Ford Bronco Sport can’t go places the bigger Bronco can, but the baby version still has the capabilities and styling to give people a taste of the off-roader lifestyle. While it won’t be conquering the Rubicon Trail anytime soon, the Bronco Sport can venture farther off the beaten path than most other compact SUVs. When it comes to legit off-road chops, the range-topping Badlands alone has a punchy 245-hp turbo four and a torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system that put it in exclusive company with the trail-rated Jeep Cherokee. Of course, the rest of the Bronco Sport lineup has lots to offer too, including a practical interior layout and myriad thoughtful features. Along with all-wheel drive, a 181-hp turbocharged three-cylinder engine is standard, and this setup returned an impressive 33 mpg highway in our real-world fuel economy test.
What’s New for 2025?
For 2024, the Bronco Sport lineup adds a new Free Wheeling model that’s based on Ford’s colorful appearance package that was previously offered in the ’70s. The modern-day Free Wheeling variant features 17-inch wheels with red accents, a silver-painted grille, and reflective sunset-like body graphics. The interior has a similar design on the seatbacks, redish trim pieces, and a unique plaque on the center console. Big Bend models are now available with a $1750 Black Appearance package that—as its name suggest—adds dark details, such as a blacked-out grille and matte-black body decals and 17-inch wheels. The ’24 Bronco Sport also adds two new paint colors: Azure Gray and Desert Sand. The base trim level has also been dropped, making the Big Bend model the new entry point and raising the Bronco Sport’s starting price by roughly $2000.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Bronco Sport rides on the same platform that underpins the compact Escape crossover, and every model has all-wheel drive. A 181-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder is the base engine, but a 245-hp turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder is also available. Both pair with an eight-speed automatic transmission, but the more powerful engine brings steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and upgraded cooling components. The top-tier Badlands trim level packs an assortment of exclusive equipment, including a twin-clutch rear-drive unit with a differential lock. It also has all-terrain tires mounted on 17-inch wheels, a 1.0-inch suspension lift for added ground clearance, and stouter dampers. We’ve driven a Bronco Sport Badlands and noted its hefty steering and firm ride that made it feel truck-like but not particularly smooth and steady on the highway. Its off-road abilities also exceeded expectations, but just remember that it still has limitations before you try to tackle the Rubicon Trail.
| Category | Outer Banks 4X4 | Badlands 4X4 |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Type | FWD, AWD, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon | FWD, AWD, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon |
| Price (Base / As Tested) | $33,815 / $36,305 | $34,315 / $36,300 |
Towing Capacity
The Bronco Sport can tow up to 2200 pounds, however, that max capacity is for models with the 2.0-liter turbo four. With the standard three-cylinder powertrain, the compact SUV is only rated to pull 2000 pounds.
| Engine Type | Turbo I3, 12-valve DOHC | Turbo I4, 16-valve DOHC |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 91 in³ / 1496 cm³ | 122 in³ / 1999 cm³ |
| Power | 181 hp @ 6000 rpm | 250 hp @ 5500 rpm |
| Torque | 190 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm | 277 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The three-cylinder Bronco Sport is rated at 25 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Stepping up to the more powerful four-cylinder version drops those figures to 21 mpg city and 26 highway. We ran one with the smaller engine on our 75-mph fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, and it returned an impressive 33 mpg highway. For more information about the Bronco Sport’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
| Wheelbase | 105.1 in | 105.1 in |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 172.7 in | 172.7 in |
| Width | 74.3 in | 76.3 in |
| Height | 70.3 in | 71.4 in |
| Passenger Volume | 106 ft³ | 106 ft³ |
| Cargo Volume | 29 ft³ | 29 ft³ |
| Curb Weight | 3593 lb | 3733 lb |
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Ford provides a competitive limited and powertrain warranty that aligns with most of its rivals. However, it lacks the complimentary maintenance that some competitors provide.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
