2021 Ford Bronco Sport Review

　　

2021 Ford Bronco Sport Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　The redesigned Ford Bronco is a significant addition to the Blue Oval's lineup — after more than two decades, Ford aficionados finally see the return of a body-on-frame off-roader intent on beating the Jeep Wrangler at its own game. But what if you want Bronco styling and abilities in a more road-friendly — and affordable — package?

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$144/mo  for Bronco Sport Base

　　Bronco Sport Base

　　4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) - $27,215 MSRPBig Bend 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $28,720 MSRPOuter Banks 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) - $32,860 MSRPBadlands 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 07/21 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $33,360 MSRPFirst Edition 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 07/21 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $38,160 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　Enter the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. Based on the Ford Escape small SUV, the Bronco Sport aims to marry the look and feel of the Bronco with traditional crossover SUV strengths such as improved road manners and better fuel economy. The Bronco Sport holds its own when venturing off the beaten path thanks to standard all-wheel drive, plenty of ground clearance, multiple traction settings, and a wealth of optional off-road upgrades.

　　This is a genuinely fun and well-executed small SUV that's bursting with charm. Unfortunately, the Bronco Sport's enhanced off-roading capability comes at the expense of some on-road refinement. How big of a deal is it? Read the categories of our Expert Rating below to learn more.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.5/10

　　How does the Bronco Sport drive? It's clear that the Bronco Sport has off-roading on the brain, especially in the Badlands guise we tested. The good news is the Bronco Sport is a blast to drive in the dirt. The bad news is that it's much less enjoyable on the street.

　　The optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine provides admirable power, covering 0-60 mph in 7.2 seconds, which is good for the class. The power makes the Bronco Sport an eager off-roader and allows good use of intelligent traction modes. On the road, however, the braking and steering are not up to par. Stopping from 60 mph took 127 feet, which is more than average for a small SUV, but worse is the lack of feel and response from the brake pedal. Transmission shifts are also jerky at low speed.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Bronco Sport? The Bronco Sport comes with the tacit acknowledgment that you are prioritizing off-road capability over traditional crossover comfort. So it inherently lacks the smooth ride you get from rivals such as Honda CR-V or Mazda CX-5. For instance, the Badlands suspension that's been tuned for dirt and rocks often gives a bumpy ride over various road surfaces. And since the Bronco Sport has an upright design, there is wind noise at most speeds.

　　We also found issue with the front seats. Although they feature a wide range of adjustability to accommodate drivers of various heights, they also lack lateral support and cause your shoulders to jostle. Buyers may also expect dual-zone climate control, which is an option this vehicle did not have equipped. These are not deal-breakers. But they are noticeable.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? Inside, the usefulness of the Bronco Sport is an advantage over many rivals. There is a lot of space in the front, particularly headroom, and it's easy to slide inside thanks to the wide range of adjustability in the front seats. Another strong point is the control placement, with dials for both the transmission and selectable drive modes that fall right to your hand.

　　On paper, the Bronco Sport trails most of its rivals on rear legroom. And while taller occupants might have difficulty squeezing in behind taller front passengers, the rear seats prove comfortable and supportive, especially during off-road endeavors. But the small rear doors, and narrow access to the rear seat footwell, make it difficult to climb inside. Another concern is the wide and flat hood, which can impede forward visibility, but some trim levels include a handy front-facing camera to aid in off-roading and parking situations.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? For a vehicle focused on playing in the dirt, the Bronco Sport's tech game is on point. All Bronco Sports come with the Sync 3 infotainment system and an 8-inch touchscreen, which prove to be a potent combination. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is standard and simple to use. Audio quality is also very good, and appreciated because it effectively blocks the otherwise prevalent wind noise.

　　Some optional features are also strong. Adaptive cruise control is a bright spot due to smooth operation, especially in stop-and-go traffic, though you need the Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 package to include it. Navigation is not standard on any trim, but when equipped, the directions are clear and work in concert with voice recognition controls.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? Available storage space is well utilized in the Bronco Sport to an impressive degree. It's among the class leaders in maximum cargo space, whether the second row of seats is folded down or left up. The Bronco Sport has a high ceiling and low load floor, which, by the way, is rubberized and can be removed completely to clean. The cargo area has a number of hooks, plugs and lights available that are sure to come in handy on trips. Badlands and First Edition models have rear underseat storage cubbies.

