The newly introduced 2021 Ford Bronco Sport promised off-road capability, and it delivers. This is one small crossover that can tackle terrain and look good doing it. Technology and usable space are also strong points. However, the Bronco Sport struggles to meet expectations in several areas that rivals have long mastered such as ride comfort, rear passenger space, and confident steering and braking.
The redesigned Ford Bronco is a significant addition to the Blue Oval's lineup — after more than two decades, Ford aficionados finally see the return of a body-on-frame off-roader intent on beating the Jeep Wrangler at its own game. But what if you want Bronco styling and abilities in a more road-friendly — and affordable — package?
Enter the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. Based on the Ford Escape small SUV, the Bronco Sport aims to marry the look and feel of the Bronco with traditional crossover SUV strengths such as improved road manners and better fuel economy. The Bronco Sport holds its own when venturing off the beaten path thanks to standard all-wheel drive, plenty of ground clearance, multiple traction settings, and a wealth of optional off-road upgrades.
This is a genuinely fun and well-executed small SUV that's bursting with charm. Unfortunately, the Bronco Sport's enhanced off-roading capability comes at the expense of some on-road refinement. How big of a deal is it? Read the categories of our Expert Rating below to learn more.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
by the Edmunds Experts
Average
7.6
out of 10
We drove the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance
6.5/10
How does the Bronco Sport drive? It's clear that the Bronco Sport has off-roading on the brain, especially in the Badlands guise we tested. The good news is the Bronco Sport is a blast to drive in the dirt. The bad news is that it's much less enjoyable on the street.
The optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine provides admirable power, covering 0-60 mph in 7.2 seconds, which is good for the class. The power makes the Bronco Sport an eager off-roader and allows good use of intelligent traction modes. On the road, however, the braking and steering are not up to par. Stopping from 60 mph took 127 feet, which is more than average for a small SUV, but worse is the lack of feel and response from the brake pedal. Transmission shifts are also jerky at low speed.
Comfort
7/10
How comfortable is the Bronco Sport? The Bronco Sport comes with the tacit acknowledgment that you are prioritizing off-road capability over traditional crossover comfort. So it inherently lacks the smooth ride you get from rivals such as Honda CR-V or Mazda CX-5. For instance, the Badlands suspension that's been tuned for dirt and rocks often gives a bumpy ride over various road surfaces. And since the Bronco Sport has an upright design, there is wind noise at most speeds.
We also found issue with the front seats. Although they feature a wide range of adjustability to accommodate drivers of various heights, they also lack lateral support and cause your shoulders to jostle. Buyers may also expect dual-zone climate control, which is an option this vehicle did not have equipped. These are not deal-breakers. But they are noticeable.
Interior
8/10
How’s the interior? Inside, the usefulness of the Bronco Sport is an advantage over many rivals. There is a lot of space in the front, particularly headroom, and it's easy to slide inside thanks to the wide range of adjustability in the front seats. Another strong point is the control placement, with dials for both the transmission and selectable drive modes that fall right to your hand.
On paper, the Bronco Sport trails most of its rivals on rear legroom. And while taller occupants might have difficulty squeezing in behind taller front passengers, the rear seats prove comfortable and supportive, especially during off-road endeavors. But the small rear doors, and narrow access to the rear seat footwell, make it difficult to climb inside. Another concern is the wide and flat hood, which can impede forward visibility, but some trim levels include a handy front-facing camera to aid in off-roading and parking situations.
Technology
8/10
How’s the tech? For a vehicle focused on playing in the dirt, the Bronco Sport's tech game is on point. All Bronco Sports come with the Sync 3 infotainment system and an 8-inch touchscreen, which prove to be a potent combination. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is standard and simple to use. Audio quality is also very good, and appreciated because it effectively blocks the otherwise prevalent wind noise.
Some optional features are also strong. Adaptive cruise control is a bright spot due to smooth operation, especially in stop-and-go traffic, though you need the Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 package to include it. Navigation is not standard on any trim, but when equipped, the directions are clear and work in concert with voice recognition controls.
Storage
7.5/10
How’s the storage? Available storage space is well utilized in the Bronco Sport to an impressive degree. It's among the class leaders in maximum cargo space, whether the second row of seats is folded down or left up. The Bronco Sport has a high ceiling and low load floor, which, by the way, is rubberized and can be removed completely to clean. The cargo area has a number of hooks, plugs and lights available that are sure to come in handy on trips. Badlands and First Edition models have rear underseat storage cubbies.
The Bronco Sport can accommodate child seats in the rear easily, but it may be difficult to load bulky rear-facing seats due to doors that don't open very wide. And be aware that the maximum towing capacity of 2,200 pounds, even with the optional towing package, is not very impressive compared to the Toyota RAV4 or even the Ford Escape.
