Ford Bronco Sport review

It’s the Bronco Sport, AKA the 'Baby Bronco', because it shares a badge with the full-on Wrangler-wrestling Bronco SUV. Beyond the name, the Bronco Sport has more in common with typical Ford fare such as the Maverick pickup and the Escape.

Well that took the wind out of our sails.

Indeed, there's a bit of 'the man at the store said this is the new Bronco'. And though direct comparisons to its stablemate will be mostly unfavorable, there is plenty to like here. For starters, yes, it has some decent off-road chops, particularly with the addition of a 'Sasquatch' package of its own. This is the name of the kit that gives the full-fat Bronco most of its terrain-tackling hardware, and so it does a similar job here.

Alright so what are the details?

The Bronco Sport is a crossover-sized SUV that comes with either a 1.5-liter turbo inline-three-cylinder engine that provides 180hp and 200lb ft of torque, or a 2.0-liter turbo I4 that cranks out 250hp and 280lb ft of torque. Each unit is married to an 8-speed auto, through which power is distributed to all four wheels.

Instead of drive modes, the Bronco Sport has 'GOAT' modes, which stands for 'goes over any terrain'. This rather bold acronym is backed up by the aforementioned Sasquatch pack which includes a twin-clutch rear-drive unit, Bilstein rear shocks and a locking rear diff. The package is rounded out by 29in all-terrain tires, which go well with some of the new accessories like the new tow hooks and nudge bar.

Right. So can it… goat?

It’s certainly more nimble than you’d expect, sure. The extra hardware and reinforced underpinnings mean that it's less precious when it comes to going off the beaten path. You might not clear every obstacle, but you’re encouraged to try, try again.

The 1.5-liter Bronco Sport’s good enough to at least go a little further than your average car, like if you were to take a drive through a national park or down some questionable rural roads. Extra power and subsequently more capable software give the 2.0-liter Sport some proper goat-like rock scrambling behavior. Additions to the mix like one-pedal ‘trail control’ driving and 260-degree cameras further up the Sport’s capabilities.

What’s it like on the road?

Quite civil. In normal use, the Bronco Sport performs the daily duties of a crossover with nearly zero fuss and easily integrates into your routine. It’s cute and a breeze to use, but the fun factor is really off the road more than on it. Negotiating any bend is done very slowly and deliberately, and the steering mimics any attempt to make a curved line on an Etch-A-Sketch. For you younger readers, this was an old toy given to us as children to prepare us for lousy steering inputs.

So the Sport part of the Bronco Sport is?

It’s like calling a chocolate bar 'fun size' instead of small. You can surely whip the tail out and have a grand old time, just do it with a bunch of sand underneath.

Though it trades heavily on the Bronco nameplate, the Bronco Sport happens to be a fairly smart and capable crossover with just enough personality to inch it over the line for anyone on the fence about it.

On the road, it’s dutiful if a bit dull, but off the road, it has the ability to surprise and delight, taking amateur adventurers beyond the city limits for all sorts of activities. It likely won’t scratch the itch for those with their heart set on the full-fat Bronco, but this slim one comes off as a decent compromise for anyone with the desire for something rugged on a budget.

The addition of its own Sasquatch off-road pack and the new overlanding accessories make it all the more compelling for non-mall-parking-lot excursions. Like its close relation, the Maverick, it’s a right-sized solution for a number of situations, even the just-for-fun ones.