The 2023 Ford Bronco Sport is the Bronco’s smaller sibling. The Bronco Sport resembles the Bronco, but it’s still a completely different SUV. The Bronco Sport uses a different engine and has better gas mileage than the larger Bronco. That being said, the Bronco has more ground clearance and is arguably more capable off-road. Which Bronco Sport trim is closest to the Bronco?

Which 2023 Ford Bronco Sport trim is the best Ford Bronco alternative?

The 2023 Ford Bronco Sport base model is a smaller budget Bronco that’s better suited for life as a daily driver than it is an off-road vehicle. The Bronco Sport Base starts at $29,215. It comes standard with all-wheel drive. The Bronco Sport uses a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine to make 181 horsepower. The subcompact SUV achieves 25 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per gallon on the highway.

The best Ford Bronco alternative is the Bronco Sport Badlands. While this is one of the more expensive, Bronco Sport trim levels, it’s still more readily available than any Bronco trim. The 2023 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands starts at $36,590.

The Bronco Sport Badlands comes standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 245 horsepower. That’s more horses than larger SUVs like the Toyota RAV4. The Badlands trim adds a 1.0-inch suspension lift for greater ground clearance. It also comes with all-terrain tires. Car and Driver recommends the Bronco Badlands.

Why buy a Ford Bronco Sport over a Ford Bronco?

Ford’s baby Bronco, the Bronco Sport is a great option for drivers who can’t purchase the larger Bronco compact SUV. The Bronco nameplate reemerged in 2020 as a 2021 model year after a long hiatus. The Ford Bronco was originally discontinued after the industry became more focused on larger SUV models. Now that small SUVs are all the rage again, the Bronco has returned to tap into the nostalgia of Blue Oval fans across the globe and captivate a new generation of off-road enthusiasts.

The problem with the Ford Bronco is that the Blue Oval can’t seem to make enough of ’em to satisfy consumers. The American automaker struggled with long delivery times because of a supply crisis exacerbated by the global pandemic. The Bronco had finally returned in all its glory, it was just incredibly elusive to the average American buyer.

Many capitalized on the exclusivity of the Bronco and resold the small SUV. A strong resale market was created on auction sites like eBay, where the vehicle was sometimes listed for double its MSRP. The Ford Bronco Sport stands out in its segment, and it’s a fine choice regardless of whether drivers are looking for a Bronco alternative or not.

Is the Bronco Sport selling well?

The Ford Bronco Sport is outselling the Ford Edge, Ford Expedition, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and even the Bronco itself based on a July sales report released by the Blue Oval. There are still a few months left in 2022, but the Bronco Sport is already selling better than it did in 2021. The introduction of the new Heritage edition could cause an increase in sales for the 2023 model year.

Read more about the Ford Bronco Sport in the next article below.