Fuel Economy
7/10
How’s the fuel economy? The Badlands trim and its 2.0-liter engine are rated at 23 mpg (21 city/26 highway), which is unimpressive for the class. However, on our 115-mile mixed-driving test route, the Bronco Sport returned an average of 26.6 mpg. That's good considering the EPA's estimate but not very high for the class.
Value
7.5/10
Is the Bronco Sport a good value? There are a number of factors working in the Bronco Sport's favor when it comes to price — standard all-wheel drive, excellent tech features and a lot of style, just to name a few. Our Badlands test model came to $35,745 including options and destination fees, which undercuts its closest rival in the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk before you add extra equipment. If you expect off-road ability for that price, you likely won't be disappointed. For others, however, the lack of premium-feeling materials could be of more concern.
Ford offers fairly standard coverage on the Bronco Sport, with three-year/36,000-mile basic and five-year/60,000-mile drivetrain warranties. It also offers coverage of five years/unlimited mileage for rust and five years/60,000 miles for roadside assistance. We find this acceptable, but some rivals are much more generous.
Wildcard
9/10
The Bronco Sport deserves its off-road credentials thanks to a host of impressive rugged technologies, and it doesn't hurt that it looks the part, too. This crossover turns heads, prompts questions and inspires smiles — something that a lot of competitors simply can't say. And it is genuinely fun to drive when the pavement ends.
In fact these attributes are enough to cover some significant shortcomings. The Bronco Sport is far from perfect in everyday driving on the road, and we advise you to take heed. This is a unique vehicle with a lot of charisma. If that's enough for you to forget some frustrations, then congratulations on your new Bronco Sport.
2021 Ford Bronco Sport trim level differences
The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is offered in five trim levels: Base, BigBend, OuterBanks, Badlands and FirstEdition. Feature highlights include:
Which Bronco Sport trim does Edmunds recommend?
The Bronco Sport's core strength is in its off-road ability, so we recommend capitalizing on that with the Badlands trim. Besides a more powerful engine, you get plenty of off-road features to conquer challenging terrain. We would also upgrade to all-terrain tires.
2021 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 07/21 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
2 days off the lot, torque converter locks up. Takes a month for Ford to decide what to do. Another 22 days for the transmission to be replaced. Engine does not sound the same. there is a light rattle and some oil or fluid may be leaking from the engine/transmission area. In an independant shop today. About two months out now.
Happy to Disappointed
1 out of 5 stars
Erick, 07/13/2021
2021 Ford Bronco Sport First Edition 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 07/21 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
Picked up Bronco Sport First Edition in May. Currently at 4700 miles after completing a 3000 mile road trip. Bronco performed wonderfully during the road trip, which included driving through down pour. During an errand, my wife was unable to start the Bronco warning lights flashing and alerts being generated and the parking light was flashing on the shift knob. The Bronco started … after holding down the start button for over a minute and after the system cycled through the error messages. Bronco has been with at the dealership for over five days. Dealer thinks possible electrical problem but still researching. Contacted Ford customer support to log problem ticket for some sort of compensation.
Great looking SUV
1 out of 5 stars
JH, 07/09/2021
2021 Ford Bronco Sport First Edition 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 07/21 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
Bronco sport looks great and is fun to drive, when it is running.
We have 2400miles on a 2021 First Edition ad the engine failed.
It has been in the shop(about 2 months) at the dealer longer than it has been in the garage at my house.
Take my advice and wait a couple of years until they get the bus worked out
1 month in and already engine problems
1 out of 5 stars
CM1986, 07/21/2021
2021 Ford Bronco Sport First Edition 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 07/21 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
I’ve had my Bronco Sport for a little over a month and the AC compressor already has gone out. Ford said there’s no parts in stock and I have to wait months until they are available. On top of that, they said there’s no loaner cars available. I paid over MSRP with extended full comprehensive warranty and this is what happens.
I would think twice before buying this car. Extremely … disappointed.
2021 Ford Bronco Sport vs. 2021 Subaru Forester | Off-Road Crossover Comparison
It's the Ford Bronco Sport vs. Subaru Forester in a battle of off-road crossovers. The Bronco Sport is the smaller sibling of the new Ford Bronco, which was revived last year. Though not as potent as the bigger Bronco, the Bronco Sport promises strong off-road capabilities for the class since it's loaded with all-wheel drive, various traction settings, and a bunch of… options for off-road upgrades. The Subaru Forester is an easy go-to choice for off-road enthusiasts. The Forester also comes standard with all-wheel drive, but it also excels off-road due to its ground clearance and trail and hill descent controls. In this video, Alistair Weaver takes both crossover SUVs out to the desert to see which one is the best off-road vehicle. It's the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport vs. the 2021 Subaru Forester in our off-road crossover comparison test.
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