Reality is – the Bronco Sport will always live in the full-size Bronco’s shadows. But let’s get that out of our heads for the moment & critique it on its own merit. Because if the Bronco Sport is nothing else, at minimum it’s a departure from yet another generic shapeless crossover. Right off the bat, it’s more interesting than another one of those things. Here’s a quick experiment: 1) Try to envision a Ford Escape. Now 2) Envision the Bronco Sport. I bet your mind had a much easier time with the Bronco Sport, huh. That’s because it has actual shape & design traits. It’s noticeable & memorable. Whereas the other mentioned car is shapeless & soulless. But – do the Bronco Sport’s positive attributes go more than skin-deep? Let’s find out…
Initial impressions of the Bronco Sport…
Initially, I was drawn to the Bronco Sport’s 2-tone paint & graphics. It’s not yet another crossover you’ll lose in a parking lot. Aesthetically for me, it’s very well executed & hits the mark for Ford. Even though it’s not ‘the real Bronco’, the Bronco Sport always has a way of catching my eye around town.
Climbing into the Bronco Sport…
I could not get comfortable in the driver’s seat of this thing. It fit me like a shoe with a rock in it. I don’t consider myself an overly-large dude, but for me, the Bronco Sport’s seats feel too narrow, and too flat (un-bolstered) on the bottom. Furthermore, whatever synthetic marine and/or golf cart material Ford’s using on the center section of the seats… makes your back (and the back of your legs) heat-up like you’re sitting an old Florida school bus. I opted NOT to take this Bronco Sport on a weekend roadtrip for that reason alone. It was just ill-fitting for me all around. But – that doesn’t mean it’ll be that way for you.
Bronco Sport cargo room…
The trade-off to my restlessness lol… is a pleasantly surprising amount of utilitarian/useable cargo space. The back is a giant cube of storage. Access through the rear hatch is wide, tall, & unhampered. And the Bronco Sport’s roofline is tall as well, giving it a spacious, rugged, appealing driving experience. I also appreciate the Bronco-culture details, easter-eggs, and/or nods to the Bronco legacy (see a few examples in the photos below). It’s cool that Ford included the Bronco Sport in that… because you know what? While it might not be the full-size, top-down, doors-off Bronco… it’s still more of a lifestyle, outdoorsy, capable vehicle than these other generic-prescription CUVs. And the Bronco Sport still has strong potential to ‘take you out there’ & enrich your life.
GPS coordinates stamped on the taillight assembly: 34.41382 N 116.56276 W
Mountain landscape under the rear window (which can open separately from the liftgate FTW)
…a little Bronco heritage
Bronco Sport 1.5 Ecoboost 3-cylinder engine…
Do yourself a favor: If you care about performance, don’t get the 1.5-liter 3-cylinder. Just go with Ford’s more popular (and more powerful) 2.0 Ecoboost. Yeah – Ford markets the 1.5 as an Ecoboost too, since it is turbocharged (barely lol). But they tend to not market the fact that it’s a 3-cylinder. I’d be willing to bet a lot of Bronco Sport buyers don’t even realize they bought a 3-cylinder. The 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine is pretty darn-tootin’ slow. And because it’s struggling to get out of its own way, efficiency isn’t even that amazing at 26mpg combined. My prediction is that you’ll be happier in the long run with the 2.0 Ecoboost. Only problem is: Ford uses that 1.5 for most of the lineup. So by the time you get to the 2.0 in the upper-model Bronco Sport Badlands, you’re at 38K & you’ve lost the attractive entry-point value.
The Bronco Sport Overall…
The Bronco Sport is honestly a solid recommendable choice for some people out there, and I’m not just saying that to end on a positive note because I was nitpicking a few things. 1) It’s great for somebody with an active/outdoorsy lifestyle looking for value. 2) And/or someone that wants to break out of the generic crossover coma & drive something with some actual style. 3) It’s a functional, lovable, capable vehicle that’s eager to explore & adventure. So what if it isn’t ‘perfect’… that’s kinda part of the attraction.
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I purchased a ’23 Bronco Sport mainly
because I had owned a first generation
Bronco many years ago. I enjoy my new
Bronco but for one exception. My left leg
rubs the door panel. This has really become bothering and I’ve found no relief in repositioning the power seat.
I sure would like to meet the idiot engineer who didn’t think this through.
We love our Bronco Sport Outer Banks! In regards to the 1.5 3 cylinder engine it has plenty of get up and go. Put it in Sport mode and watch it!! Learn the Bronco first! Yes the cargo space is awesome, we take ours camping! The seats are not in anyway bad to me?? I’d rate the Bronco Sport a 5/5!!