~ A DriveWays Review ~
by Matthew Aukofer
When Ford reintroduced two new Bronco models in 2021 after a 15-year hiatus, all eyes were on the “big” Bronco, the body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle Jeep Wrangler-slayer.
It was touted for its off-road chops, cool retro styling, and its availability as a convertible or hard-top in two-door or four-door configurations. With its longitudinally mounted engine feeding power to all four wheels via a traditional transfer case and driveshaft layout, the big Bronco design was touted as a trail-proven platform for die-hard mudders and rock-crawlers.
Receiving less attention was the smaller Bronco Sport, available only as a four-door hardtop with a horizontally mounted engine, like many passenger cars. With a unibody design based on the Ford Escape platform, the Bronco Sport, technically a crossover, was quickly dismissed by off-road enthusiasts as a mall crawler.
As a result, the big Bronco outsold the Bronco Sport in 2022, 117,057 to 99,547 units, according to data from Wards Intelligence. But most buyers are not avid off-roaders and the big Bronco proved to be less practical and family friendly as a daily driver than the “baby” Bronco.
The Bronco Sport is an extremely capable all-arounder. It gets better gas mileage than the big Bronco, costs less to buy and maintain, and is almost as big inside as its larger sibling. With 106 cubic feet of passenger volume, the Bronco Sport has only about three cubic feet less space than the big Bronco.
Its back seat provides more legroom and headroom than the big Bronco. And its 65 cubic feet of cargo capacity approaches that of the big Bronco’s 83 cubes of storage. It’s also easier to get in and out of, with seats that are close enough to the ground that you don’t need to stretch like an acrobat every time you go for a drive. It’s an amazing bit of engineering wizardry, considering it also provides 8.8 inches of ground clearance.
The buying public has noticed, flipping the script on sales. In the first eight months of 2023, Ford sold 81,785 big Broncos while 87,383 Bronco Sports flew off dealership lots, according to Wards.
For 2024, the Bronco Sport comes in five trim levels, from the entry-level Big Bend (MSRP $31,320) to the Badlands (MSRP $38,390). It’s worth noting that options easily can kick up the price to the mid-$40s or higher, and lingering supply chain issues can result in asking prices $4K-$5K above sticker. The tested top-of-the-line Heritage Limited model (discontinued for 2024) was listed at $46,400, including the $1,595 destination fee. These numbers place the Bronco Sport above its main competitors, the Subaru Crosstrek and Outback, Toyota RAV4 TRD, Jeep Compass and Kia Seltos.
The lower trim levels come standard with a 181-horsepower 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, which is a fuel-efficient motor perfectly adequate for regular use. If you plan to tow or go off-roading, you’ll need to look at the higher trim levels that come with the 250-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a twin-clutch rear differential for added grip.
Four-wheel drive is standard on all Bronco Sports, but third-row seating is not available on any trim level. At 23 mpg combined, the Bronco Sport with the 2.0-liter engine also lags the competition. In stop-and-go traffic, we couldn’t even match the EPA city rating of 21 mpg, getting 18 mpg instead. But it’s a great engine, with plenty of power, a good exhaust note, and several G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Terrain) drive modes.
The only letdowns are some cheap-feeling hard plastic materials used in the interior and an eight-inch infotainment system touchscreen that is small (and the graphics uninspiring) by today’s standards. But the overall interior design is well laid out, with physical buttons and knobs to control most common functions.
The 2023 Ford Bronco Sport earned Good ratings in all crashworthiness categories from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration testing, it received a five-star overall rating (four stars for rollover crashes).
It is a very nice family vehicle with decent off-road chops, a roomy interior, cool retro styling, and plenty of power, especially with the bigger engine. It’s no wonder why it’s selling faster than the big Bronco. It’s just more practical as a daily driver for the average buyer.
Specifications
- Model: 2023 Ford Bronco Sport Heritage Limited 4×4, four-door, five-passenger subcompact SUV.
- Engine: 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder, 250 hp @5,500 rpm, 277 lb-ft torque @3,000 rpm.
- Transmission: Eight-speed automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and various G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Terrain) drive modes. Twin-clutch rear differential.
- Overall length: 14 feet 4 inches; width: 6 feet, 10 inches (including side mirrors); height: 5 feet, 11 inches.
- Passenger/trunk volume: 105.7 cubic feet without moonroof (102.3 ft.3 with)/29.4 cubic feet.
- Weight: 3,707 pounds.
- Towing capacity: 2,200 pounds.
- EPA fuel consumption: 21 city/26 highway/23 combined mpg on regular unleaded fuel.
- Base price, including $1,595 destination charge: $46,250.
- Price as tested: $46,400.
Disclaimer: The manufacturer provided the vehicle used to conduct this test drive and review. Photos ©Ford
