Compare the2026 Chevrolet EquinoxVS 2026 Ford Bronco Sport

The Chevrolet Equinox offers an optional Surround Vision and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Ford Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the Equinox and the Bronco Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Equinox is much safer than the Bronco Sport:

	Equinox	Bronco Sport
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Chest Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Chevrolet Equinox is safer than the Bronco Sport:

	Equinox	Bronco Sport
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	80	184
Neck Tension	245 lbs.	335 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	1.42 in
Pelvis	GOOD	POOR
Pelvis Force	848 lbs.	1383 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.57 in	1.77 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.3 in	1.34 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	736 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Equinox’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Bronco Sport’s (6 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in initial quality. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated below average.

On the EPA test cycle the Equinox gets better mileage than the Bronco Sport:

			MPG
Equinox
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/28 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/29 hwy
Bronco Sport
	AWD	Sasquatch 1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	23 city/26 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Equinox uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Bronco Sport Badlands requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Equinox higher (6 out of 10) than the Ford Bronco Sport (5 to 6). This means the Equinox produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Bronco Sport every 15,000 miles.

The Equinox FWD has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Equinox’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Bronco Sport:

	Equinox	Bronco Sport
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	12.1 inches

The Equinox stops shorter than the Bronco Sport:

	Equinox	Bronco Sport
60 to 0 MPH	126 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the Equinox has larger tires than the Bronco Sport (235/65R17 vs. 225/65R17).

The Equinox RS’ optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Bronco Sport’s optional 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Equinox RS offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Bronco Sport’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Equinox has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Equinox’s wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the Bronco Sport (107.5 inches vs. 105 inches).

The Equinox RS AWD handles at .79 G’s, while the Bronco Sport Outer Banks pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Equinox LT/ACTIV has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Bronco Sport Base/Big Bend (8.1 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the Equinox to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Equinox has standard flush composite headlights. The Bronco Sport has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The Equinox has .4 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear legroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Bronco Sport.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Equinox’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Equinox’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The Equinox ACTIV/RS’ optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Equinox’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Bronco Sport does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Equinox’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its driver’s window also automatically closes, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Bronco Sport’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. The Bronco Sport Outer Banks/Badlands’ rear windows don’t open automatically.

The Equinox’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from pocket or purse. Intelligent Access standard on the Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear doors.

The Equinox’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Bronco Sport’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

When the Equinox ACTIV/RS with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Bronco Sport’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Equinox has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Bronco Sport. The Equinox ACTIV/RS also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Bronco Sport.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Equinox ACTIV/RS keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Equinox has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Bronco Sport Outer Banks/Badlands.

Compared to the Ford Bronco Sport, the Chevrolet Equinox eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the overhead console.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Equinox offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Equinox is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox retains 50.37% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 48.91% resale value of the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport after five years, which can save the Chevrolet’s owner up to $1641 in depreciation.

The Chevrolet Equinox outsold the Ford Bronco Sport by over two to one during 2025.