Which is more your style, the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport or Ford Escape? Our buying guide takes a look at what Mandeville drivers love about these compact crossover SUVs.
Key Takeaways
- Both compact SUVs treat you to roomy relaxation, but the Escape’s smooth ride makes it the most comfortable option!
- No vehicle in this segment is more primed for rugged adventure than the Bronco Sport!
- The Escape’s available hybrid powertrain makes it the best choice for causeway commuting!
- When it comes to MSRP, the 2025 Bronco Sport and Escape are extremely competitive.
Interior Comfort & Convenience
Tech-savvy drivers may find themselves drawn more to the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport. Its standard tech lineup includes the biggest touchscreen (13.2-inches to the Escape’s 8) and extra driving aids (like adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist). And tall drivers may be interested to know that, although these compact crossovers ride on the same chassis, the Bronco Sport’s squared-off roof offers about 2 inches of extra headroom.
Compared to its compact crossover cousin, the 2025 Ford Escape is the more accommodating choice. It comes standard with a longer list of city-friendly conveniences, like a power liftgate and dual-zone automatic climate control. And where the Bronco Sport’s trim lineup offers an increasingly rugged performance, the Escape’s trims put more of an emphasis on interior luxury. And its smooth ride helps you enjoy the most comfortable causeway commute!
Intrepid Performance
You can send either of these compact crossovers on off-road adventures, but only the Bronco Sport gives you a best-in-class performance! In fact, its off-roading credentials are among the best reasons to choose the Bronco Sport over the Escape. Whether you’re touring North Louisiana’s craggy terrain or navigating muddy back roads closer to home, available features like all-terrain tires and upgraded four-wheel drive enhance off-road agility and driver control!
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Powertrain Options
- Turbo 1.5L three-cylinder engine (181 hp, 190 lb-ft of torque)
- Turbo 2.0L four-cylinder engine (250 hp, 277 lb-ft) (Badlands only)
- Eight-speed automatic transmission
- All-wheel drive
Where the Bronco Sport is tuned for performance, the Escape is tuned for comfort. It’s the best Ford compact crossover for drivers who want the smoothest possible ride! And thanks to its uniform acceleration and available all-wheel drive, the Escape also does a great job of navigating Mandeville’s rainy season.
2025 Ford Escape Powertrain Options
- Active, ST-Line: turbocharged 1.5L three-cylinder engine (180 hp, 199 lb-ft)
- ST-Line Select and up: turbo 2.0L four-cylinder engine (250 hp, 280 lb-ft)
- Optional for the ST-Line and up: 2.5L hybrid powertrain (192 hp, 155 lb-ft)
- PHEV: 2.5L plug-in hybrid powertrain (210 hp, 155 lb-ft)
- Eight-speed automatic transmission
- Continuous variable transmission (with hybrid or plug-in hybrid)
- Front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive
Causeway-Friendly Commuting
For Mandeville drivers who spend a lot of time commuting across the Causeway Bridge, the Escape’s available plug-in hybrid powertrain is a major boon. Thanks to a 37-mile electric range, the Escape PHEV earns up to 101 MPGe! In hybrid mode, it earns 40 mpg combined. There’s also a thrifty option for drivers who don’t want to recharge their powertrain: the 2.5-liter hybrid engine. It’s EPA-rated for up to 39 mpg combined (42 city/36 highway)!
Compared to the Escape, the rugged Bronco Sport is much more focused on style and performance. But its powerful turbocharged powertrains do a pretty good job of balancing a fun-loving ride with reasonable fuel economy. Of its two options, the Bronco Sport’s entry-level EcoBoost engine is the thriftiest, earning 27 mpg combined (25 city/30 highway).
Starting Price
Built on the same chassis, these compact crossovers have a lot in common. So it’s not surprising that one hardly costs more than the other. With standard all-wheel drive, the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport (from $29,995*) starts at a slightly higher price than the 2025 Ford Escape (from $29,150*). If the Escape comes standard with a few extra comfort features, the Bronco Sport evens the score with a few extra standard performance features.
*Price as of 4/15/25.
The Best Compact SUV for Mandeville Drivers
So, should you buy the 2025 Bronco Sport or Escape in Mandeville, LA? Now that you know more about what each compact SUV has to offer, it’s easy to see which one suits your daily drive. If you’ve got rugged adventure on your agenda, the Bronco Sport is the best-in-class compact SUV. And if you’ve got fuel economy and cruising comfort on your mind, the Escape has what you want. Are you in St. Tammany Parish? Visit us at Banner Ford of Mandeville to test-drive your favorite model (or both)!