Three compact SUVs - the Ford Bronco Sport, Jeep Compass, and Subaru Forester - compete for the same Nassau County buyer who wants genuine capability without full-size truck prices or full-size truck fuel bills. Each one wins on different criteria, and knowing which criteria matter most to you makes the choice clear.
Bottom Line: The Bronco Sport wins on power and off-road hardware; the Forester wins on fuel economy and cargo; the Compass wins on base price.
- Bronco Sport Badlands produces 250 hp - more than the Compass Trailhawk (177 hp) and Forester Wilderness (182 hp)
- Subaru Forester leads on cargo volume with up to 76 cubic feet with seats folded
- Ford Bronco Sport Base starts at $30,000 - $3,000 more than the Compass Sport but $1,000 more than base Forester
Who Each Vehicle Is Built For
These three vehicles aim at Nassau County buyers from different directions. Understanding each manufacturer’s design intent helps place the comparisons in context. Our complete Ford Bronco Sport guide for Nassau County goes deep on the Bronco Sport, but the short version is this: it’s a purpose-designed off-road crossover that prioritizes terrain capability while remaining practical for daily Long Island driving.
The Jeep Compass is a more traditional compact SUV that added genuine off-road hardware with the Trailhawk trim - red tow hooks, skid plates, and a 20mm suspension lift. It competes on value at the base level and on brand familiarity across its lineup. The Compass leans more road-focused than the Bronco Sport in standard trims.
The Subaru Forester is the cargo and fuel economy champion. The Forester Wilderness adds X-Mode dual-function AWD and raised suspension over the base model. For Nassau County families who need maximum cargo space for beach gear, sports equipment, or regular Costco runs, the Forester’s interior volume is genuinely hard to beat. For off-road capability and power, it trails the Bronco Sport Badlands.
Power and Performance: Bronco Sport Wins Decisively
Power output is the most lopsided category in this comparison. The Bronco Sport Badlands runs a 2.0L EcoBoost four-cylinder producing 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. The Jeep Compass Trailhawk offers 177 horsepower from a 2.0L naturally aspirated four-cylinder. The Subaru Forester Wilderness produces 182 horsepower from its 2.5L naturally aspirated engine.
That gap - 250 hp versus 177-182 hp - is felt immediately in merging situations on the Nassau Expressway, passing on Northern State Parkway, and during any situation where power response matters. The Bronco Sport’s turbocharged engine also produces peak torque earlier in the RPM range, which translates to more confident low-speed pulls and better towing capability.
Towing capacity follows the power rankings: Bronco Sport Badlands tows up to 2,200 lbs. Compass Trailhawk tows 2,000 lbs. Forester Wilderness tows 3,000 lbs in the Forester’s case - making it the towing leader despite the lower horsepower figure, due to its drivetrain gearing. For Wantagh or East Meadow buyers who tow a small boat to the South Shore, the Forester’s towing advantage is real.
"When Nassau County buyers get into a Bronco Sport Badlands and then drive a Compass, the power difference is obvious immediately. The GOAT modes and the HOSS suspension are the two things that come up most in back-to-back comparisons."
General Manager, Levittown Ford
Off-Road Capability: Systems and Real-World Performance
Ford Bronco Sport Badlands brings the most comprehensive off-road package. Seven GOAT terrain modes adjust AWD torque distribution, throttle mapping, and traction control for sand, rocks, mud, slippery surfaces, and high-speed Baja-style running. The HOSS 2.0 suspension adds increased wheel travel and stiffer damping for actual terrain use. Water fording reaches 27.2 inches. Trail Control acts as a low-speed off-road cruise control that manages throttle and braking on technical terrain.
Jeep Compass Trailhawk offers Jeep’s brand heritage alongside its off-road hardware. The Trailhawk package adds red tow hooks, a 20mm suspension lift, underbody skid plates, and unique low-traction launch capability. Jeep’s Selec-Terrain system provides five modes (Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud, Rock). It’s a genuine off-road upgrade over the base Compass, and Jeep’s trail-rated heritage is not marketing fiction.
Subaru Forester Wilderness uses Subaru’s X-Mode system in a dual-function version that includes a separate Deep Snow and Mud setting. The Forester Wilderness also adds a 30mm suspension lift over standard Forester, dedicated off-road tires, and increased ground clearance to 9.2 inches. X-Mode works well in the conditions it’s designed for, but the Forester’s unibody construction and front-biased AWD system don’t articulate on rocky terrain the way the Bronco Sport does.
For Nassau County buyers planning trail use - whether in Suffolk County parks, Long Island’s sandy barrier beach terrain, or day trips upstate - the Bronco Sport Badlands offers the deepest off-road capability package of the three. Check NHTSA safety ratings for crash test results on all three vehicles.
Browse current Bronco Sport inventory at Levittown Ford to see which Badlands trims are in stock for Nassau County buyers.
View current new vehicle specials for available Bronco Sport offers at Levittown Ford.
Cargo and Practicality: Forester Takes the Lead
Subaru Forester is the cargo winner in this comparison. With rear seats folded, the Forester provides 76.1 cubic feet of cargo volume - enough for two adult bikes without removing wheels, or a full set of camping gear for a weekend trip from Nassau County. Cargo behind the rear seats measures 34.4 cubic feet, the highest in this group.
