It’s time to celebrate the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. This rugged SUV can say winner-winner chicken dinner for the second time in a row after winning the Rebelle Rally again. The Ford Bronco Sport came in first place in 2020 and 2021.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport dominates the Rebelle Rally

If you’re going on an off-roading adventure, you can trust the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport to get you there. The Ford Bronco Sport just placed first in the X-Cross class in the Rebelle Rally. This class is dedicated to unibody four-wheel drive vehicles.

The Rebelle Rally is a weeklong race across the desert. Teams of two must navigate across 1,370 miles across rough terrain. Plus, this event is for women only! One team member serves as the driver, and the other is the navigator.

Scoring is based on how close you can get to certain checkpoints during the event. However, no modern GPS equipment is allowed. Teams get a map and a compass. Melissa Fischer and Cora Jeniken won the class with 1,334 points, or 87 percent of the total number available.

The second-place team used a 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV. They came in second by 37 points. The Ford Bronco came in fourth in the 4×4 class. The Jeep Wrangler secured the top three spots.

How is the Bronco Sport built for off-roading?

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport and other vehicles are stock except for the Bronco 4600 in the stock race class. All three of the Bronco models entered by Ford had standard Falken and BFG off-road tires.

The Ford Bronco Sport Badlands trim was used in the race. The base model begins at about $27,215. The Badlands trim raises the price to about $34,155 and is the best-equipped model for off-roading. Although, our First Edition Bronco Sport did incredibly well.

With the Badlands trim, you get unique suspension tuning with an extra inch of ground clearance, taller and stiffer springs, and front dampers with hydraulic rebound stops. It has 8.8-inches of ground clearance and the best in class 7.4-inches of wheel travel.

All-wheel drive is standard with every Bronco Sport, but the Badlands trim also has a torque-vectoring rear differential. The Terrain Management System has seven off-roading modes instead of only five. Skid plates protect the undercarriage, and optional tires include 235/65R-17 Falken WildPeaks.

How does the Bronco Sport Badlands drive?

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 250 hp and 275 lb-ft torque. Paddle shifters are mounted to the wheel to increase the sporty feeling. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds.

An off-road cruise-control system works up to 20 mpg, and you can use the front-facing camera to see upcoming obstacles. Standard trailer control is included. It may ride more like a truck than other trim levels due to the off-roading enhancements.

As a two-time Rebelle Rally winner, the Bronco Sport has proven its abilities to plow through mud and crawl over obstacles. It’s one adventure-ready SUV that shouldn’t be ignored. The Jeep Cherokee officially has real competition.