It seems like a lifetime ago that I was sitting inside of Joe Louis Arena as Ford revealed their plans to reboot the Bronco. It was so long ago that the building no longer even exists. But at the time, we didn’t know that in addition to the Bronco itself Ford would also birth an entire Bronco family of vehicles, including this little guy, the Bronco Sport. Just because 2 vehicles share a name doesn’t necessarily mean they have much in common. Such is the case with the upcoming Bronco and this new Bronco Sport. Sure, they’re both real off-roaders, or at least can be specified that way, but that’s just about all they share. Think of the Bronco Sport as the Escape’s country cousin. Built South of the Border upon a unibody, front-wheel drive platform that’s significantly shorter than the Escape’s but about 3” taller, the Bronco Sport is equipped with standard 4-wheel drive and carries a starting MSRP of just over $28,000. Ford has given the trim levels cool names like Big Bend and Outer Banks but it’s this Badlands model that they deem the pinnacle of off-road performance. So if you want the more powerful engine, the better 4-wheel drive system, the differential lock, more drive modes, all-terrain tires, off-road tuned suspension, an extra inch of lift and more aggressive off-road geometry, then this is the only model for you. $34,315 is where the pricing starts and this one with the amenity-laden Badlands Package and Co-Pilot360 Assist + driver tech checks in at $37,705; slightly less than a loaded Jeep Compass Trailhawk which serves a similar purpose in life and about $12,000 less than a comparable Bronco Badlands.
