2025 Bronco Sport vs 2025 Forester in Shawnee

2025 Bronco Sport vs 2025 Forester

When you're shopping for a small SUV that's as ready for an off-road adventure as it is for a run to the store, two names usually rise to the top: the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport and the 2025 Subaru Forester. Both are known for their practicality, standard all-wheel drive, and roomy interiors – but only one brings the kind of rugged personality that makes every Kansas drive feel like something special.

Here at Shawnee Mission Ford, we know our customers love a vehicle that can handle real life – from trailheads to Target runs. Let’s see why the 2025 Bronco Sport might be the better fit for drivers who want confidence, capability, and character.

Interior Comparison

Step inside the 2025 Bronco Sport and you’re greeted with a cabin that balances utility with comfort. Durable materials make it easy to clean up after a weekend at Clinton Lake or a muddy morning at the dog park. The upright design offers excellent visibility, and the rear seat and cargo space feel ready for bikes, dogs, or camping gear. Upper trims offer extras like heated seats, a rubberized cargo floor, and a safari-style roof for added headroom and storage flexibility.

The 2025 Subaru Forester keeps things more traditional with soft-touch materials and a clean dash layout. It’s comfortable and well-organized, but leans more suburban than adventurous. You’ll still get generous legroom and a wide cargo opening, though the styling feels more reserved compared to the bolder Bronco Sport.

2025 Ford Bronco Sport	2025 Subaru Forester
Rows: Two Max Seating: Five Max Cargo Capacity: 65.2 Cubic Feet Upholstery Options: Cloth Upholstery (Standard) / Synthetic Leather Upholstery or Genuine Leather-Trimmed Upholstery (Optional)	Rows: Two Max Seating: Five Max Cargo Capacity: 74.4 Cubic Feet Upholstery Options: Cloth Upholstery (Standard) / Gray Synthetic Leather Upholstery, Genuine Leather Upholstery, Black or Brown Perforated Leather-Trimmed Upholstery with Suede Bolsters, or Perforated Leather-Trimmed Seats with Blue Contrast Stitching (Optional)

Exterior Comparison

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport brings a bold, boxy style that looks ready for the trail and turns heads in town. Its upright stance, wide grille, short overhangs, and available roof rails and tow hooks send a clear message: this SUV means business. Colors like Eruption Green and Cactus Gray keep it fun and fresh.

The 2025 Subaru Forester plays it safer with a more rounded, conservative shape. It’s clean and practical, with roof rails and available fog lights, but it doesn’t have the same visual punch. If you like your SUV to stand out, Bronco Sport delivers.

2025 Ford Bronco Sport	2025 Subaru Forester
Rugged Boxy Design Heritage, Badlands, and Outer Banks Trims Safari-Style Roof Standard Roof Rails LED Headlamps Available	Clean, Rounded Styling Wilderness and Sport Trims LED Steering Responsive Headlights Optional Two-Tone Paint Raised Roof Rails

Power & Performance

The Bronco Sport comes standard with a 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine, and higher trims give you access to a zippier 2.0-liter turbocharged option. With up to 250 horsepower and the kind of torque that makes merging or muddy trails easy work, this SUV brings plenty of bite. Plus, G.O.A.T. Modes (Goes Over Any Terrain) give you selectable drive modes to match everything from snow to sand.

The Forester uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine across all trims, good for 182 horsepower. While smooth and reliable, it doesn’t deliver quite the same quickness or off-road attitude. The standard symmetrical all-wheel drive does help with foul weather and light dirt paths, but it doesn’t quite match the Bronco Sport’s trail-rated gear.

2025 Ford Bronco Sport	2025 Subaru Forester
Base Engine: Turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-Cylinder Horsepower: 181 Torque: 190 lb-ft Transmission: Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission	Base Engine: 2.5-liter 4-Cylinder Horsepower: 180 Torque: 178 lb-ft Transmission: Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission
Available Engine: Turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-Cylinder Horsepower: 181 Torque: 190 lb-ft Transmission: Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission

Tech & Entertainment

Inside the Bronco Sport, the SYNC® 3 infotainment system puts navigation, media, and phone controls at your fingertips with an available 8-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay®/Android Auto™. Higher trims add a 10-speaker B&O® Sound System and built-in trail maps for your next off-road destination.

The Forester’s STARLINK® multimedia system is user-friendly and includes similar smartphone connectivity. It comes with a slightly larger available screen (up to 11.6 inches in newer trims), but the interface isn’t as off-road oriented. If you're looking for tech that feels built for adventure, Bronco Sport takes the edge.

2025 Ford Bronco Sport Top Technology Features	2025 Subaru Forester Top Technology Features
Infotainment Screen Options: 8-inch Touchscreen (Standard) 12.3-inch Digital Gauge Cluster (Standard) Audio System Options: Six-Speaker Stereo (standard) 10-Speaker Bang & Olufsen Sound System (available)	Infotainment Screen Options: Dual 7-inch Touchscreen (Standard) 11.6-inch Touchscreen (Optional) Audio System Options: HD Radio (standard) Harman Kardon® Premium Audio System (optional)

Safety Features

Both SUVs are packed with safety features. The Bronco Sport includes Ford Co-Pilot360™, which brings standard driver-assist features like blind spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking.

The Forester includes the EyeSight® driver assist suite, which also offers adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and pre-collision braking. Both lineups are strong on safety, though Bronco Sport also includes features like Trail Control™ for off-road driving confidence.

2025 Ford Bronco Sport Standard Safety Features	2025 Subaru Forester Standard Safety Features
Forward Collision Warning Forward Automatic Emergency Braking Pedestrian Detection Lane-Departure Waning Lane-Keep Assist Evasive-Steering Assist Stop-and-Go Adaptive Cruise Control Driver-Attention Monitoring Blind-Spot Monitoring Rear Cross-Traffic Alert Automatic High-Beam Headlights Rearview Camera Rear Parking Sensors	Adaptive Cruise Control Evasive-Steering Control Forward Attention Warning Forward Automatic Emergency Braking Forward Collision Warning Lane-Centering Assist Lane-Departure Warning Lane-Keep Assist Pedestrian Detection Rearview Camera Rear-Seat Alert

Shawnee Mission Ford’s Bottom Line

The 2025 Subaru Forester is a practical pick with impressive interior space and smooth handling, perfect for daily drivers who prioritize comfort and consistency. But if your SUV needs to do more than commute – if you want something that can tackle trails, haul your gear, and make a statement while doing it – the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport is the better call.

At Shawnee Mission Ford, we’re here to help our Shawnee neighbors find the right SUV for their kind of Kansas life. Whether you're heading into downtown Kansas City or venturing toward the Kaw River, the Bronco Sport is ready. Come see it for yourself and experience the difference.

Test drive the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport today at Shawnee Mission Ford – where confidence starts at the curb.

*Disclaimer: This content was drafted with AI assistance for initial drafting, reviewed by a subject-matter expert for accuracy, and edited by our team of writers and editors.