The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport has a lot going for it. It was recently tapped as Esquire magazine’s Best Compact/Midsize SUV and scored PopSci’s Best of What’s New Award. But its latest accolade? Well, that award just goes to show how safe the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is. 

Safety features abound in the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

With a base price of $26,820, you can count on the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport to come standard with a slew of sought-after safety features. In fact, standard on all models are safety features like pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot information system with cross-traffic alerts, a lane-keeping system, automatic high beams, and a rearview camera.

Those aren’t the only safety features the Ford Bronco Sport offers either. Upgrade to Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+, which according to Ford Authority, costs $795, and the Ford Bronco Sport benefits from features such as adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering and evasive steering assist. Meanwhile, opting for Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 technology tacks on an enhanced adaptive cruise control system, lane-centering, and speed sign recognition.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport just crushed its crash tests

With so many safety features to its name, it’s really no surprise that the Ford Bronco Sport aced its crash tests. In fact, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), this year’s baby Bronco scored a good rating in all six of its crashworthiness tests. 

For the unfamiliar, the IIHS’s crashworthiness tests include small overlap front tests, both on the driver and passenger side. The IIHS’ crash testing also includes moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraints, and seat tests.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport excelled in crash avoidance and mitigation too, earning superior ratings across the board. It also earned a good headlight rating. Perhaps the only IIHS test the SUV struggled with is LATCH ease of use, where it earned an acceptable rating.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+

After having aced the IIHS’ crash tests, the Ford Bronco Sport successfully earned the institute’s highest safety honor and has since been given the Top Safety Pick+ award. To earn the IIHS’ highest safety rating, vehicles must earn good ratings in all six of the organization’s crashworthiness tests. 

They must also be available with a front crash prevention system that scores either advanced or superior ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations. Good or acceptable headlights must be standard on all models too.

It may be safe but is it reliable?

While Consumer Reports gave the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport a two out of five predicted reliability rating, it’s important to understand that when it comes to reliability, your mileage will vary. So, although this year’s model did earn a somewhat disappointing reliability rating, that’s not to say you should avoid it altogether. 

In fact, J.D. Power and RepairPal haven’t even given the Bronco Sport a reliability rating yet. When the time comes, it could turn out that both outlets give the Ford Bronco Sport a significantly higher reliability rating than Consumer Reports did.

Does this safe SUV deserve a spot in your driveway?

Sure, the 2021 Ford Bronco comes stocked to the brim with standard safety features. The IIHS tapped it as a Top Safety Pick+ too. But does that mean you should buy a Ford Bronco Sport? Maybe. Maybe not. At the very least, we recommend taking it out for a test drive.