2023 Ford Bronco Sport

Boxy SUVs are making a comeback. Car shoppers who missed the burly, characterful SUVs of the 1960s and 1970s can now relive the look without compromising safety or fuel efficiency. That’s the basis of the Ford Bronco Sport, a small SUV that mimics the hulking presence of the big midsize Bronco and looks 10 times better than its slightly larger compact sister, the blobby Escape. Thanks to the discontinuation of the even-blobbier subcompact EcoSport last year, the Bronco Sport is now also Ford’s smallest SUV.

New for 2021, the Bronco Sport’s retro vibes are even stronger in 2023 as it receives two special editions painted in pastels like the first Bronco from 1966. There are six trims starting from $30,000 and cresting past $45,000. The new Heritage and Heritage Limited have white grilles and headlight surrounds, red Bronco lettering and white wheels that look like old-fashioned steelies but actually are cast aluminum. The new Black Diamond Off-Road package is optional on Big Bend and Outer Banks trims with gray steelie lookalikes, steel skid plates and side decals.

Though it’s priced about evenly with the Escape, the Bronco Sport is closer in size to small fries like the Chevrolet Trailblazer. There are few vehicles in this size class with actual off-road capability, and only the Jeep Compass can match the Bronco Sport’s hardware when both are properly equipped, but it can’t match the power of the Ford’s optional engine. Most trims are street-oriented and compete with the Trailblazer and the slightly larger Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.  All offer generous space for four with modest cargo capacity behind the rear seats.

The Bronco Sport, like the Trailblazer, offers a turbocharged three-cylinder engine on most trims. Top trims use a much more powerful 2.0-liter turbo four. These engines, along with a suspension optimized for greater wheel travel, make the Bronco Sport more fun to drive on pavement and on light trails. Its square shape emits extra wind noise in the cabin and body roll is apparent under fast cornering. The steering has satisfying feel and feedback, while the view from the driver’s seat is more like a Land Rover than anything else in the class. 

Comfort and space are generous for a small SUV, including the rear seat where the raised roof steps up above the front for more headroom. Its back seat isn’t as big as some rivals, but it’s much larger than the Toyota Corolla Cross and not far off the RAV4. Material quality on the dash and doors is decidedly low with flimsy plastic and mediocre fit. Every other competitor wears it better. In its defense, the Bronco Sport’s interior is designed to resist stains and scratches when mudding about in the woods. But it feels cheap.

All-wheel drive (AWD), a terrain management system (five selectable driving modes) and Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite (blind spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, auto high beams) all come standard. So does an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Sync 3. There’s no bargain-bin front-wheel drive version, which means the starting price is higher than some rivals, but the Bronco Sport can back up its off-road image even in base-model form.

Performance: 14/15

Most Bronco Sport trims come with a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-three with 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The two top trims, Badlands and Heritage Limited, have the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. All come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. 

These engines deliver robust acceleration, though the 2.0-liter is a true powerhouse for the Bronco Sport’s size. Its output is greater than luxury crossovers like the BMW X1 or Mercedes-Benz GLA and on par with the Mazda CX-30 Turbo. The Badlands we tested pulled hard, shifted quickly and felt sprightly in sport mode. Engine vibrations and noise are muted with either engine. 

What’s unique on these top trims will be welcome in anyone who wants more grip in poor weather. There’s a 50:50 locking feature for the torque split and a rear axle that acts like a locker (it’s actually a twin-disc clutch without the true locking behavior of the big Bronco’s axles). Still, Ford claims it can route all of the engine’s torque to a single rear wheel if needed. 

Plus, when equipped with all-terrain tires, the Bronco Sport has nearly two feet of water fording, 8.8 inches of ground clearance, and improved approach, breakover and departure angles. It’s not earth-shattering and won’t outgun a Subaru Forester Wilderness on a trail. But it’s far more robust than the Hondas, Nissans and Toyotas that everyone buys.

Ride comfort and sharp steering impress, while body roll and excessive wind noise do not. Since this is supposed to go off-road, Ford tuned the springs for more wheel travel which brings a softer, slacker response when pushed harder on the road. 

Fuel Economy: 8/15 

Fuel economy is EPA-rated at 25 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined for all 1.5-liter models. The 2.0-liter is rated at 21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined. While these are decent figures, the Bronco Sport consumes more fuel than any of its competitors. However, despite our low scoring that objectively looks at raw EPA data and averages all combined ratings across a vehicle’s lineup, it’s important to remember two things: The Bronco Sport does not come in front-wheel drive, and its two engines—especially the larger engine—are more powerful than those of many competitors.

Another bonus: Like Mazda, Ford optimizes the engine for two grades of fuel. If you want the highest output, put in premium. If you can accept a mild drop in power, buy regular. Either way, you choose how much you spend without harming the engine or degrading efficiency. 

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 15/15

The 2023 Bronco Sport is a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and received five stars overall by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (The IIHS tested the 2021 version; the 2023 is a carryover model but still earns the rating.) Seven airbags are standard including a driver’s knee airbag, and there are also many active safety features. 

