It might be straightforward to dismiss the 2022 Ford Bronco Sport as simply the cheaper and smaller crossover Bronco. Some may name it a knockoff or a poseur. Certainly, it’s cheaper and smaller, and it definitely cannot do the identical issues off-road as its large brother Bronco can. However the Bronco Sport additionally is not the SUV equal of a pretend Gucci purse. Cheaper and smaller have their benefits, and by being a crossover, the Bronco Sport is extra comfy, rather a lot quieter and extra maneuverable than its large brother.
It is also meant for a unique kind of purchaser. As an alternative of specializing in off-roading as the explanation in your journey, the Bronco Sport is for many who may need to off-road on the best way to wherever they are going. We’re speaking campers, hikers, kayakers, and many others. And for them, the Bronco Sport delivers. It does certainly have higher off-roading functionality than different prime midcompact SUVs, particularly the Badlands and its strong turbo-four engine, whereas loads of considerate touches all through are suited particularly for the trials of outdoors-ing. On the identical time, the Bronco Sport is not as comfy or sharp to drive on street than these different midcompacts, nor would its inside area be thought-about household pleasant. For the correct sort of purchaser, although, the Bronco Sport is a superb, distinctive alternative and positively not a knockoff.
Inside & know-how | Passenger & cargo area | Efficiency & gas financial system
What it is prefer to drive | Pricing & options | Crash scores & security options
What’s new for 2022?
After being all new final 12 months, there aren’t any vital modifications for 2022. Characteristic content material in some elective packages has modified a bit and there are three new colours: Bronze Smoke, Sizzling Pepper Pink and Velocity Blue. Kodiak Brown and Fast Pink are discontinued.
What are the Bronco Sport inside and in-car know-how like?
The Bronco Sport looks like somewhat truck inside. You sit in an upright place and gaze over an extended, straight hood with two massive energy bulges. In comparison with the mechanically associated Escape, the Bronco Sport’s distinctive cabin design is extra upright and utilitarian. The air vents are excessive, straddling the shared 8-inch touchscreen, releasing up area for a useful 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 will be Go Over Any Terrain, the Bronco time period for off-road drive settings). Admittedly, there are cheaper plastics within the Bronco Sport than you will discover in different top-rated midcompact SUVs, however a minimum of Ford’s use of colour and material decisions in sure trims makes up for it in some respects.
Inside storage can be distinctive. Past the a number of storage options up entrance, there are quite a few options as you progress rearward for weekend mountaineering and tenting warriors. Sure trim ranges get zippered pockets and MOLLE straps on the entrance seatbacks (how has nobody considered these earlier than?), the liftgate has two LED camp lights and massive seize handles that may double as a spot to hold moist objects, and the raised roof rails are the strong actual deal (not raised or pretend rails with mounted attachment factors). Plus, there’s additionally the intensive out of doors life-style choice and accent record, which incorporates in-vehicle dual-bike storage functionality and rubberized easy-to-clean flooring.
The infotainment system is 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, however it’s nonetheless straightforward to make use of and presents properly. 4 USB ports are normal. A 4.2-inch central display screen within the cluster is simply too, however larger trims provide a bigger 6.5-inch display screen in between the bodily gauge set.
How large is the Bronco Sport?
Whereas the Bronco Sport could trip on the Escape’s platform, it’s a great deal smaller than the Escape in total dimension. It measures up nearer to midcompact SUVs just like the Jeep Compass, Kia Seltos and Chevy Trailblazer. The small dimension is nice for off-roading in tight conditions, however it’s much less household pleasant than many different extra road-oriented crossovers.
You’ll be able to comfortably seat adults within the again, however it’s removed from probably the most spacious within the midcompact phase. Its 36.9 inches of rear legroom is akin to the Mazda CX-30 and a contact smaller than the Jeep Compass. The VW Taos is significantly bigger. As such, a rear-facing baby seat is a good match, so this is not the only option for households regardless of having loads of cargo capability to do the job. Certainly, its 32.5 cubic ft of area behind its raised again seat blows away crossovers which might be equally sized on the surface and rivals these which might be a lot greater just like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The truth is, it’s important to slide the Ford Escape’s again seat far ahead in an effort to match the Bronco Sport’s luggage-carrying functionality. How is it doable? In terms of cargo, packing containers are higher. We dig deeper into the Bronco Sport’s cargo capability in our baggage check, and after testing its rivals, discovered it to at the moment be one of the best in its phase.
What are the Bronco Sport gas financial system and efficiency specs?
The bottom engine in most trims (Base, Massive 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 normal. Gasoline financial system is rated at 25 mpg metropolis, 28 mpg freeway and 26 mpg mixed. That is significantly decrease than most midcompact SUV rivals, however the identical because the equally off-road-oriented Subaru Forester Wilderness and only a bit decrease than the Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Highway.
Unique to the Badlands is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. This engine places out 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, which is way over the midcompact norm and people greater, off-road-oriented SUVs. It’s additionally mated to an eight-speed computerized transmission, however it provides a torque-vectoring rear differential to the rear axle for higher off-road efficiency. Gasoline financial system falls even additional to 21/26/23 mpg with the larger engine.
What is the Bronco Sport prefer to drive?
