Compare the2026 Ford Bronco SportVS 2026 Mazda CX-50

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Bronco Sport Sasquatch/Badlands’ standard Trail Control allows you to creep down safely. The CX-50 doesn’t offer Trail Control.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Bronco Sport has standard Cross Traffic Alert with rear Cross Traffic Braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus offers Rear Cross Traffic Braking.

Both the Bronco Sport and the CX-50 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Bronco Sport is safer than the Mazda CX-50:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Bronco Sport is safer than the Mazda CX-50:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are over 5 times as many Ford dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Bronco Sport’s warranty.

The Bronco Sport has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Bronco Sport’s reliability 24 points higher than the CX-50.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Bronco Sport third among small suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The CX-50 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. With 32 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Ford higher than Mazda.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 3 places higher in reliability than Mazda.

The Bronco Sport has more powerful engines than the CX-50:

As tested in Consumer Reports the Ford Bronco Sport turbo 3 cyl. is faster than the Mazda CX-50 4 cyl.:

As tested in Motor Trend the Bronco Sport Badlands 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Mazda CX-50 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the Bronco Sport gets better mileage than the CX-50:

Regardless of its engine, the Bronco Sport’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Mazda only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the CX-50 Turbo/Hybrid.

The Bronco Sport has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-50 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (16 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Bronco Sport has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Bronco Sport higher (5 to 6 out of 10) than the Mazda CX-50 (4 to 6). This means the Bronco Sport produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CX-50 every 15,000 miles.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Bronco Sport, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-50.

The Bronco Sport stops much shorter than the CX-50:

The Bronco Sport offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the CX-50; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

For superior ride and handling, the Ford Bronco Sport has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda CX-50 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Bronco Sport has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Bronco Sport flat and controlled during cornering. The CX-50’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Bronco Sport’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (57% to 43%) than the CX-50’s (58.9% to 41.1%). This gives the Bronco Sport more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the Bronco Sport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Meridian/Turbo Premium Plus (8.8 vs. 8.6 inches), allowing the Bronco Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Ford Bronco Sport may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 300 pounds less than the Mazda CX-50.

The Bronco Sport is 1 foot shorter than the CX-50, making the Bronco Sport easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Bronco Sport uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CX-50 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Bronco Sport Badlands offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The CX-50 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Bronco Sport Badlands is quieter than the CX-50:

The Bronco Sport has 5.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-50 (105.6 vs. 100.3).

The Bronco Sport has 2.4 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, 3.1 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-50.

The Bronco Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-50 with its rear seat up (32.5 vs. 31.4 cubic feet). The Bronco Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-50 with its rear seat folded (65.2 vs. 56.3 cubic feet).

An optional locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Bronco Sport. The CX-50 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Bronco Sport’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The CX-50’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The Bronco Sport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CX-50’s (2200 vs. 2000 pounds).

While the CX-50 Hybrid can only tow 1500, any Bronco Sport can tow a minimum of 2200 pounds.

If the windows are left open on the Bronco Sport the driver can close all of them from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the CX-50 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Bronco Sport’s available exterior PIN entry system. The CX-50 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Bronco Sport’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the CX-50 Preferred/Meridian/Premium/Turbo.

Compared to traditional radio, the Ford Bronco Sport’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the CX-50 Premium/Turbo.

The Bronco Sport offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Ford Bronco Sport and the Mazda CX-50, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ford Bronco Sport outsold the Mazda CX-50 by 22% during 2025.