Compare the2025 BMW X1VS 2025 Ford Bronco Sport

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The BMW X1 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the X1 and the Bronco Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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.

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 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the BMW X1 is safer than the Bronco Sport:

	X1	Bronco Sport
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	107	184
Neck Tension	201 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.94 in	.98 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	1.42 in
Pelvis	GOOD	POOR
Pelvis Force	692 lbs.	1383 lbs.
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	134 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.59 in	1.77 in
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.14 in	1.34 in
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	959 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The X1 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Bronco Sport’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The X1’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Bronco Sport’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X1 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Bronco Sport.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the X1’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Bronco Sport’s camshafts. If the Bronco Sport’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Ford With 49 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks BMW higher than Ford.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 5 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

The X1 xDrive28i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 60 more horsepower (241 vs. 181) and 105 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 190) than the Bronco Sport’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder. The X1 xDrive28i’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 277) than the Bronco Sport Badlands’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X1 M35i xDrive’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 63 more horsepower (313 vs. 250) and 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 277) than the Bronco Sport Badlands’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the BMW X1 is faster than the Ford Bronco Sport:

	X1 xDrive28i	X1 M35i xDrive	Bronco Sport turbo 3 cyl.	Bronco Sport Badlands
Zero to 60 MPH	5.6 sec	4.8 sec	9.2 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.3 sec	13.4 sec	16.8 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.8 MPH	104.1 MPH	80.8 MPH	87.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the X1 gets better mileage than the Bronco Sport:

			MPG
X1
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/33 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy
Bronco Sport
	AWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	25 city/30 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the X1’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X1 has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Bronco Sport. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

The X1 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The X1’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the X1’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Bronco Sport:

	X1 xDrive28i	X1 M35i xDrive	Bronco Sport
Front Rotors	13.2 inches	15.2 inches	12.1 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	13 inches	11.9 inches

The X1’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Bronco Sport are solid, not vented.

The X1 stops much shorter than the Bronco Sport:

	X1	Bronco Sport
70 to 0 MPH	162 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X1’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Bronco Sport (245/45R19 vs. 235/65R17).

The X1’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Bronco Sport’s standard 65 series tires. The X1’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Bronco Sport’s optional 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X1 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Bronco Sport. The X1’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the Bronco Sport.

Suspension and Handling

The X1 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Bronco Sport’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The X1 M35i xDrive handles at .88 G’s, while the Bronco Sport Outer Banks pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The X1 M35i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.7 seconds quicker than the Bronco Sport Outer Banks (25.9 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X1 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Bronco Sport Base/Big Bend (8.1 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the X1 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

For excellent aerodynamics, the X1 has standard flush composite headlights. The Bronco Sport has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

Passenger Space

The X1 has .6 inches more front headroom and .1 inches more rear legroom than the Bronco Sport.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the X1’s rear seats recline. The Bronco Sport’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the X1 has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The X1’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Bronco Sport’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

A Trailer Stabilization Control is standard on the X1, using the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the Bronco Sport.

Ergonomics

The X1 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The X1’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, 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 close automatically.

The X1’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Bronco Sport’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the X1 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the X1’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Bronco Sport’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

When the X1 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Bronco Sport’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The X1’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Bronco Sport offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the BMW X1 and Ford Bronco Sport offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The X1 features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Bronco Sport’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The X1 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Bronco Sport Outer Banks/Badlands.

The X1’s Automatic Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW X1 and the Ford Bronco Sport, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X1 second among small premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Bronco Sport isn’t in the top three in its category.

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