Because nobody is getting their Ford Bronco for another few months, the best we can do is live vicariously through critics. The Ford Bronco Sport comes in a few nifty trim levels, like the sold-out First Edition and the fierce Badlands model. Even the base trim has enough features for anyone to enjoy some serious off-roading.

The Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks concentrates on aesthetic upgrades, with heated leather seats and black exterior accents. However, the Outer Banks is just as capable when it comes to performance. According to MotorTrend, this car’s braking prowess is greater than that of many other popular competitors.

Stopping the Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks

In a frenzied stop from 60 to 0 mph, the Bronco Sport Outer Banks needs only 115 feet to halt completely. It’s good to know the brakes work well on any car, but it’s especially important on unsteady terrain.

MotorTrend contributed the Bronco Sport Outer Banks’ stunning braking performance to two things. Its brakes operate more smoothly than the ones found on the extremely adventuresome Badlands model. The Outer Banks also has the same 18-inch wheels as the Badlands, but it has 225/60 tires instead of 225/65R17s. The latter caused other vehicles with these tires to have longer stopping times.

The Bronco Sport Outer Banks vs. rivals

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks can stop faster than several other SUVs, including some popular Jeeps. The Jeep Cherokee Altitude 4×4 needed 121 feet to come to a complete stop from 60 mph. The Altitude, an upgraded version of the Limited trim, comes with extra safety and technology features.

The Jeep Compass 4×4 Trailhawk had the worst braking performance, needing 129 feet of stopping distance. This is the Compass model with more off-roading equipment, like a special suspension and a low-gear 4WD system. Other notable rivals the Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks beat include the Toyota RAV4 Adventure and Subaru Forester Limited.

Only two cars bested the Bronco Sport Outer Banks in braking power. The Kia Sportage EX AWD and Nissan Rogue Platinum AWD were one second faster than the Bronco. Neither of these models is a dedicated off-roader, but they’re still useful over rough pavement.

Is the Outer Banks fast?

The Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks has a 1.5-liter turbo-three that produces 181 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds, so it’s on par with the Bronco Sport Badlands. That Bronco has a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine capable of 250 hp.

Once again, the Outer Banks was a better accelerator than many of its popular off-roading rivals. The Jeep Compass 4×4 Trailhawk finished dead last, needing over 10 seconds to reach 60 mph. Many crossovers are faster than the Bronco Sport Outer Banks, such as the Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue, and Honda CR-V. Still, the Bronco was one of the quickest to race from 45-65 mph.

How the Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks goes off-road

You might not expect a compact SUV with under 200 hp to have a lot of brawn or off-roading prowess. However, it has some great available equipment, like an advanced 4×4 system and a suspension with higher ground clearance. If you opt for the 10-speed transmission, you also get trailing-optimized cruise control and turning assist.

Speaking of which: The Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks handles corners well, particularly over snowy terrain. MotorTrend reports that the Bronco’s tires retain .79 grams of lateral grip, placing it square in the middle of MT’s comparison list. Combined with great acceleration and braking, this makes the Outer Banks a well-rounded Bronco model.