2025 Ford Bronco Sport

During the 2021 model year as the Covid-19 pandemic was winding down, Ford Motor Company kick started its product portfolio by reintroducing an iconic name back into the stable after a quarter century hiatus: Bronco.  

It’s important to note Ford not only brought back the Bronco name, but added a second derivative and this week’s wild ride: Bronco Sport.  

While the two names ring somewhat similar, these two products differ like night and day. The larger Bronco Sport Utility Vehicle with significantly more ground clearance shares a body-on-frame platform with the mid-sized Ranger pickup truck. It’s the workhorse of the pair designed for heavy duty off-road adventures.  

The compact Bronco Sport crossover borrows a uni-body, or car-like underpinnings from Ford’s front-wheel drive Escape compact crossover (with Bronco Sport measuring eight inches shorter in length). Big difference: Bronco Sport includes Midwest-friendly all-wheel drive standard. Don’t underestimate Bronco Sports’ ability to tackle off-pavement assignments as it’s stocked with technology diving headfirst into outdoor adventures. It’s better suited than most compact crossover rivals including Toyota’s RAV-4 and Honda’s CRV to handle deep snow or mud.  

Five Bronco Sport trims return in 2025 including Big Bend, Heritage, Outer Banks, Badlands and the colorful, multi-stripped, Free Wheeling, a low-volume retro nod to the 1970’s era. The Free Wheeling trim remains mechanically identical to the base Big Bend but with the notable visual Rainbow-stripping enhancements and a $2,600 higher starting price.  

Expect a few Bronco Sport upgrades in 2025 compared with 2024 including a larger multi-function, swipable center touch screen growing from eight inches to 13.2 inches with the latest version of Sync technology, graduating to Sync 4.0 from Sync 3.0. Sync enables Bluetooth wireless technology to pass information from Smartphones to Bronco Sport. Music downloaded on Smartphones play through Bronco Sport’s sound system through voice and touch commands. Phone calls also are voice-command activated with enhanced on-screen navigation. Sync also allows remote unlocking and starting of the vehicle. 

All trims now enjoy an all-digital instrument panel with analog-type gauges. The Instrument Panel and center console remain two separate spheres, with the IP deeper set into the dash. Some rivals combine these two into one ginormous modernish multi-plex screen. Bronco Sport designs the interior with a retro flair.  

Also, adaptive cruise control now comes standard across all trim lines. This handy, driver-friendly nuance enhances the comforting effects of run-of-the-mill cruise by incorporating radar technology allowing the system to keep a comfortable cushion of space between Bronco Sport and the car in front with little use of the brake pedal. The system automatically slows and speeds up the Bronco based on radar feedback and improves the overall highway driving experience. 

Newly optional in 2025, A Sasquatch Package within its Outer Banks and Badlands editions sporting a higher ground clearance, twin-clutch locking rear differential, 29-inch all-terrain tires wrapped around alloy wheels, high-performance suspension and full-size spare tire.  

Two powertrain options include a 1.5-liter, EcoBoost, three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower or an EcoBoost, 2.0-liter four-cylinder upping the ponies to 250. The 2.0-liter four cylinder is exclusive to the Badlands trim. EcoBoost represents Ford’s technology combining turbocharging, direct fuel injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing. These three phases help increase fuel economy and power by recirculating exhaust gases back into the engine and micro-timing valve activities.  

Currently Bronco Sport and Broncos support Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) exclusively with no gas-electric hybrid or EV versions.  

Both internal combustion engines include one of the least intrusive, smoothest operating start-stop technology quieting the engine at prolonged stops. Too many rivals with this technology invite excess noise and rumbles. If desired, this technology switches off with the push of a center dashboard button. No manual transmission is offered.  

Our Big Bend tester included a $30,995 starting price (lowest of the bunch). Factory extras include $995 for premium exterior paint, $420 Black Diamond exterior graphics package, $185 floor liners, $1,695 convenience package, and $2,570 Black Diamond package. Dealer add-ons include roof rail crossbars ($425) and $680 mud flaps. After a $750 discount for the Black Diamond Package and $1,595 destination charge, the bottom line reached $38,815. 

The $425 Black Diamond Graphics package (exclusive to the Big Bend trim) includes a pair of black vertical hood decals while the more substantial $2,570 Black Diamond off-road package features 17-inch all-terrain tires, carbonized grey aluminum wheels and cargo management system. 