The Bronco Sport is charming and completely different on this class of largely related driving experiences. The steering has a touch of play/liveliness, making for a small truck feeling on the street, however nonetheless possesses the precision we have come to anticipate from Ford’s automobiles and crossovers. No matter trim degree, there’s an additional bounce and stiffness to the on-road trip you don’t get in different crossovers this dimension, probably the results of its shorter wheelbase and off-road-ready suspension. That doesn’t translate into corner-carving prowess, because the Bronco Sport is somewhat sloppy once you begin to push. Extra on-road-intended rivals just like the Kia Seltos, VW Taos and Mazda CX-30 have each superior trip consolation and higher dealing with. So too does the mechanically associated Ford Escape.
When off-road, although, the Bronco Sport shines and is approach higher than you may anticipate. Every GOAT (Go Over Any Terrain) mode makes the Bronco Sport drive noticeably completely different by altering the all-wheel-drive torque break up, transmission shift factors, traction management/stability management settings, throttle tuning, brake tuning and steering weight. It is also essential to notice that the Badlands has an additional inch of floor clearance over the opposite variations. Whereas inching alongside a path, we might hear an Outer Banks and Massive Bend Bronco Sport bottoming out in locations the place our Badlands was simply positive. Its torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system was additionally useful when driving in sand. On the identical time, nobody will mistake the Sport for its large Bronco brother. It is nonetheless a crossover and meant to be quieter and extra comfy on-road on the expense of functionality off-road
The 1.5-turbo isn’t particularly fast, however is peppy and has the gravelly bulldog-ish growl that is typical of a three-cylinder. The transmission simply melts into the background, which is simply as properly for a automobile like this — it neither frustrates nor wows. As normal powertrains go, you are able to do rather a lot worse within the compact crossover realm. That mentioned, you can too do rather a lot higher and go together with the 250-hp 2.0-liter discovered within the Badlands, which is additional paired with an upgraded, torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system that is as a lot a profit on street as it’s off. It ought to be supplied in additional trims.
What different Ford Bronco Sport opinions can I learn?
2021 Ford Bronco Sport First Drive
A more in-depth have a look at the Bronco Sport’s design and engineering, together with driving impressions on and off-road.
Ford Bronco Sport Badlands Highway Take a look at Overview
A have a look at the range-topping Badlands, particularly, together with its distinctive 2.0-liter turbo engine and torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system.
Ford Bronco Sport Inside Storage Overview
There are a mess of intelligent storage options contained in the Bronco Sport, from MOLLE strap connectors to an in-car bike rack. We go over all the pieces on this overview.
Ford Bronco Sport Baggage Take a look at
Learn the way a lot real-world cargo area there may be behind the Bronco Sport’s again seat.
Ford Bronco Sport First Version Highway Take a look at
Whereas the First Version is not bought (it is not the primary mannequin 12 months), principally all the pieces included continues to be obtainable elsewhere within the Bronco Sport lineup, together with the oh-so-cool Cyber Orange paint.
Ford Bronco Sport Badlands Suspension Deep Dive
Engineer Dan Edmunds takes an in depth have a look at the Bronco Sport Badlands suspension, explaining the way it all works and what the results are.
Ford Bronco Sport Design Deep Dive: How the little Bronco got here to life
We sit down with the design group to be taught what went down behind the scenes.
How a lot is the 2022 Bronco Sport worth and what options can be found?
The 2022 Bronco Sport pricing begins at $28,760, together with the hefty $1,495 vacation spot cost utilized to all costs under. Maintain that in thoughts when evaluating costs to rivals that every one Bronco Sports activities come normal with all-wheel drive.
Base: $28,760
Massive Bend: $30,320
Outer Banks: $34,570
Badlands: $35,430
The bottom Bronco Sport comes normal with metal wheels (not the cool sort), halogen headlights, a guide liftgate w/flood lights, roof rails, guide driver seat adjustment, single-zone guide local weather management, material upholstery, 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 under. The Massive Bend might be the place you wish to begin your procuring given its alloy wheels, further sound deadening, proximity entry and push-button begin, rear privateness glass, auto local weather management, easy-to-clean upholstery, and the MOLLE straps on the again of the entrance seats. It is also eligible for lots extra choices.
The lineup then splits in two instructions. The fancier Outer Banks (pictured on the prime of this web page) provides a ton of consolation and comfort options, plus the colourful inside choices. The max off-road-oriented Badlands consists of the identical consolation and comfort objects, however with completely different inside colour and exterior design cues. Crucially, it additionally consists of 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.
What are the Bronco Sport security scores and driver help options?
Each Bronco Sport comes with the Ford Co-Pilot360 driver help suite as normal. This consists of ahead computerized emergency braking, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping help and auto excessive beams. An Help+ bundle is on the market that provides adaptive cruise management, lane centering help, evasive steering help and pace signal recognition.
Security scores are wonderful, with the federal government giving it an ideal 5 stars for total, frontal and aspect crash safety. The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security named it a Prime Security Decide+ for its best-possible efficiency in all crash exams and for its crash-prevention tech. Even its normal headlights bought the best-possible “Good” score, which is sort of exceptional.
Watch us construct the right Ford Bronco Sport:
