The Ford Bronco Sport Badlands represents a shift in the automotive landscape, offering a blend of off-road capability and everyday practicality. Bronco Sport Badlands reviews highlight its strengths, such as its impressive ground clearance, advanced traction control, and versatile interior. However, some reviewers note its relatively high price point and limited fuel efficiency compared to its competitors.

Bronco Sport Badlands Reviews: Built for Adventure

The Ford Bronco Sport Badlands is more than just a stylish SUV; it’s a serious off-road contender designed to tackle rugged terrain with confidence. Its unique features and design elements are tailored for challenging trails, making it a compelling choice for adventurous drivers.

Off-Road Prowess

The Bronco Sport Badlands is engineered for serious off-road enthusiasts. Its upgraded suspension components enhance articulation and ground clearance, allowing it to navigate rocky paths and steep inclines with ease. Additionally, the torque-vectoring rear differential helps distribute power to the wheels with the most grip, improving traction on uneven surfaces. The robust underbody protection, including skid plates, safeguards the vehicle’s undercarriage from damage on challenging trails.

2021 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands

GOAT Modes: Mastering the Terrain

One of the standout features of the Bronco Sport Badlands is its five GOAT (Go Over Any Terrain) modes. These modes significantly alter the SUV’s performance characteristics based on the terrain being traversed:

  • Sand Mode: Optimizes traction and power delivery for smooth sailing across expansive dunes.
  • Rock Crawl Mode: Meticulously manages torque and wheel speed for controlled ascents over boulders and jagged obstacles.
  • Mud/Rut Mode: Channels the necessary power and suspension articulation to maintain grip and forward momentum in challenging muddy conditions.
  • Normal, Eco, and Slippery Modes: These additional modes enhance the Bronco Sport’s overall performance, ensuring it remains versatile across various driving conditions.

Comparing to the Competition

When compared to other off-road SUVs, the Bronco Sport Badlands holds its ground. While the Jeep Wrangler is often seen as the benchmark for rock crawling, the Bronco Sport Badlands offers superior approach and departure angles, making it better suited for tackling steep inclines and obstacles. Other competitors in the off-road space may not match the Bronco Sport’s unique blend of capabilities, on-road comfort, and value proposition.

Performance and Handling: On and Off the Trail

The Bronco Sport Badlands delivers a balanced performance, offering both thrilling off-road capabilities and a surprisingly comfortable ride on paved roads.

Powertrain Options

Ford offers two powertrain options for the Bronco Sport Badlands:

  • 1.5L Turbocharged 3-Cylinder: This engine provides a balance of power and fuel efficiency, making it suitable for daily driving and moderate off-roading.
  • 2.0L Turbocharged 4-Cylinder: For those seeking a more exhilarating driving experience, this powerful engine delivers ample power for both highway cruising and challenging trails.

Both engines are paired with a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission, ensuring seamless acceleration and confident passing maneuvers.

On-Road Comfort

Despite its off-road-focused hardware, the Bronco Sport Badlands manages to provide a surprisingly comfortable ride on highways. The suspension, while tuned for off-road performance, absorbs most road imperfections without transmitting excessive harshness to the cabin. However, the tall, beefy tires do contribute to a bit more road noise compared to more pavement-focused crossovers.

Off-Road Capabilities

When venturing off the pavement, the Bronco Sport Badlands truly shines. Its impressive articulation allows it to maneuver over obstacles and maintain traction on uneven terrain. The substantial ground clearance enables the Bronco Sport to tackle challenging trails and obstacles with ease. During our time behind the wheel, the Bronco Sport Badlands had no trouble scaling steep inclines, crawling over boulders, and plowing through deep mud, showcasing its remarkable capability and versatility.

2021 Ford Bronco Sport

Interior and Features: Designed for Adventure

The Bronco Sport Badlands’ interior is a testament to its off-road-focused nature, featuring practical and durable features designed to withstand the rigors of outdoor exploration.

Interior Design

The cabin is adorned with rugged materials, including durable, textured plastics that provide a tactile and robust feel. Functional features like MOLLE straps on the front seatbacks allow for secure storage of gear and accessories. Additionally, the available rubberized flooring and drain plugs make it easy to clean the cabin after a day spent tackling muddy trails.

