Which Is the Better Vacation Vehicle: The Ford Bronco Sport or Dodge Hornet?

It’s not exactly a secret that SUVs are versatile vehicles that are great for everyday driving. Errands are easy when you can make extra room for cargo by folding down rear seats, and you can pop them back up quickly when you switch from picking up groceries to picking up the kids from school. But what about when you leave the everyday chores behind and hit the road for a fun vacation? Is it better to have a rugged, go-anywhere SUV or a sporty model that focuses on on-road speed for thrilling joyrides?

Today, we’re going to take a look at two compact SUVs and how suited they are to vacations. It’s the 2024 Ford Bronco Sport vs 2024 Dodge Hornet: two American models that are relatively new to the market, having debuted within the last five model years. Each one offers a unique driving experience that helps it stand out from a crowded field, but which one can help you kick back in style on your next road trip? Let’s dig in and find out.

Ford Bronco Sport and Dodge Hornet Overview

The Dodge Hornet is a performance SUV that first debuted for the 2023 model year. It has seating for five, features standard all-wheel drive, and two capable powertrains that deliver plenty of horsepower. Its exterior style is sleek and takes inspiration from race cars, and its interior brings that same aesthetic inside with a distinctive red and black colorway.

The Bronco Sport is a more affordable and accessible version of the larger, more rugged Ford Bronco. It first debuted for the 2021 model year and has since been a hit with everyone from families to drivers interested in checking out off-roading. It has an open and airy cabin and an exterior with plenty of personality, especially if you opt for the Free Wheeling trim with red accents and sunset-colored stripes that are sure to turn heads.

Passenger Comfort

If you’re hitting the road with just a single companion in the passenger seat, you’ll have a fine time in either the Bronco Sport or the Hornet. But if you have people in the back row, they’ll probably feel more comfortable in the Bronco Sport. The Ford has a longer wheelbase than the Dodge Hornet, providing a solid amount of legroom for the rear row. It’s significantly taller, too, giving taller passengers more room to stretch out and get comfortable.

When it comes to climate control, the Bronco Sport comes standard with a setup that serves the entire cabin, featuring Automatic Temperature Control and a rear air duct for those in the back. On the other hand, the most basic trim of the Hornet has manual air conditioning that may have two zones up front but has no rear HVAC to speak of. At the end of the day, the two models just have different intentions. The Hornet is focused first and foremost on driver experience, while the Bronco Sport has a more well-rounded cabin that puts more thought toward the comfort of passengers.

Cargo Space

With all the seats in use, the Ford Bronco Sport still has 29 cu.ft. of cargo space in the back when equipped with the more powerful 2.0L engine and an even more spacious 32.4 cu.ft. with the base engine. By contrast, the Dodge Hornet has 27 cu.ft. of cargo space. That may not be a big difference if you’re packing light, but if you have camping equipment or other bulky cargo, then every square inch counts. And the Bronco Sport’s extra height comes in handy for taller things like bikes. Both SUVs also have some clever storage solutions to increase your space and add some security: the Hornet has an under-floor storage area in the back, while the Bronco Sport has a nifty pair of storage bins under the back seats.

Towing Capacity and Exterior Storage.

When you’ve used up all of the interior space and still have cargo left over, a trailer can come in handy. And some trips involve things that could never hope to fit inside any SUV, like boats or ATVs. Whatever you want to bring along for your adventure, the Bronco Sport has you covered. Its roof racks are great for mounting everything from bikes or kayaks to tents specially designed to be used on top of the SUV so that you can sleep several feet up from the ground and its moisture and creepy crawlies. When it comes to towing, the Bronco Sport offers up to 2,200 lbs of capacity, depending on configuration.

The curved roof of the Dodge Hornet looks sleek and provides good aerodynamics on-road, but it’s not exactly built with roof storage in mind. None of the trims feature a roof rack or running boards. The Hornet’s powerful engine options do give you a towing capacity of up to 2,000 lbs when properly equipped. That comes pretty close to the Bronco Sport’s maximum capacity but doesn’t quite meet it.

Off-Road Capability

When it comes to on-road performance, we’ll admit that the Dodge Hornet is tough to beat. It handles well and has plenty of power to help it accelerate at the drop of a hat. And that can certainly make for some fun times on a road trip. If you want to get the most out of traversing winding roads with tight cornering or zoom down some of the open highways, then the Hornet has you covered. But what if you want to venture beyond the confines of pavement? The Hornet simply doesn’t have any options for that.

The Bronco Sport, on the other hand, has the capable Badlands trim. This rugged option expands your vacation options by giving you full access to the gorgeous wilderness you can find throughout this great country and up north in Canada too. An advanced 4×4 system gives you the traction you need to traverse uneven terrain and glide over gravel or loose dirt. A lifted suspension lets you glide over obstacles like rocks and roots that might cross your path, and metal bash plates protect vital components so you can come away from tough situations unscathed.

You can also get the vehicle’s settings just right for any situation with the onboard terrain management system. All trims of the Bronco Sport feature Normal, Eco, Sport, Sand, and Slippery modes to help you get the right levels of power and driving dynamics for a variety of situations. The Badlands trim takes things a step further with the addition of Mud/Ruts mode for truly nasty surfaces and Rock Crawl for heading up and over boulders. The Badlands trim also comes standard with the upgraded 2.0L engine, which has 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, so you have the power you need to go just about anywhere. That plus Sport mode gives you a good amount of freedom on-road, too, so you can get your thrills on the highway that leads to your favorite campsite.

For Adventurous Drivers, There’s No Contest

While the Dodge Hornet is a well-built SUV that has a lot to offer in terms of performance, it just can’t offer as much when it comes to vacations. The Bronco Sport has a comfortable and spacious cabin, clever storage solutions inside and out that let you bring all your cargo along for the ride and the off-road capability you need to take your road trip to the next level with some all-terrain exploration. When you’re out on a long road trip, it helps to be ready for anything, and the versatile Bronco Sport is certainly prepared for all kinds of spontaneous pit stops and sudden turns in the road.