Co-Pilot360 (blind spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, auto high beams) comes standard. Co-Pilot 360 Assist+ (adaptive cruise with lane centering, evasive steering assist) is optional on Big Bend, Heritage, Outer Banks and Badlands trims.

Comfort & Room: 9/15

The Bronco Sport straddles the line between subcompact and compact SUVs. As such, it’s not as roomy as a Honda CR-V but is larger than a Honda HR-V. The Ford’s second-row legroom is 36.9 inches, compared to 38.3 inches in the Jeep Compass and a whopping 39.4 inches in the Chevrolet Trailblazer. The CR-V, with its much larger footprint, has 41.0 inches of rear legroom. On the other hand, it’s also larger in back than some similarly-sized crossovers like the Hyundai Kona (35.2 inches), Nissan Kicks (33.5) or Toyota Corolla Cross (32.0).

Inside, the Bronco Sport feels roomier than its numbers suggest due to slim front seat backs and a raised roof that steps up safari-style for more rear headroom. The blend of fabric and soft vinyl on the seats helps with clean-up and also feels cushy enough for longer drives. An available rubber floor removes all the carpet for even easier cleanup. Base models do not have a rear armrest.

Infotainment: 9/15

We wish the 2023 Bronco Sport switched to Sync 4, but instead it uses the older Sync 3 on its standard 8.0-inch touchscreen. We prefer the slicker interface on the newer system, but the older system remains as quick and simple as ever. Two USB ports, including a type C, come standard along with wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and FordPass Connect that allows remote connections via a smartphone. 

Navigation, auto-dimming rearview mirror, remote start, wireless charging pad, garage door opener, power seats, dual-zone climate and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo are all optional. So is a front camera that offers a 180-degree view that stays on when driving in certain off-road modes.

Cargo Space & Storage: 13/15

The Bronco Sport has more cargo space than many other SUVs in its size class and more unique ways to store cargo. On 1.5-liter models, cargo space is 32 cubic-feet behind the rear seats and 65 when folded. The 2.0-liter models have 29 cubic-feet and 61 cubic-feet, respectively (when equipped with a moonroof, cargo space is further reduced by a few tenths each). Compared with the Jeep Compass (27 and 60 cubic-feet, respectively) and Chevrolet Trailblazer (25 and 54), it’s roomier. Compared with the upper end of the class, the Honda CR-V, it’s smaller (39 and 76).

Certain trims have special interior features no other SUV in this class offers, such as zippered pouches and Molle straps on the backs of the front seats (perfect for attaching small items like multitools and flashlights and grabbing them at a moment’s notice). The Badlands and Heritage Limited have flip-up rear seat cushions for more hidden storage space. 

A pop-up rear glass window is standard, a rare feature these days on any SUV. The rear seatbacks can be equipped with rubberized pads instead of carpet. There are plenty of hooks and mounting points along the panels of the cargo area, a built-in bottle opener in the panel above the rear right taillight and a sliding tray that can divide cargo into two shelves and also slide out to double as a table that partially rests on the rear bumper.

Style & Design: 7/10

The seats notwithstanding, the plastics on the dashboard and doors look and feel poorly constructed. The design is good enough, but Ford does not give their SUVs good interiors. You’ll find a much better interior in the Jeep Compass and Honda CR-V at any price.

That said, the Bronco Sport sells on its name and heritage. Its square, truckish shape and utilitarian cabin, including all the straps and pockets and rubber floors, make a convincing appeal for people who want genuine capability in their small crossover and want it to look the part. That’s a big reason why the Bronco Sport can get away with charging more money for a smaller vehicle. Additionally, the Bronco Sport has much of the character of the first-generation Escape, which still looks rugged and contemporary today.

Is the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport Worth it? Which Bronco Sport is the Best Value? 

Ford says the base model Bronco Sport is unavailable to order, but don’t worry, you don’t want it. That means a Bronco Sport starts at $32,825 for the Big Bend, which is about equal in price to the roomier Honda CR-V. 

We recommend the Outer Banks at $37,210. You avoid the lower trims (and the Heritage model) and dress up the dour cabin with better colors and plusher fabrics (plus many of the helpful storage features we mentioned). It also compares well on price to the Jeep Compass Trailhawk ($37,340 when the 2023 models go on sale late this spring). Notably, both cost more than the Subaru Forester Wilderness ($35,245 if you can find one without a markup). 

As great as the powerful 2.0-liter Badlands and Heritage Limited trims are to drive, they’re not worth spending more than $40,000 to get what is essentially a faster Subaru Forester. Keep your dealer’s pricing in check and don’t be fooled into overspending on such a small SUV.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Ford Bronco Sport?

The Ford Bronco Sport costs about the same to insure as its peers. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $1,957 on a Bronco Badlands (the most expensive version to insure), though this averages all 50 states. A similar Jeep Compass Trailhawk would run $1,957, a Kia Seltos SX $1,829, and a Subaru Crosstrek Sport $1,742. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.