The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is Ford’s extra inexpensive, mainstream foil to the large Bronco 2-Door and 4-Door. It’s a car-based small crossover, not the body-on-frame Wrangler competitor that the usual Bronco is. Regardless of Escape-based underpinnings, although, this isn’t an Escape with a Bronco badge on it. Ford went to nice lengths to make the Bronco Sport a worthy off-road companion, permitting it to punch far increased off-road than any Escape does.
It’s meant to be the automobile for outside adventurers who continuously discover themselves trekking again into areas {that a} typical automobile or crossover wouldn’t make it by means of, however nonetheless be usable as a cushty every day driver for the work week. The large Bronco-inspired design means it seems the half, and our time behind the wheel provides us confidence that Ford nailed the high quality tuning for what a Bronco Sport ought to really feel like on the highway. There are neat touches just like the non-obligatory steel-look wheels and bottle opener within the hatch, plus an enormous aftermarket accent catalog that assist it stand out from the homogenous crowd of different crossovers this measurement (which, by the way in which, is smaller than the Escape and in an in-betweener class that features the Kia Seltos and Jeep Compass). Hardcore off-road fans ought to watch for the common Bronco, however the Bronco Sport may be all of the SUV many of us want.
What’s new for 2021?
The Bronco Sport is a totally new mannequin for 2021.
What’s the Bronco Sport’s inside and in-car expertise like?
The Bronco Sport looks like a bit of truck inside. You sit in an upright place and gaze over an extended, straight hood with two massive energy bulges. Its inside design reveals the Bronco Sport’s shared DNA with the Escape, however some key variations assist take it above and past. The air vents are increased, straddling the shared 8-inch touchscreen, releasing up house for a helpful shelf for a telephone or one thing else small. There are additionally nifty touches just like the rubberized, graspable adjustment prongs on these air vents, plus high-quality items just like the spongy soft-touch sprint and durable GOAT Modes dial (that might be Go Over Any Terrain, the Bronco time period for off-road drive settings).
Then, there are the options that weekend climbing and tenting warriors will like. You possibly can spec MOLLE straps for fast merchandise entry, rear campsite lights within the liftgate, in-vehicle dual-bike storage functionality and rubberized easy-to-clean mats all over the place. And people are just a few highlights of the in depth outside life-style possibility and accent listing.
Ford makes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto customary on the touchscreen that runs Sync 3. It’s Ford’s previous-generation software program (the large Bronco, F-150 and Mach-E get the newer Sync 4) and isn’t the quickest unit on the market, but it surely’s nonetheless simple to make use of and presents nicely. 4 USB ports are customary. A 4.2-inch central display within the cluster is simply too, however increased trims supply a bigger 6.5-inch display in between the bodily gauge set. Extra luxurious options get tacked on on the increased trim ranges like a B&O premium audio system, wi-fi telephone charger and moonroof.
How large is the Bronco Sport?
Whereas the Bronco Sport could experience on the Escape’s platform, it’s deal smaller than the Escape in general measurement. It measures up nearer to bigger subcompact crossovers just like the Jeep Compass, Kia Seltos and Chevy Trailblazer. The small measurement is nice for off-roading in tight conditions, but it surely’s much less household pleasant than many different extra road-oriented crossovers.
Regardless of the Bronco Sport being on the smaller facet, it’s large inside. You possibly can comfortably seat adults within the again because the 36.9 inches of rear legroom is akin to the Mazda CX-30, and a contact smaller than the Jeep Compass. Plus, the 32.5 cubic ft of cargo capability is large for max storage when heading into the wild. The Bronco Sport’s sq., tall form helps make it one of the crucial utilitarian autos at its measurement — it’s practically as cavernous because the Escape regardless of being greater than half a foot shorter.
What’s the efficiency and gasoline economic system?
The bottom engine in most trims (Base, Large Bend, Outer Banks) is a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder that produces 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired to an eight-speed computerized transmission, and all-wheel drive comes customary. Gasoline economic system is rated at 25 mpg metropolis, 28 mpg freeway and 26 mpg mixed. That is decrease than most rivals.
You get the two.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with the Badlands and First Version trim. This engine places out 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. It’s additionally mated to an eight-speed computerized transmission, but it surely provides a torque-vectoring rear differential to the rear axle for higher off-road efficiency. Gasoline economic system drops to 21/26/23 mpg with the larger engine.