Ford Bronco Sport offers 65.2 cubic feet of total cargo with seats down. Behind the rear seats, 32.5 cubic feet is available - less than the Forester but competitive with the Compass. The Bronco Sport’s rear cargo area is notably taller than some competitors, which helps with loading larger items upright. The MOLLE storage system in some trims and the available cargo management accessories are genuine utility additions.
Jeep Compass provides the smallest cargo space in this group at 63.1 cubic feet total, with 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats. For Compass buyers in the Levittown and East Meadow area who need to transport substantial gear, this is the vehicle’s most significant real-world limitation. It’s not unusable - but it’s noticeably smaller than both the Bronco Sport and Forester.
Fuel Economy: Forester Leads, Bronco Sport Is Competitive
The Forester wins on fuel economy with 26 city/33 highway mpg for the Wilderness trim using the 2.5L engine with symmetrical AWD. That’s exceptional for a vehicle in this class and reflects Subaru’s engineering priorities. At 15,000 miles per year in Nassau County, the Forester uses approximately $1,700 less in fuel annually than the Bronco Sport Badlands.
Bronco Sport Badlands returns approximately 24 city/28 highway mpg with the 2.0L turbo - a reasonable number for the power output. The standard trims with the 1.5L three-cylinder do slightly better at around 25 city/28 highway. Long Island commuters covering the Northern State Parkway or Meadowbrook State Parkway will find the Bronco Sport’s fuel numbers in the expected range for a turbocharged compact SUV.
Jeep Compass Trailhawk returns approximately 22 city/30 highway mpg - trailing the Forester on city driving but competitive at highway speeds. For Nassau County buyers who do a lot of stop-and-go driving, the Compass’s city mpg disadvantage adds up over time.
Five-Vehicle Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | Bronco Sport Badlands | Compass Trailhawk | Forester Wilderness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Price | ~$40,000 | ~$36,000 | ~$38,000 |
| Horsepower | ✓ 250 hp | 177 hp | 182 hp |
| City/Hwy MPG | 24/28 | 22/30 | ✓ 26/33 |
| Max Cargo (seats down) | 65.2 cu ft | 63.1 cu ft | ✓ 76.1 cu ft |
| Ground Clearance | ✓ 8.8 inches | 8.6 inches | 9.2 inches |
| Off-Road System | ✓ GOAT + HOSS 2.0 | Selec-Terrain | X-Mode Dual |
Price Comparison: Base Model Entry Points
Starting prices reveal different value propositions. The Jeep Compass Sport base starts at approximately $27,000 - the most accessible entry in this group. The Subaru Forester base starts around $29,000. The Ford Bronco Sport Base starts at approximately $30,000. All three base trim prices are within $3,000 of each other.
The off-road specialist trims - Compass Trailhawk, Forester Wilderness, and Bronco Sport Badlands - cost $36,000, $38,000, and $40,000 respectively. At that level, the Bronco Sport’s power and off-road hardware justify the $2,000-$4,000 premium for buyers who actually intend to use those systems.
For Nassau County buyers prioritizing value at entry level, the Compass Sport offers the most affordable gateway into this class. For buyers who want to maximize capability at the off-road tier, the Bronco Sport Badlands delivers the most off-road hardware for the money. The Forester splits the difference with the best fuel economy and cargo at a mid-range price.
FAQ
Which is better for off-road use - Bronco Sport, Jeep Compass, or Subaru Forester? The Bronco Sport Badlands leads on off-road hardware with 7 GOAT modes, HOSS 2.0 suspension, 250 hp, Trail Control, and 27.2-inch water fording depth. The Compass Trailhawk and Forester Wilderness are genuine off-road upgrades over their base trims but don’t match the Bronco Sport’s dedicated off-road engineering.
Which compact SUV gets the best fuel economy? The Subaru Forester Wilderness leads with 26 city/33 highway mpg. The Bronco Sport Badlands returns 24 city/28 mpg, and the Compass Trailhawk returns 22 city/30 mpg. For Nassau County commuters who prioritize fuel economy, the Forester’s advantage is meaningful over five years.
Is the Bronco Sport good for Nassau County winters? Yes - all Bronco Sport trims include standard AWD and the Slippery GOAT mode for low-traction surfaces. Nassau County winters with black ice, compacted snow, and slush are well within the Bronco Sport’s capability range. The Badlands’ increased ground clearance provides additional confidence in deeper snow.
How does the Bronco Sport compare to the full Bronco? The full Ford Bronco is body-on-frame with removable doors and roof, locking differentials, and more extreme trail capability. The Bronco Sport is a unibody crossover that’s more comfortable for daily driving and costs less. See the Bronco Sport vs. Ford Bronco comparison for a full breakdown.
Which vehicle has the most cargo space - Bronco Sport, Compass, or Forester? The Subaru Forester wins on cargo with 76.1 cubic feet total with seats down. Bronco Sport provides 65.2 cubic feet and Compass offers 63.1 cubic feet. For Nassau County buyers who regularly transport bikes, sports gear, or large items, the Forester’s cargo advantage is a real-world differentiator.
Where can Nassau County buyers compare these vehicles in person? Levittown Ford serves buyers from East Meadow, Wantagh, Seaford, and across Nassau County. Visit Levittown Ford’s current Bronco Sport inventory to see available trims and schedule a test drive.
Browse current Bronco Sport inventory at Levittown Ford or contact our Nassau County team to discuss which compact adventure SUV is right for your Long Island lifestyle.