2021 Kia Telluride vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was a highly anticipated addition to the Ford lineup, capturing the rugged spirit of its larger sibling, the Bronco. It featured a modern retro design that evoked a sense of adventure, with short front and rear overhangs, tall fender wells, and a body designed for trail driving. The exterior was marked by bold "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, with a modest Ford blue oval badge on the tailgate. The wheels varied by trim, ranging from 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels on the Base model to 18-inch Ebony Black-painted wheels on the Outer Banks and Badlands models. The interior was rugged yet tasteful, with a unique HVAC vent design, an 8-inch infotainment screen, and a rotary gear selector. The trim levels offered a step-up in interior features, from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats.

The 2021 Kia Telluride, available in four trim levels (LX, S, EX, and SX), was praised for its stylish and contemporary design. The top-of-the-line SX trim, especially with the Prestige package, transformed the Telluride into a luxury SUV with premium stitched Nappa leather, a simulated suede headliner, and heated and ventilated second-row seats. The Nightfall Edition package added a blacked-out look with gloss black 20-inch aluminum wheels and a unique grille insert. The Telluride's interior was a model of quality execution, with a solid and smooth transmission shifter, acoustic sound-absorbing glass, and a 14-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. The second-row captain’s chairs and third-row seats were designed for comfort and convenience, with features like side-window sunshades, overhead climate control, and ample storage for gadgets and tools.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims were equipped with a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. The Badlands and First Edition models featured a more powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 245 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. All models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD), along with a terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and generous ground clearance. On-road, it offered good manners, though the 1.5-liter engine could feel strained under pressure.

The 2021 Kia Telluride was powered by a single 3.8-liter V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Kia’s Drive Mode Select technology offered Snow, Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Smart driving modes. AWD was optional and included a low-speed Lock function for maximum traction. The Telluride handled various terrains well, from muddy trails to snowy conditions, and provided a smooth and compliant ride. Its suspension tuning minimized head-toss, and the self-leveling rear suspension on EX and SX trims ensured proper ride and handling when loaded. The Telluride averaged 20.5 mpg in combined driving, close to the EPA’s estimate of 21 mpg for AWD models.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was designed with active buyers in mind, offering features like cargo space engineered to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes and a catalog of over 100 accessories for transporting outdoor gear. The roof could hold up to 150 pounds (100 with a moonroof), and the 2.0-liter engine could tow up to 2,200 pounds. The cargo hold featured a flip-up rear glass, a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin had ample storage compartments, though taller drivers might find outward visibility challenging due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The 2021 Kia Telluride excelled in comfort and utility, with a 14-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a quiet cabin thanks to acoustic sound-absorbing glass. The second-row captain’s chairs were heated and ventilated, with side-window sunshades and overhead climate control. The third-row seat was accessible via a button that tilted and slid the second-row seat or through a pass-through between the captain’s chairs. The Telluride offered ample storage, with bins for smartphones, USB ports, and grocery bag hooks. The hands-free power liftgate revealed 21 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 46 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded and 87 cubic feet with the second-row seats down.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Ford+Alexa, and SiriusXM. FordConnect with 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard. The base audio system had six speakers, with a Bang & Olufsen sound system available on higher trims. The terrain management system offered up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, and trail control technology provided a cruise-control-like feature for off-roading. Intelligent access with push-button start, heated and leather-wrapped steering wheels, and a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel were available on higher trims.

The 2021 Kia Telluride came with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The LX and S trims had an 8-inch touchscreen, while the EX and SX featured a 10.25-inch screen with navigation. Kia’s UVO Link Lite connected services plan was free for five years, with additional plans available for remote engine start, climate control, and more. The Telluride could pair two smartphones to Bluetooth simultaneously and offered wireless smartphone charging on upper trims. The SX trim included a 10-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system, Driver Talk, and Quiet Mode. The Prestige package added a head-up display with blind-spot notifications.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, including pre-collision assist, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane centering, evasive steering assist, and more. AWD and a terrain management system with G.O.A.T. modes were standard on all models. Crash-worthiness ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available.

The 2021 Kia Telluride included the Drive Wise collection of safety features, such as blind-spot warning, lane-keeping assistance, forward-collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking. EX and SX trims had Highway Drive Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. Additional safety features included Rear Occupant Alert and Safe Exit Assist. The SX trim offered front parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a Blind-Spot View Monitor. The Telluride earned a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS and a 5-star rating from NHTSA, despite some lower frontal-impact scores.