Buck Around and Find Out
We have a tendency to treat the smaller a little differently. The runt of the litter, tiny woodland creatures, toy ponies, miniature pets and indeed, younger siblings. Despite its seemingly more premium name, the Bronco Sport is almost like the little brother/sister to the bigger Bronco. You can tell they have similar DNA, but they’re like a pair of siblings that took differing paths in life. If the Bronco became an avid Tough Mudder competitor, the Sport pursued a passion in archaeology instead. Both will get you where you need to go, especially if the asphalt turns to dirt, but this is one smaller sibling that can more than hold its own. We hope you are proud of us for not resorting to low-hanging puns such as ‘one trick pony.’
The Bronco Sport is refreshingly boxy, living up to the nostalgic image its very name conjures. Styling cues like the rounded off headlights and the bold Bronco badging up front are thankfully more reminiscent of the classic 1st gen Bronco of the 60s, rather than the Bronco of OJ infamy. The squared off shape is ridiculously practical given how compact this little SUV is – but the increased verticality from its staggered roof also means rear-seat passengers get excellent headroom, even if the seats feel a little compact. The chunky, thick tires, raised ride height and integrated roof rails add to the adventure-aesthetic the Bronco Sport carries.
A rugged yet somehow adorable exterior is contrasted nicely by the comfortable, civilized interior. Our tester, specced in the range-topping Badlands trim, featured a stylishly functional triple-tone interior. Plastic usually screams cost-cutting, and that is certainly apparent in the Bronco Sport, but it’s not always a bad thing. For instance, the rubbery plastic floor of the cabin cleans easily should you take your muddy trail boots in, or a plastic tray for the trunk that can be affixed in multiple configurations. There are also multiple tie points, zipped storage on the backs of the front seats, hidden storage under the rear seats, and a freaking bottle opener integrated into the rear once you open the tailgate. The rear window also opens independently of the rear hatch. These are the thoughtful touches that make a car easier to live with.
This range topping Badlands edition features the 2.0L turbocharged Ecoboost engine, good for a respectable 245hp. It’s mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that handles that power without drama. The little Bronco Sport may hint at a rugged ride, but that’s far from the reality. This is a light, soft and comfortable little urban cruiser when it needs to be. The steering is light and the ride is soft on the road. We were not served any snow during our week of testing, so we tried to make do with some very mild off-roading on grass and gravel, which the GOAT (Goes Over All Terrain) modes made simple work of.
The 2.0L engine isn’t particularly exciting in nature, but for this, it feels like enough. It’s got a fair amount of power and responsiveness. We never felt as if we were wanting for more – except in fuel economy. But in Badlands trim, the Bronco Sport no longer feels like the affordable compact off-road SUV it’s seemingly being billed as. Our tester came in at just under $46,000! You can certainly save money and keep things more spartan with the base trim, coming in at just over $32,000. But you’ll also have to settle for the smaller 1.5L engine. However, if you’re looking for a more authentic Bronco experience without frills, that’s the way to do it.
The Bronco Sport Badlands doesn’t need to live in its big sibling’s shadow. It may not be as rugged off road, but it more than holds its own in daily life – where the majority of us really need it to be capable. Even lower trims like the Big Bend edition, coming in at just over $34,000, have luxuries like heated seats, remote start, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and lane keeping assist. The Badlands may be the upper crust of the baby sibling, but even the most basic Bronco Sport can respectably hang with the best of them.
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