Of all the reasons to get an SUV, being able to store your luggage, equipment, and goodies is a major one. Even in the compact SUV segment, cargo space is key. In a 2019 study by Cox Automotive, 46% of respondents who were swapping a sedan for a compact SUV said having more cargo capacity and utility was one of the main reasons—more than any other, including cabin space, safety advantages, and ruggedness.
If you’ve been looking at a Ford Bronco Sport for sale, the odds are you’re wondering how it stacks up for storage. There’s also a decent chance you’ll utilize its storage features early and often. According to a survey conducted by Équiterre and CIRANO, 38% of SUV owners use all the available cargo and storage space in their vehicles at least once weekly. By comparison, only 32% of sedan owners use all their storage space that often. Whether for camping supplies or powersports gear, your compact SUV needs good storage capability.
While the Bronco Sport may be a compact SUV (or a subcompact, according to some outlets), it can still pack enough to enjoy an adventure. In this guide, I’ll look at what the Ford Bronco Sport has for cargo space and storage features so you can decide if it’s the right choice for how you live, work, and play.
Interior Cargo Space
The most obvious way a vehicle can offer storage is through its cargo capacity: How many cubic feet of stuff can you fit inside? Admittedly, the Bronco Sport will never hold as much as the midsize Ford Bronco or the full-size Explorer. For its segment, though, the Bronco Sport does well. With the rear passenger seats up, the Bronco Sport has 32.5 cu.ft. of cargo space; when you put those seats down, the capacity doubles to 65.2 cu.ft. on most trims. This is thanks to a higher Safari-style roofline in the rear that allows you to stack higher than in other compact crossovers. (Note that the Bronco Sport Badlands is limited to 60.6 cu.ft.)
Of course, those numbers don’t mean much without some context. So here are a couple of analogies. A large suitcase is typically about 4 cu.ft. So with 65.2 cu.ft., you can bring 16 large suitcases. Also, one cubic foot is equivalent to 7.5 gallons of water, so an otherwise empty Bronco Sport cargo area will hold approximately 97 five-gallon water jugs.
The next question is, how does that cargo space compare to other small SUVs? Here’s a comparison of the Ford Bronco Sport’s cargo capacity to some of its top competitors:
- Ford Bronco Sport — 32.5/65.2 cu.ft. (seats up/down)
- Infiniti QX50 — 31.4/65.1 cu.ft.
- Mazda CX-50 — 31.4/56.3 cu.ft.
- Mitsubishi Outlander — 30.6/64.3 cu.ft.
- Jeep Compass — 27.2/59.8 cu.ft.
- Kia Soul — 24/62 cu.ft.
- Subaru Crosstrek — 19.9/54.7 cu.ft.
- Chevy Trax — 19/48 cu.ft.
- Ford Bronco two-door — 35.6/77.6 cu.ft.
- Ford Bronco four-door — 38.3/83 cu.ft.
As you can see, the Ford Bronco Sport outshines all other compact SUVs, and it even stacks up favorably to the two-door Ford Bronco. From athletic equipment to camping gear, it’s ready for your next outing.
Roof Rack Storage
When you have so much to pack that even the cargo area isn’t enough, there’s always the roof. A roof rack is a useful way to carry extra luggage or irregularly shaped objects like skis that won’t be space-efficient inside the vehicle. The popularity of car roof racks has skyrocketed; Cognitive Market Research estimates the global market size reached $2.5 billion in 2023 and will grow nearly 7% annually for the foreseeable future.
Luckily for prospective Ford Bronco Sport owners, they won’t need to invest in separate roof rails. The Bronco Sport comes with roof rack side rails installed on all trims. The long safari-style roof means longer rails that can hold more gear. Ford has partnered with Thule and Yakima to offer premium rack-mounted cargo boxes, platforms, snowboard carriers, kayak carriers, and other storage systems. Add crossbars to provide more stability and attachment points, and you can even mount a small rooftop tent on your Bronco Sport for overnight trips into the wilderness.
Don’t forget about the trailer hitch! You can turn this into a place to mount bicycle carriers, which will reduce wind drag on the highway. Hitch-mount roof extenders are available, as well, to serve watercraft and ladders.
Unique Storage Features
I know what some of you are thinking: “Lots of SUVs have good cargo space and roof racks. What sets the Bronco Sport apart from them?” Having unique features and good design consistently rank as some of the most important factors when buying a new car. Furthermore, a report by McKinsey & Company found that nearly 80% of car customers are frustrated when they don’t have the option to customize their vehicles.
This desire extends to storage. To answer the previous question, the Bronco Sport has many standard and optional features so you can store everything you need for everyday driving or charging into the off-road horizon. Here are some of the highlights:
- In addition to the main cargo area, the front row has a center floor console, a media bin, and an overhead sunglass storage area for small items.
- All Bronco Sport trims have storage pockets on the back of the front seats, and you can get zippers on the driver seat pocket so the contents never fall out.
- The liftgate has two adjustable LED floodlights to help you see while loading and unloading at night.
- You can add a slide-out table to the cargo area for working, enjoying a meal, or relaxing with your buddies.
- On the Bronco Sport Badlands trim, you get storage compartments beneath the second-row seats, increasing capacity and letting you conceal items to reduce theft risk.
- You can purchase a variety of cargo holders and organizers directly from Ford, including soft-sided organizers that fold up between uses, molle bags with outer attachment points, and portable mini fridges to keep food and drinks cold.
- Do you want to keep your mountain bikes inside your Ford Bronco Sport for protection from wind and rain? An interior two-bike rack is available so the cycles remain stable over big bumps and hills.
- Each Bronco Sport has a 12V outlet in the cargo area for powering tools and equipment. The Bronco Sport Outer Banks also has a 150-watt AC outlet in the cargo area, and the Badlands gets a power converter with 400W total output.
- Turn your center console into a place that protects valuables with a locking steel vehicle safe.
Storage for Every Outing
The compact and midsize crossover SUV segments are two of the fastest-growing in North America, currently accounting for more than 45% of total vehicle sales. But just because you’re driving a smaller SUV doesn’t mean you have to settle for inadequate cargo storage. If you’re okay with tiny cargo areas, you might as well stick with a sedan or hatchback. Conversely, not many drivers truly need the cavernous interior a full-size SUV offers.
The Bronco Sport was designed as a do-it-all compact SUV that is comfortable for everyday driving but can still get you over trails. This philosophy applies to cargo, too. Whatever you’re using the Bronco Sport for, take advantage of excellent storage capacity and customizable options. Go to the grocery store, travel to your favorite fishing spot, take a road trip, or help a friend move, knowing you’ll always fit what you want and need.
