The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport adds a dash of ruggedness to the compact SUV landscape, channeling more than just its big brother’s name.
Though it shares its underpinnings with the Ford Escape, the Bronco Sport cuts a chunkier profile and comes standard with all-wheel drive. The Bronco Sport is not quite an off-roader in the vein of the larger Toyota 4Runner, but fuel economy as high as 28 mpg on the highway makes it a more palatable adventure vehicle.
All versions come standard with all-wheel drive (AWD) with between five and seven drive modes for various terrain types.
2021 Ford Bronco Sport (Original starting price when new: $28,155)
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The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport starts at $28,155.
The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport base version comes standard with a 1.5-liter inline-3. The engine may be light on cylinders, but it puts out 181 horsepower thanks to its turbocharger. An 8-speed automatic transmission is the only choice.
The Bronco Sport comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, a flip-up glass panel in the liftgate for easy grocery loading, roof rails, power windows and locks, cloth-upholstered seats with partial power adjustment for the driver, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Ford’s Sync infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Safety-wise, the Bronco Sport includes the automaker’s Co-Pilot 360 tech, including blind-spot monitors, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights.
The only factory options include rubber or carpeted floor mats and an engine block heater for cold climates.
Who is this trim for? The base Bronco Sport offers few surprises but includes a good array of features for drivers looking for standard all-wheel drive and rugged styling.
2021 Ford Bronco Sport includes:
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto — Software mirroring a connected smartphone for easy access to select entertainment, communication, and navigation apps.
Co-Pilot 360 — A wide range of driver-assistance safety tech, including systems that can apply brakes automatically in anticipation of an impact as well as nudging a drifting vehicle back into its lane.
Roof Rails — Ideal for drivers who might plan to add accessories such as bicycle or ski racks.
2021 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend (Original starting price when new: $29,655)
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The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend starts at $29,655.
Named after the national park in West Texas, the Big Bend dresses up the base Bronco with a few convenience features and easy-clean surfaces inside. It’s also the gateway to optional features not available on the base model.
Outside, the Bronco Sport Big Bend has unique wheels and a special grille, plus tinted side and rear windows and heated exterior mirrors. Its interior wears easy-clean cloth upholstery. The cargo area is lined with a rubberized material.
Equipment-wise, it adds zippered pockets with military-style attachment straps on the backs of the front seats, push-button start, split-folding rear seatbacks with an armrest, and satellite radio.
Factory options include adaptive cruise control to keep the vehicle a set distance from the car in front at highway speeds. A package consists of an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a moonroof, parking sensors, a wireless device charging pad, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Upsized 18-inch wheels and a trailer hitch are also available, and the Bronco Sport Big Bend comes in more exterior color combinations than the base model.
Who is this trim for? The Bronco Sport Big Bend offers a nice styling upgrade to the base model. Still, its main appeal may lie in its optional equipment, including fatigue-reducing adaptive cruise control and luxuries such as a sunroof and wireless charging pad.
2021 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend includes:
Satellite radio — Offering more channels than terrestrial radio, albeit for a monthly subscription fee.
Easy-clean upholstery — Ford bills the Bronco Sport Big Bend’s cloth seats as easier to tidy up after getting dirty
Push-button start — Keep the key in your pocket, purse, or backpack for convenience.
2021 Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks (Original starting price when new: $33,655)
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The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks starts at $33,655.
This time, Ford turned to North Carolina’s seashore for this version of the Bronco Sport, which comes with leather seats and a host of luxuries.
The Bronco Sport Outer Banks includes 18-inch wheels and a black-painted roof outside. Open its doors, and you’ll find that the front seats are heated and power-adjustable. Other features include a heated steering wheel, remote start, a digital instrument cluster, parking sensors, a household-style power outlet in the cargo area, automatic windshield wipers, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
Factory options when new included a navigation system, adaptive cruise control, and a package that paired a B&O audio system with a moonroof, wireless charging pad, and HD radio compatibility.
Who is this trim for? With its leather upholstery and optional B&O audio system, the Bronco Sport Outer Banks blurs the line between mainstream and luxury.
2021 Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks includes:
Leather upholstery — Providing a luxurious feel inside, leather is also easy to clean up.
Digital instrument cluster — In addition to looking flashy, the digital instrument cluster can relay additional driving information to the driver.
18-inch wheels — They look great, but their shorter sidewalls can make the ride a little rougher.
2021 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands (Original starting price when new: $34,155)
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The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands starts at $34,155.
The most off-road-ready version of the Bronco Sport upgrades the engine to a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder rated at 250 hp for better acceleration. Additional drive modes, a special suspension, underbody skid plates, tow hooks, and all-terrain tires increase confidence off-road, too.
Even though it is the costliest Bronco Sport, the Badlands builds on the Big Bend equipment. It features heated and power-adjustable front seats with cloth surfaces, a digital instrument cluster, a household-style power outlet, and additional USB charging ports.
Two option packages are available. One adds navigation and adaptive cruise control, while the other includes leather seats, B&O audio, a moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, remote start, and a wireless charging pad.
Who is this trim for? With its off-road components, the Bronco Sport Badlands is the most capable version. It’s great for weekend adventurers or even those who simply like its chunkier style.
Off-road suspension and drive modes — Bronco Sport Badlands offers up to 8.8 inches of ground clearance to avoid rocks and other obstacles away from the pavement.
Skid plates — When taller obstacles are unavoidable, skid plates protect underbody components.
Tow hooks — In case an adventure goes awry, the easily-accessible tow hooks enable another vehicle to extract the Bronco Sport.
2021 Ford Bronco Sport First Edition (Original starting price when new: $39,655)
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Limited to just 2,000 vehicles, the First Edition celebrated the arrival of the Bronco Sport. Just four paint colors are available, and all First Edition models come equipped like a fully loaded Badlands.
Additional special features include distinctive exterior trim and wheels plus dark blue leather upholstery.
