If you thought the return of the Ford Bronco, which they discontinued in 1996, was exciting, the new Ford Bronco Sport probably sent you into a tailspin. The Sport is the bigger Bronco’s smaller kid brother, and it offers almost as much fun and adventure as its big brother.

While the Bronco Sport Badlands model offers quite a bit, there are few things that disappointed reviewers like Car and Driver. The interior doesn’t match up as well as it could. Will that hurt the Bronco Sport model?

What the Ford Bronco Sport’s interior lacks

The Ford Bronco Sport offers a lot for your money, but unfortunately, you don’t get too much of it from the interior. When it comes to the inside, Ford went cheap with a sort of barebones approach. The equipment that many other vehicles offer as standard is missing from this Sport model.  

Some features, such as dual-zone climate control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a power liftgate do not come with it. Unless, of course, you upgrade with optional features, which increases your overall cost. More available amenities include a leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, moonroof, and front and rear parking assist. 

Car and Driver’s test vehicle cost $36,300 and didn’t come with any of those features, which is odd considering the base starting price, according to Ford’s website, is $32,820. Other reviewers didn’t think the seats were very comfortable either. 

Why the cheap interior doesn’t hurt the overall vehicle

While it’s disappointing to see few features included on your Badlands trim, you still get a decent handful of others. Some of them include an electronic automatic temperature-controlled climate system, push-button start, pre-collision assist that includes automatic emergency braking, and a terrain system with seven driving modes. 

For the exterior, you get a flip-up rear glass window, front tow hooks, floodlights, configurable daytime running lamps, and for a bit of a surprise, a bottle opener tucked into the rear hatch. You’ll also get four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, trail control, traction control, and 17-inch carbonized aluminum wheels. 

The 1.5-liter EcoBoost Inline-three motor comes standard on the Badlands trim, but you also choose to upgrade to a 2.0-liter EcoBoost Inline-four engine, which is what powered Car and Driver’s test vehicle. It also comes standard with four-wheel drive.

When to choose the Ford Bronco Sport over the regular Ford Bronco

Both Ford Bronco models offer the same rugged exterior looks and adventurous spirit for off-road terrain, but the Bronco Sport is meant to be the little brother, so to speak, to the bigger-sized Bronco. Sure, the Sport can handle many of the same tasks as the larger SUV, but there are a few differences between the two that help you decide which one to buy. 

The biggest difference you’ll find with them is what powers them from underneath the hood. The bigger Bronco comes with a 2.3-liter four-cylinder and an optional 2.7-liter V6 motor. Both are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. These are perfect for some of the tougher trails, like Moab’s Metal Masher or the Rubicon trail. 

The Ford Bronco Sport isn’t quite as powerful but can handle some of the more midrange trails. However, because of its smaller size, it can handle on-road surfaces a bit better than its big brother. So, if you have an off-road camping trip planned in the future, the Badlands Sport will be perfect for you. 

The Ford Bronco Sport may not come with an awe-inspiring interior, but it doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. It still offers many other features to make your purchase worthwhile in the end.