As production of the hotly anticipated, all-new, mid-sized Bronco is finally beginning to ramp up this summer, we wanted to take a closer look at its brand sibling, the Bronco Sport. While these two SUVs approach the Bronco ethos from very different mechanical means, as Ford’s Chief Program Engineer Adrian Aguirre noted at the Bronco Sport’s debut last year, the Bronco Sport is not “an Escape with big tires.”

Put another way, if the Bronco is designed to go toe-to-toe with the Jeep Wrangler, the Bronco Sport has its sights set on folks who would otherwise be considering vehicles like the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk or Subaru Outback. That means the Bronco Sport not only has to look the part, it has to truly be able to walk the walk.

From the overlanding-capable roof and available rubberized flooring to the standard liftgate LED floodlights that can illuminate an area up to 129 square feet, the Bronco Sport has been designed for folks who plan to get into some adventures where the pavement ends. Set aside any preconceptions you might have about crossovers, because this little machine’s capability might just surprise you.

Chassis and Powertrain

29-inch all-terrain tires wrapped around 17-inch wheels are standard on First Edition models and optional for the Badlands trim.

Although the Bronco Sport is underpinned by Ford’s C2 architecture, a platform it shares with the Escape crossover (as well as the upcoming Maverick pickup), the Bronco Sport’s dimensions are substantially different. It’s significantly smaller than the Escape in general, coming in three inches narrower, nearly eight inches shorter in overall length (172.7 inches versus 180.5 for the Escape), and with a wheelbase that’s been chopped down by 1.6 inches. However, the dimensions are expanded where it matters from a functional standpoint – the Bronco Sport’s track is an inch wider, and it’s four to five inches taller depending on options.

And as you’d expect, the Bronco Sport’s ground clearance is also affected by the options sheet, but even in its most humble spec, 7.8 inches is admirably high for a compact crossover sport-utility. The most rugged Bronco Sport trims raise that figure to 8.8 inches, which bests the Trailhawk as well as every available Subaru sport-utility aside from the recently-unveiled Outback Wilderness.

Two teams recently piloted Bronco Sport Badlands models across 1200 miles of rough terrain in the Rebelle Rally, which started in Lake Tahoe, Nevada and ended at the Imperial Sand Dunes in California a week later. Driver Shelby Hall and navigator Penny Dale drove their Bronco Sport to a win in the X-Cross class at the event.

Decked out in the Badlands trim, the Bronco Sport is outfitted with uniquely tuned front struts and hydraulic rebound stops for improved off-road manners, along with 46mm monotube rear shocks and rear suspension setup that’s dialed in for rough terrain. Along with the Bronco Sport Badlands’ 8.8 inches of ground clearance, it also boasts an approach angle of 30.4 degrees, a breakover angle of 20.4 degrees, and a departure angle of 33.1 degrees when outfitted with the available 29-inch all-terrain tires. Additionally, Bronco Sport Badlands models can ford through water up to 23.6 inches high.

Although the Bronco Sport has independent front and rear suspensions regardless of trim, four-wheel drive is standard across the board, and Badlands models (along with the already-spoken-for, limited production First Edition) also score an upgraded twin-clutch rear axle with a locking differential and torque vectoring capability that allows virtually all of the rear axle torque to be applied to one wheel when needed.

Badlands and First Edition models feature a seven-mode G.O.A.T. system that dials in the powertrain and other electronically-controlled systems for various types of terrain.

Standard motivation for lower trim models comes from a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline three-cylinder EcoBoost engine that churns out 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. Badlands and First Edition models receive a larger 2.0-liter turbo four cylinder that dishes out 245 hp and 275 lb-ft, and all Bronco Sports channel the power through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Considering the size of the Bronco Sport, that four-pot will get this little SUV moving in a hurry.