Cargo Space and Versatility

One of the Bronco Sport Badlands’ standout features is its impressive cargo capacity. With 32.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, it offers ample room for gear, equipment, and all the essentials needed for off-road adventures. The standard roof rails further enhance the Bronco Sport’s versatility, allowing you to securely transport bulky items like kayaks, bikes, or camping gear.

Technology and Infotainment

While the Bronco Sport Badlands’ infotainment system may not be the most cutting-edge on the market, it gets the job done with a user-friendly interface and intuitive controls. The available 12-inch touchscreen display provides clear visibility, even in bright sunlight. The inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ensures seamless smartphone integration for navigation and entertainment, keeping drivers connected on their adventures.

Pricing and Value: Is it Worth the Investment?

The Bronco Sport Badlands offers a compelling value proposition for off-road enthusiasts, combining impressive capabilities with a practical interior and user-friendly technology.

Base Price and Options

The 2024 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands starts at an MSRP of $38,935, excluding destination and delivery charges. While this may seem like a significant investment, the Bronco Sport Badlands’ exceptional off-road capabilities and rugged design make it a compelling choice for those seeking a true adventure-ready SUV. Buyers can further enhance the vehicle’s capabilities by opting for the Sasquatch Package, which adds 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, 35-inch all-terrain tires, front and rear locking differentials, and a higher 4.77 final drive ratio. This package, along with other available features like a front brush guard and the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, can push the Bronco Sport Badlands’ price tag north of $50,000.

Value for Money

Despite the premium pricing, the Bronco Sport Badlands delivers impressive value for money. Its off-road prowess, combined with its practical interior and user-friendly technology, make it a well-rounded package that can handle daily commutes and weekend explorations with equal aplomb. For those who plan to venture off the beaten path regularly, the Bronco Sport Badlands’ capabilities may very well justify the investment.

Pros and Cons

When considering the Bronco Sport Badlands, potential buyers should weigh its strengths and weaknesses.

Pros:

  • Exceptional off-road capabilities with advanced features.
  • Comfortable ride quality on paved roads.
  • Versatile interior with ample cargo space.
  • User-friendly technology and infotainment options.

Cons:

  • Relatively high price point compared to some competitors.
  • Limited fuel efficiency due to off-road tuning.
  • Increased road noise from all-terrain tires.

Conclusion

In summary, the 2024 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands is a remarkable vehicle that blends off-road performance, on-road comfort, and practical functionality. Its unapologetic design, robust engineering, and array of adventure-focused features make it a compelling choice for those seeking a true companion for their outdoor pursuits. Whether you’re tackling rugged trails or simply seeking a stylish and capable daily driver, the Bronco Sport Badlands is a worthy contender that deserves a closer look.

FAQ

Q: What are the Bronco Sport Badlands’ most notable off-road features?

A: The Bronco Sport Badlands is equipped with a host of off-road-focused features, including a torque-vectoring rear differential, upgraded suspension components, robust underbody protection, and five GOAT (Go Over Any Terrain) modes to optimize performance on various terrains.

Q: How do the GOAT modes affect the Bronco Sport’s performance on different terrains?

A: The GOAT modes, such as Sand, Rock Crawl, and Mud/Rut, drastically alter the Bronco Sport Badlands’ powertrain, suspension, and traction control settings to provide the optimal performance and grip for the specific terrain being traversed.

Q: What are the pros and cons of the Bronco Sport Badlands compared to the Jeep Wrangler?

A: The Bronco Sport Badlands offers superior approach and departure angles compared to the Jeep Wrangler, making it better suited for tackling steep inclines and obstacles. However, the Wrangler remains the benchmark for rock crawling capability. The Bronco Sport Badlands provides a more comfortable on-road experience, while the Wrangler is the more dedicated off-road specialist.

Q: How does the Bronco Sport Badlands handle on paved roads?

A: Despite its off-road-focused hardware, the Bronco Sport Badlands delivers a surprisingly comfortable and composed ride on paved roads. The well-damped suspension and powerful engine options ensure a balanced on-road performance, with the vehicle remaining relatively composed during high-speed maneuvers.

Q: Is the Bronco Sport Badlands’ interior comfortable and practical for off-road adventures?

A: The Bronco Sport Badlands’ interior is designed with adventure in mind, featuring durable, easy-to-clean materials, MOLLE straps for gear storage, and ample cargo space to accommodate all your outdoor equipment. The cabin provides a functional and practical environment for off-road excursions.