　　The Bronco Sport can accommodate child seats in the rear easily, but it may be difficult to load bulky rear-facing seats due to doors that don't open very wide. And be aware that the maximum towing capacity of 2,200 pounds, even with the optional towing package, is not very impressive compared to the Toyota RAV4 or even the Ford Escape.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Badlands trim and its 2.0-liter engine are rated at 23 mpg (21 city/26 highway), which is unimpressive for the class. However, on our 115-mile mixed-driving test route, the Bronco Sport returned an average of 26.6 mpg. That's good considering the EPA's estimate but not very high for the class.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Bronco Sport a good value? There are a number of factors working in the Bronco Sport's favor when it comes to price — standard all-wheel drive, excellent tech features and a lot of style, just to name a few. Our Badlands test model came to $35,745 including options and destination fees, which undercuts its closest rival in the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk before you add extra equipment. If you expect off-road ability for that price, you likely won't be disappointed. For others, however, the lack of premium-feeling materials could be of more concern.

　　Ford offers fairly standard coverage on the Bronco Sport, with three-year/36,000-mile basic and five-year/60,000-mile drivetrain warranties. It also offers coverage of five years/unlimited mileage for rust and five years/60,000 miles for roadside assistance. We find this acceptable, but some rivals are much more generous.

　　

Wildcard

9.0/10

　　The Bronco Sport deserves its off-road credentials thanks to a host of impressive rugged technologies, and it doesn't hurt that it looks the part, too. This crossover turns heads, prompts questions and inspires smiles — something that a lot of competitors simply can't say. And it is genuinely fun to drive when the pavement ends.

　　In fact these attributes are enough to cover some significant shortcomings. The Bronco Sport is far from perfect in everyday driving on the road, and we advise you to take heed. This is a unique vehicle with a lot of charisma. If that's enough for you to forget some frustrations, then congratulations on your new Bronco Sport.

　　

Which Bronco Sport does zzdcar recommend?

The Bronco Sport's core strength is in its off-road ability, so we recommend capitalizing on that with the Badlands trim. Besides a more powerful engine, you get plenty of off-road features to conquer challenging terrain. We would also upgrade to all-terrain tires.

　　

2021 Ford Bronco Sport models

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is offered in five trim levels: Base, Big Bend, Outer Banks, Badlands and First Edition. Feature highlights include:

　　Bronco Sport Base

　　The Base model gets you the basics plus some decent tech features, such as:

　　Turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder (181 horsepower, 190 lb-ft of torque) Eight-speed automatic transmission Four-wheel drive 17-inch wheels Roof rails LED headlights Rear liftgate with flip-up rear window and lighting Adjustable drive modes 8-inch touchscreen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app Six-speaker audio systemEvery Bronco Sport also comes with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced safety features that includes:

　　Frontal collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane keeping assist (steers the vehicle back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)Big Bend

　　The Big Bend trim adds several convenience and comfort features that include:

　　Foglights Heated mirrors Tinted rear passenger and cargo windows Keyless ignition and entry Automatic climate control Stain-resistant cloth upholstery and rubberized cargo floor Cargo pockets on the front seatbacks with Molle cargo strapsOuter Banks

　　The midrange Outer Banks trim is a good pick for rugged shoppers who also want some of the niceties that are available in less off-road-specific SUVs. These include:

　　Rain-sensing and heated wipers Rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking) Remote ignition Leather upholstery Heated front seats Power-adjustable front seats Dual-zone automatic climate control Digital instrument panel Auto-dimming rearview mirror Interior ambient lighting Heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel Household power outletBadlands

　　The Badlands model comes with the most off-roading features. Compared to the Big Bend trim, it adds:

　　Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (250 hp, 277 lb-ft) Specific off-road suspension and all-terrain tires Underbody skid plates Front tow hooks Upgraded 4WD system with special rear differential Trail control (cruise control for off-roading) Forward-looking 180-degree camera system Rubberized flooring Household power outlet Digital instrument panel Power-adjustable driver's seat Heated front seats Passenger-side rear-seat underfloor storageFirst Edition

　　The First Edition is essentially a nearly fully loaded version of the Bronco Sport. It includes the items that were deleted from the Badlands trim as well as:

　　Slightly taller all-terrain tires Roof rack crossbars Sunroof Class II tow hitch receiver Trailer sway control (adjusts vehicle brakes to help control trailer movement if a trailer begins to sway) Wireless charging pad 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio systemMany features are available on supporting trims as options. A navigation system can be added to any trim level. Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) is also available.

　　

2021 Bronco Sport Highlights

Trim: BaseBig BendOuter BanksBadlandsFirst EditionBase

　　

Base MSRP	$27,215
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$144/month
Seating	5 seats
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles