts in mind but is still a good all-around crossover.

Price

VersusGuy (opens in a new tab) says the Bronco Sport generally starts at a slightly lower price than the Outback. iSeeCars (opens in a new tab) prices a new Bronco Sport between $30,577 and $43,626, against $32,586 to $46,228 for the Outback.

Questions buyers ask

Which is cheaper, the Ford Bronco Sport or Subaru Outback?

VersusGuy (opens in a new tab) says the Bronco Sport generally starts at a slightly lower price than the Outback.

Which has the stronger CarGurus verdict?

CarGurus (opens in a new tab) says it found no notable flaws with the redesigned Outback, calling it a top choice for adventure-bound shoppers.

Side-by-side matrix

The published fields that can change the decision.

Ford Bronco Sport: 3 records · Subaru Outback: 3 records.

Decision field	Ford Bronco Sport	Subaru Outback
Exact EPA records	3	3
Model / option labels	2	2
Drive layouts	4-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	All-Wheel Drive
Engines / propulsion	1.5L 3-cyl SIDI & PFI, 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI	2.4L 4-cyl SIDI, 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI
Transmissions	Automatic (S8), Automatic 8-spd	Automatic (AV-S8)
Fuel types	Regular	Regular
EPA classes	Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD	Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Combined efficiency	23–27 MPG/MPGe	23–27 MPG/MPGe
Electric range	Not listed	Not listed
Annual fuel / energy estimate	$2400–2800 per year	$2400–2800 per year

Head to head

Ford Bronco Sport vs. Subaru Outback: size, power, capability and price.

Measure	Ford Bronco Sport	Subaru Outback
Horsepower	180-250 hp	180-260 hp
Torque	200-280 lb-ft	178-277 lb-ft
Curb weight	3,458-3,809 lb	3,741-3,982 lb
Length	173.1-173.4 in	191.7 in
Wheelbase	105.1 in	108.1 in
Cargo volume	60.6-65.2 cu ft	80.5 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.

On peak horsepower, the Subaru Outback leads: 260 hp against 250 hp.
On peak torque, the Ford Bronco Sport leads: 280 lb-ft against 277 lb-ft.
The Ford Bronco Sport is lighter, comparing lightest trims: 3,458 lb against 3,741 lb.
On length, the Subaru Outback leads: 191.7 in against 173.4 in.
On wheelbase, the Subaru Outback leads: 108.1 in against 105.1 in.
On cargo volume, the Subaru Outback leads: 80.5 cu ft against 65.2 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 Subaru Outback.

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).

2027 Subaru Outback

The Subaru Outback is an automotive nameplate used by the Japanese automaker Subaru for two different themed vehicles: a Legacy-derived station wagon, the Outback (1994–present, also sold as Legacy Outback in some markets), and an Impreza-derived off-road themed hatchback, the Outback Sport. Most versions of the Outback wagon and Outback Sport have had all-wheel drive as standard equipment.

Source: Subaru Outback (Wikipedia)

Safety. Based on the fifth generation Legacy, the fourth generation Subaru Outback was introduced in April 2009 at the New York Auto Show, the fifteenth anniversary of the first Outback's introduction at the same event. The Outback was introduced in Japan on May 20, 2009. The "Legacy" prefix has been dropped internationally.

Design. The seventh-generation Outback transitioned to a crossover SUV compared to the raised station wagon of its predecessor with a boxier shape, taller roofline, increased use of exterior body cladding, and its platform is not shared with a sedan car (with the discontinuation of the Legacy in 2025).

NHTSA rated the 2025 Subaru Outback 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)

November 2023, Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch. Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail. Consequence: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
September 2023, Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft. Consequence: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.

Owners filed 81 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Subaru Outback, most often about forward collision avoidance (20), unknown or other (18), lane departure (14).

Open both dossiers

Resolve the exact engine, drive and EPA ID.

01 · 2026Ford Bronco Sport3 configurations →02 · 2027Subaru Outback3 configurations →

Comparison answer desk

12 answers for this exact pairing.

Q01Which is more efficient: the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport or the 2027 Subaru Outback?

Efficiency

Neither the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport nor the 2027 Subaru Outback separates on this field: both list a 25 combined MPG/MPGe midpoint in this snapshot.