The Ford Bronco Sport is a smaller and more affordable version of the Big Bronco. Both were launched simultaneously, and while the so-called Baby Bronco isn’t as capable as its bigger sibling, it does have some off-road chops of its own—especially with the introduction of the Sasquatch package for the 2025 model year.
Though it’s built on the same platform as the Ford Escape, it has more style and off-road credibility. The Ford Bronco Sport is considered a light adventure vehicle, and competes with the likes of the Subaru Crosstrek, the Jeep Compass Trailhawk, and the Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road.
One of its big selling points is that it’s filled with clever features such as a washable rubberized floor, a safari-style roof for extra cargo height, molle straps on the front seat backs, and a built-in bottle opener in the liftgate.
The Baby Bronco is a great choice for anyone who needs something for the daily grind but also has a bit of weekend wanderlust. It can be your commuter car Monday through Friday, then take you to your favorite hiking trails or camping spots on the weekend.
Ford Bronco Sport: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Ford Bronco Sport Pros and Cons
- Ford Bronco Sport Generations
- First Generation (2021–Present)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Ford Bronco Sport years are the best?
Perhaps the best year to buy so far is 2024. Other than the 2025 model year, it had the fewest recalls and consumer complaints, according to NHTSA.gov. Additionally, it received the highest reliability verdict and owner satisfaction scores from Consumer Reports.
What are the worst Ford Bronco Sport years?
The first two years of the Ford Bronco Sport were plagued with complaints and recalls according to NHTSA.gov. Consumer Reports even gave the 2021 model year one of the lowest reliability ratings we’ve seen on a vehicle. The 2022 model year got a slightly higher, but still not great, reliability verdict, but owner satisfaction plummeted. Even 2023 gets lower than average reliability and satisfaction scores.
Is a used Ford Bronco Sport a good deal?
Because this vehicle is still in its first generation and it’s so new, you’ll be hard pressed to get a good deal. We saw an average of about $8,000 to $13,000 off the original MSRP for the 2021 to 2023 model years, but if you’re after a 2024 model, you’ll see pricing about $2,000 less than the original MSRP.
Ford Bronco Sport Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Stylish design
- Great handling
- Standard all-wheel drive
Cons:
- Interior materials feel cheap
- Excessive touchscreen controls
- Poor reliability record
Ford Bronco Sport Generations
First Generation (2021–Present)
The first-generation Bronco Sport came on the scene amid a flurry of excitement as Ford re-launched the iconic Bronco nameplate. It’s often referred to as the Baby Bronco, since it’s smaller than its larger counterpart and shares the same unibody construction with the Ford Escape. Though the Bronco Sport sits in the subcompact SUV class, it’s positioned as a more rugged, adventure-ready vehicle with its boxy profile, generous ground clearance, and robust all-wheel-drive system.
At launch, the new Ford had a pair of EcoBoost engines, starting with a 180-horsepower, 1.5-liter inline three-cylinder turbo with 190 lb-ft of torque. It offered 25 mpg city and 30 mpg highway and could tow up to 2,200 lbs when equipped with the optional class 2 trailer tow package. The 1.5L EcoBoost is standard with most trims, but the alternative—a 250-hp 2.0L EcoBoost—was standard with the Badlands model and the First Edition model for 2021, bumping torque to 280 lb-ft and towing capacity when properly equipped to 2,700 lbs, but reducing mpg to 21/27 city/highway. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Ford Bronco Sport trim levels in this first year included the Base, Big Bend, Outer Banks, Badlands, and First Edition. Standard spec with the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport included all-wheel drive, 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, a roof-rack, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Sync 3, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Ford’s G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Terrain) modes, and distinctive features such as a bunking bronco emblem on the steering wheel and front bucket seats. The Ford Co-Pilot360 advanced safety suite was also standard, and included automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, and automatic high beams.
The Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend trim added a rubberized cargo floor, molle straps on the front seat backs, easy-clean cloth seats, carbonized gray aluminum wheels, and LED fog lamps. Other available features included additional USB-A and USB-C ports, a Bang and Olufsen premium audio system, a 180-degree camera with a split view, heated front seats, an upgraded 4WD system with a twin-clutch and electronic differential lock, Trail Control, a power outlet in the cargo area, and a cargo management system with a slide-out table. Co-Pilot360 Assist+ was also available and added adaptive cruise control and parking assist features. The Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks trim had a more conventional exterior, including Ebony Black-Painted Wheels and a Shadow Black roof.
Though built on the same platform as the Ford Escape, the Ford Bronco Sport sets itself apart with its off-road capability. The G.O.A.T. Modes terrain management system comes with up to seven selectable drive modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, Sand, Mud/Ruts, and Rock Crawl. On the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands trim, you’ll see additional off-road capability features such as a twin-clutch rear drive unit with torque vectoring, an advanced off-road suspension, all-terrain tires, skid plates, front tow hooks, and up to 8.8 inches of ground clearance.
For 2022, the First Edition trim was discontinued, and there were new trims in 2023: the Heritage and Heritage Limited. These two Bronco Sport Heritage trims get more retro-inspired styling with an Oxford White roof and matching grille and wheels, throwback graphics inspired by the 1960s and 1970s Broncos, and Heritage-only colors such as Robin’s Egg Blue and Yellowstone Metallic. The interior also got some classic touches in the form of Oxford white interior accents and Navy Pier plaid cloth upholstery or plaid leather-trimmed seats in the Heritage and Heritage Limited trim levels.
The base trim was dropped in 2024, and a new mid-level Bronco Sport Free Wheeling trim was added. It was built on the Big Bend trim and got sunset-inspired graphics, a black roof, a black grille and trim accents, special wheels with accent coloring, and unique “Sunset Weave” cloth seats. While the 2025 model year didn’t get a full mid-cycle refresh, there were some significant changes. The Baby Bronco finally got a Sasquatch package, with increased ride height, a dual-clutch torque vectoring rear-drive unit, specialized rear shocks, all-terrain tires, steel underbody bash plates, oversized recovery hooks, and a front brush guard. Inside, there was a standard 13.2-inch touchscreen and a new accessory tray with USB-C ports added to the dashboard.
Because this is the current generation, used Ford Bronco Sports are plentiful, and you’ll likely find one easily at your local dealership. Pricing varies widely, ranging from $9,000 for damaged vehicles to $42,000 for like-new models with four-figure mileage. If you’re looking for a clean vehicle with less than 60,000 miles, there are plenty available in the $20,000 range.