What’s the Bronco Sport prefer to drive?
The Bronco Sport is charming and totally different on this class of largely related driving experiences. No one will mistake it for an Escape from the driving force’s seat. The controls have a truck-ish really feel to them. The steering has a touch of play/liveliness, making for a small truck feeling on the highway. The large brake pedal has that heavy suggestions we are likely to affiliate with full-size vans just like the F-150. This little crossover is actually making an attempt its greatest to masquerade as a critical off-roader in a pint-size bundle.
The 1.5-turbo is peppy, however not particularly fast, and the three-cylinder doesn’t sound half dangerous beneath load. The transmission simply melts into the background, which is simply as nicely for a car like this — it neither frustrates nor wows. There’s an additional bounce and stiffness to the on-road experience in the usual Bronco Sport you don’t get in different crossovers this measurement — we’ll be aware that we nonetheless haven’t pushed a Badlands trim and its distinctive suspension on-road. The usual Bronco Sport is just not so stiff as to be uncomfortable, however you’ll be able to inform there’s an off-road-tuned suspension beneath. That doesn’t translate into corner-carving prowess, because the Bronco Sport is a bit of sloppy while you begin to push. Extra on-road-intended rivals just like the Kia Seltos and Mazda CX-30 have each superior experience consolation and higher dealing with. So too does the Ford Escape.
When off-road, the Bronco Sport is approach higher than you may count on. Every GOAT mode (Go Over Any Terrain) makes the Bronco Sport drive noticeably totally different by altering the all-wheel-drive torque cut up, transmission shift factors, traction management/stability management settings, throttle tuning, brake tuning, and steering weight. We solely drove the two.0-turbo off-road, however discovered it to have greater than sufficient energy for the duty. The trick rear differential is a complete hoot in free sand, too, letting the Bronco Sport drift about to our coronary heart’s content material.
What extra can I learn concerning the Bronco Sport?
2021 Ford Bronco Sport First Drive | Worthy of the identify
Our first drive of the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport the place we go over every thing concerning the new mannequin and inform you our first impressions.
2021 Ford Bronco Sport trim breakdown | How the 5 trims differ
We break down all 5 trims of the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport — Base, Large Bend, Outer Banks, Badlands and First Version.
What options can be found and what’s the value?
For probably the most in-depth trim stage and pricing data, try our Bronco Sport trim stage breakdown the place we go into nice element on how the trims are totally different each aesthetically talking and in how they’re outfitted. Ford organizes the Bronco Sport trims totally different from every other car in its lineup save the Bronco 2-Door and 4-Door. For a short overview, proceed beneath.
The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport begins at $28,155 for the Base mannequin, together with the $1,495 vacation spot cost. For this, you get halogen headlights, a guide liftgate w/flood lights, roof rails, guide driver seat adjustment, single-zone guide local weather management, carpeted ground mats, eight-inch touchscreen infotainment (w/Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), a six-speaker audio system and a collection of driver help options we’ll element within the security part beneath. It’s solely obtainable with the 1.5-turbo.
If you need the two.0-turbo, the most affordable entry level into that’s the Badlands trim at $34,155. It comes with an enormous array of off-road goodies just like the torque-vectoring rear diff, further transmission and rear-drive coolers, bash plates, entrance tow hooks, all-terrain tires and distinctive Badlands suspension. Extra luxurious/comfort options are alongside for the experience, too, together with full LED headlights and foglights, rubberized flooring, further energy factors (together with a 110V), energy driver seat, heated entrance seats and the flexibility to spec a wide selection of different choices.
Under is the total pricing construction for the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. Once more, you’ll find a full breakdown of options, specs and native pricing right here in our trim stage breakdown.
- Base: $28,155
- Large Bend: $29,655
- Outer Banks: $33,655
- Badlands: $34,155
- First Version: $39,995
What are its security tools and crash scores?
Each Bronco Sport comes with the Ford Co-Pilot360 driver help suite as customary. This contains ahead computerized emergency braking, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping help and auto excessive beams. An Help+ bundle is offered that provides adaptive cruise management, lane centering help, evasive steering help and velocity signal recognition.
No impartial crash testing businesses have examined the Bronco Sport as of this writing.
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