The Bronco has been all over the news, like stink on a Gorilla. Everyone (including myself) has been waiting on bated breath to see how the Bronco’s reintroduction goes. If the waiting wasn’t bad enough as it is, COVID has brought the supply chain to a screeching halt for the full-size Broncos. Thankfully, the smaller 2021 Ford Bronco Sport has remained on schedule, but only if you ordered the right configuration. 

The 2021 Bronco Sport is Highly configurable

Motor1 explains that due to the supply chain issues for the removable roof, the bigger Bronco fell behind schedule last year. Customers for the smaller Bronco Sport saw over 5,000 units delivered last year. Because of some new issues with the supply chain, the off-road verison of the Ford Escape with certain features will come with a lengthy wait time. 

According to Motor1, the power moon roof that comes on the Big Bend, Badlands, and the Outer Banks trims will result in a four-week added wait time. Ordering the two-tone paint job with the grey roof for the Badlands package will also result in a similar wait time. Oh, you ordered the Class-II tow package for the Big Bend or Outer Banks? Yep. that will also push your truck back about a month, too. 

Why is the 2021 Ford Bronco so behind schedule?

We aren’t quite sure why the plant in Mexico is having so many issues. I mean, the obvious answer is fewer workers in the factory, shipping, and any other number of things that tie back to COVID. Even though the cooler, optioned-out Broncos are being delayed, yet again, the base-model Bronco Sport shouldn’t be affected by the delays. 

Luckily for the supply chain strains, the Bronco Sport is only being sold in the US for now. The bigger Bronco is planned to get a right-hand-drive verison for our friends across the pond, but even that is being put aside for the time being. 

What is the difference between the Bronco and Bronco Sport?

Probably the biggest difference that the big Bronco is the tried and true body-on-frame construction, while the Sport is based on the FWD-drive unibody construction of much softer vehicles. MotorTrend refers to these types of vehicles as “car-based SUVs.” 

The suspensions are completely different, as well. The big boy gets control arms up front, and the rear gets a live axle. It also gets serious off-roading options like locking differentials and underbody armor. The Sport is essential a Ford Escape underneath. This means independent front and rear suspension, which usually equates to a smoother ride but is far less capable off-road. 

The differences get growing and growing

As you may have guessed, the engines are another point of divergence between the two models. The Bronco comes with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine making 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque.  An optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 making 310 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, is also available. Again, the Sport shares its engine with the Ford Escape. It is a twin-turbocharged three-cylinder that makes 181 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque. There is also an optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder good for 245 hp and 275 lb-ft. 

Although the difference can go on forever, these are the major parts that show how different these two SUVs truly are. As is the way of the world, the overwhelmingly cooler options are the ones that will take much longer to get. As Tom Petty once said, “the waiting is the hardest part.”