2025 Bronco Sport vs 2025 Forester in Ruston, LA

2025 Ford Bronco Sport

2025 Bronco Sport vs 2025 Forester

When you’re choosing between the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport and the 2025 Subaru Forester, you’re looking at two adventure-ready SUVs that bring the heat with rugged capability, roomy interiors, and everyday practicality. But while both have their strengths, only one feels built for Louisiana drivers who expect a little more thrill behind the wheel. At Jim Taylor Ford in Ruston, we’re proud to say the 2025 Bronco Sport checks more boxes when it comes to off-road confidence, style, and driver-focused features.

Interior Comparison

Both SUVs offer seating for five and generous cargo space, but the 2025 Bronco Sport brings the edge with smart utility and a more adventurous vibe. Its upright seating provides excellent visibility, and the safari-style roof increases headroom and makes space for standing gear. The Forester offers slightly more cargo volume, but it lacks the Bronco Sport’s clever storage options like MOLLE straps, under-seat storage bins, and an available slide-out table in the cargo area.

The Bronco Sport also includes washable rubberized flooring in the cargo bay and available heated leather-trimmed seats for easy cleanup and comfort after a muddy hike. The Forester has a clean layout and strong rear-seat space, but it plays it safe with more traditional styling and fewer flexible features.

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

While the Subaru Forester sticks with a more traditional, rounded SUV look, the 2025 Bronco Sport brings boldness front and center. From its boxy silhouette and round headlamps to its rugged wheel arches and contrasting roof options, the Bronco Sport looks like it’s built for fun.

Ford also offers standout trims like the retro-inspired Heritage Edition and the off-road-focused Badlands, giving buyers more ways to match their SUV to their lifestyle. Subaru’s Forester Wilderness trim adds rugged details, but the overall look remains more reserved.

  • 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 2025 Bronco Sport offers two engine options: a standard 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with 181 horsepower, and an available 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque in the Badlands trim. The extra torque makes off-roading and highway merging noticeably more confident. Plus, the standard 4×4 and G.O.A.T. Modes™ help adapt to mud, sand, snow, and more.

The Forester uses a single 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 182 horsepower. It’s fuel-efficient and reliable, but doesn’t offer the turbo punch or off-road tuning the Bronco Sport brings to the table.

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: 250

Torque: 277 lb-ft

Transmission: Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission

Tech & Entertainment

The 2025 Bronco Sport is equipped with Ford’s SYNC® 4 system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, and available voice navigation. Drivers can also enjoy available features like a B&O® Sound System and wireless charging. Tech in the Bronco Sport is clean, easy to use, and trail-tested.

Subaru’s STARLINK infotainment offers similar features, including smartphone compatibility and optional navigation, but it can feel dated in layout and response times compared to Ford’s system.

2025 Ford Bronco Sport Top Technology Features

2025 Subaru Forester Top Technology Features

Infotainment Screen Options:

  • 13.2-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

Ford Co-Pilot360™ gives the Bronco Sport a safety edge with features like Blind Spot Information System, Lane-Keeping System, Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, and Auto High-Beams. The available front-facing 180-degree camera with split view is a huge plus for trail driving and tight parking lots.

Subaru EyeSight® comes standard with many of the same safety features, including Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Departure Prevention, making both SUVs smart choices for family duty.

2025 Ford Bronco Sport Standard Safety Features

2025 Subaru Forester Standard Safety Features

  • Forward Collision Warning
  • Forward Automatic Emergency Braking
  • Pedestrian Detection
  • Lane-Departure Warning
  • 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

Jim Taylor Ford’s Bottom Line

If you’re after the most cargo space and a more traditional approach to compact SUV design, the Subaru Forester might suit your needs. But if you want a vehicle that feels ready for the road and the trail with every mile, the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport delivers where it counts. It’s more fun to drive, more flexible inside, and brings real off-road attitude right off the showroom floor.

Come see the Bronco Sport in person at Jim Taylor Ford in Ruston, LA, and find out why so many drivers are choosing Ford for their next adventure-ready SUV.

*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.