The Ford Bronco Sport Is an Expensive Daily Driver
The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is hitting the streets, but it doesn’t come cheap. This is especially true if you upgrade to the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands trim, which includes tons of extra off-roading goodies. But is it worth it as a city driver?
The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport might be overpriced
You can get started in the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport for about $26,820. This doesn’t seem too bad for a midsize SUV. The 2021 Toyota RAV4 is about $26,150. But there are also cheaper ways to go.
For example, the 2021 Jeep Renegade begins at about $22,850, and the 2021 Ford Escape begins at about $24,885. The Ford Escape is almost a twin to the Bronco Sport, with the same platform and base engine, but it’s about $2,000 cheaper. It just has a rounded shape instead of the boxy off-roading one.
Auto Blog used the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands trim around the city. This trim raises the price to $32,820. At this price, hopefully, this ride provides some luxury like the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Also, the prices are listed before the destination fees, and dealership charges have been added.
How does the Ford Bronco Sport drive?
The base model 2021 Ford Bronco Sport comes with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with 177 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. The Badlands trim comes with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine and provides 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque.
Auto Blog mentioned that it was a fun option to drive around town. It was comfortable. It handles like a truck, though. Those who expected a sportier performance from the unibody frame may be disappointed. It has a stiff suspension and doesn’t corner as well as rivals.
According to Motor Trend, with the 1.5-liter engine, the Bronco Sport can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 8.6 seconds. This amount of power is adequate but won’t have you confidently passing people on the highway. For a peppier acceleration upgrade to the 2.0-liter engine. It reaches 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds.
All-wheel drive comes standard with each trim, which is an excellent perk. But the Ford Bronco Sport can only tow up to 2,220 lb. This makes it less capable than rivals. Even the Ford Escape can tow up to 3,500 lb.
Also, the fuel economy isn’t up to par. The Bronco Sport gets an EPA estimated 25 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway with the 1.5-liter engine. The larger engine reduces those numbers to 21/26 mpg.
How is the Ford Bronco Sport interior?
The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport has a rugged interior. The rubber and plastic materials are easy to clean. But they also lack the feeling of luxury. However, the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands has tons of bells and whistles to distract you like a bottle opener on the tailgate.
An 8-inch touchscreen comes standard with Ford Sync 3 technology instead of the updated Sync 4 system. That’s a bummer. But on a positive note, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard.
You can gain an optional wireless charger, B&O premium audio system, and moonroof. The Bronco Sport provides a mix of daily driving comfort and off-roading prowess.
You will need the Badlands trim to tackle the wilderness. But if you want a more road-focused daily driver, consider more comfortable rivals like the Kia Seltos.