To bolster off-road chops, Bronco Sport includes the G.O.A.T. dial between front buckets. Representing ‘Goes Over Any Terrain,’ this G.O.A. T. dial allows shifting among five terrain modes with the 1.5-liter engine: normal, eco, sport, slippery and sand. The 2.0-liter engine adds Rock Crawl and Rally opportunities. The system automatically defaults to normal when starting the engine.  

Expect ride quality on the highway a bit less refined than on-road competitors such as the Toyota RAV4, but perfectly acceptable given off-road capabilities Bronco Sport and its bigger Bronco brother promote The high seating position and ground clearance provide pilots with good perspectives of the pavement ahead and to the side.  

Bronco Sport’s easy-fill gas tank design incorporates capless status where the fuel nozzle lead penetrates a self-sealing plate eliminating the need for a plastic twist cap. Fuel economy for our Bronco Sport tester with the 1.5-liter three cylinder checks in at 25 miles per gallon city and 30 highway, figures short of many compact rivals designed with on-road travel in mind. When selecting the 2.0-liter four cylinder, expect 21 mpg city and 27 mpg mileage returns. Both connect with an eight-speed automatic transmission.  

It's a tall-standing vehicle with a straight-across roof rather than a curved back-end roof, creating decent second-row headroom. Bold, black exterior grab bars on all four side doors easily pull to open even if wearing thick work-type gloves. A black roof rack with side rails comes standard.  

The rear manual liftback door, hinged at the top, opens up from the bottom with a handy and welcome dual-function design. For quicker trips into the cargo region, the rear glass portion also lifts up independently. The entire door lifts up from a release button hidden under a lower brim on the right side while the glass pops open from a button on the left. A single wiper extends up from the glass bottom to swipe away precipitation. Tail lights flank the lower door in the shape of a capital letter ‘D’ on the passenger side and the mirror reverse image on the driver’s side both illuminating in red as the sun sets. The Heritage rates as the sole trim offering a white roof.  

The front grille includes active shutters helping the engine breath with each trim offering up its own unique design. Our entry Big Bend included a carbonized grey honeycomb pattern with big bold BRONCO white lettering. The LED headlights form a circular pattern with an inboard line extension providing daytime running lights with amber hazard line lights above and below. Circular wheel wells and lower body extremities include black composite trim adding a level of protection.  

Below the larger flat center touch screen and a pair of horizontal air vents, one finds a design reminiscent of a 1970’s AM radio layout, but with a modern twist. Instead of a traditional on/off/volume knob to the left, Ford positions the circular, electronic push button start/stop button. The volume knob positions to the far right end instead. In between, a series of buttons including the engine start/stop deactivation, the red hazard button, traction control deactivation (to better spin the wheels when needed) and one HVAC button controlling the front defroster.  

Remaining temperature controls operate from a bottom row within the touch-sensitive center screen including fan direction and speed.  

An electronic transmission dial between Big Bend’s cloth, two tone (black and gray) front buckets selects settings with a simple twist. P,R,N and D illuminate on the dials top indicating the gear selected. This compact design opens up the center region in contrast with a tall mechanical shift handle. To the dial’s right, dual inline beverage holders (six cupholders throughout). To the rear, the electronic pull-tab parking brake.  

Dual front temperature zones come standard in Outer Banks and Badlands trims. Big Bend gets by with a single zone. A single-setting wireless charging pad arrives standard in all trims below the center console with a black, flat portrait design. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interconnectivity comes standard as does Type C and Type A USB plug ports.  

Seating situates higher up than conventional sedans or hatchbacks providing a good command of the road. The high roof provides all riders, even those in back with gobs of headroom. Leg room in row two is a bit tight. For optimal comfort, two adults is the call in back, three in a pinch for short jaunts. Row two seatbacks fold down manually with a 60/40 split gaining access to the cargo region.  

In calendar year 2024, the Blue Oval company sold 124,701 Bronco Sports, a 2.2 percent drop from the previous 12-month cycle.  

2025 Bronto Sport Big Bend 

Price as tested: $38,815 

Engine: Turbocharged 1.5-liter EcoBoost-liter three cylinder  

Horsepower: 180 

Wheelbase: 105.1 inches 

Overall Length: 173.1 inches  

Overall Height: 70.4 inches  

Overall Width: 82.2 inches 

Fuel Economy: 25 mpg city/ 30 mpg highway 

Powertrain Warranty: Five-year/60,0000-mile  

Assembly: Hermosa, Mexico