Assisting the Bronco Sport’s off-road capability is the G.O.A.T. (Go Over Any Terrain) system, which dials in the powertrain and other electronically-controlled hardware for various conditions. Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Sand modes are standard on every model, while the Badlands and First Edition specs add Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl modes to the mix for a total of seven different options. Trail Control is also available and further adds to the Bronco Sport’s off-road prowess. Ostensibly serving as an off-road cruise control system, Trail Control takes over throttle and braking duties to maintain speeds of up to 20 mph in forward gears and up to 6 mph in reverse so the driver can focus more of their attention on their line.

Features and Technology

An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Ford’s Sync 3 software and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility comes standard across the Bronco Sport lineup.

In terms of everyday tech goodies, the Bronco Sport comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system loaded with Ford’s Sync 3 software, which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driver-assist technologies is also standard across the lineup and brings with it safety features like pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist, automatic high beam headlights, and the benefits of a federally-mandated rearview camera.

Ford’s Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package is also optionally available and adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality and lane centering, voice-activated navigation, and evasive steering assist, while optioning Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 upgrades the adaptive cruise control system with automatic speed sign recognition.

As noted previously, the roof of the Bronco Sport is overlanding-ready with racks designed to accommodate roof-top tents, while a slide-out work table comes as part of the available five-way configurable Cargo Management System. The LED floodlights that are integrated into the liftgate also add to the tailgating-friendly nature of the Bronco Sport, as does the class-exclusive 400 watt inverter.

Trim Levels and Pricing

When properly equipped, Bronco Sport Badlands models can tow up to 2,200 pounds.

The Bronco Sport initially debuted with five available trims. However, the First Edition – which was limited to 2000 vehicles in total – has already been sold out. Fortunately for enthusiasts, much of what made the First Edition special also comes as part of the Badlands trim, the spec which will be of particular interest to enthusiasts. Still, to get a better understanding of how the Bronco Sport’s content and capability expands as we go up the trim range, let’s start at the ground floor.

Base– As the name implies, this is where things get underway for the Bronco Sport. Starting at $28,155, Base models are equipped with the three-cylinder turbo and four-wheel drive as standard, along with 17-inch wheels, the overlanding-capable roof rack, the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and Ford’s Co-Pilot360 driver assistance tech.

Big Bend – Added content and visual flair are the name of the game for Big Bend. Coming in at $29,655, this trim includes gray exterior accents, push-button start, and heat side mirrors, along with easy-to-clean cloth seats, a rubberized cargo floor, a rear center armrest, automatic climate control, and Sirius XM radio.

Outer Banks – More luxury-focused than the trim levels at the upper end of the totem pole, the Outer Banks spec starts at $33,655 and includes upgrades like a black painted roof, 18-inch wheels with all-season tires, and leather interior appointments. The driver’s seat features eight-way adjustability and the front passenger seat gets a six-way system, while a heated steering wheel, rain sensing windshield wipers, dual-zone climate control, an upgraded 6.5-inch digital instrument cluster screen, and the Reverse Sensing parking assistance system round out the standard upgrades over the Big Bend trim.

Badlands – Simply put, if you care about off-road capability, this is the trim you want. Coming in at $34,155, the Badlands trim includes a unique, off-road tuned suspension system, an upgraded four-wheel drive system, a locking rear differential, and larger 28.5-inch all-terrain tires wrapped around 17-inch wheels. Adding to the Badlands’ off-road capability are four steel bash plates, the Trail Control system, a seven-mode G.O.A.T. system, and the 2.0-liter turbo four cylinder engine.

Badlands models come with all of the content that’s included in the Big Bend trim, but those who want the luxury upgrades from the Outer Banks spec will have to option those here separately.

First Edition – Starting at $39,995, the First Edition is limited to 2000 units in total and includes all of the off-road hardware that comes as part of the Badlands trim while also adding a moon roof, “Navy Pier” leather seats, a B&O 10-speaker premium audio system, a Class II trailering package, and 29-inch all-terrain tires. The entire allocation of First Edition models is already spoken for, though, so if you want one you’ll have to find one on a dealer lot – or re-create an approximation from a Badlands model and the options sheet.