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The Ford Bronco Sport is a small crossover SUV that minds the gap in Ford’s lineup between the car-like Escape and truck-like Bronco. It muscles into territory occupied by vehicles such as the Subaru Crosstrek and Jeep’s Cherokee and Compass.
Yes. It has great poise and road manners, it’s fantastic off-road, the charming throwback styling ties it all together. It earns a TCC Rating of 6.7 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
The current trim lineup, consisting of Base, value-oriented Big Bend, more refined Outer Banks, up to the bold Badlands, carries over with a couple of new additions. The Heritage slots before Outer Banks, and Heritage Limited tops the lineup. Note that, as of fall 2022, the 2023 Base trim was not available due to supply chain issues but officially remains part of the lineup.
The Heritage Edition and Heritage Limited Edition models are Ford’s tribute to the original Bronco, and they’re also available on the regular Bronco (creating a closer visual connection between the “big” Bronco and the “baby” Bronco). The Heritage and Heritage Limited models feature an Oxford White roof, grille, 17-inch wheels, and striping. Inside, Oxford White trim provides selective accents, and heathered Navy Pier cloth trims the seats with throwback plaid inserts. Microsuede trims the center console and armrests with red contrast stitching. The color scheme even extends to the Molle storage straps on the front seatbacks. The design and palette may be polarizing, but the attention to detail is fantastic. Even better, these Bronco Sport models also get upgraded suspension systems.
The Heritage Edition is based on the Big Bend Bronco Sport trim, with its 1.5-liter turbo-3 and a similar list of features, while the Heritage Limited Edition builds off the Badlands model, with the 2.0-liter engine and increased off-road capability. Heritage Limited Edition models also get leather-trimmed seats, metal script fender badges, and all-terrain tires.
The Heritage models might be getting most of the attention for 2023, but every Bronco Sport still boasts rugged charm from its upright angles and hardy-looking cabin. Entry-level trims get rubber and plastic while leather adorns more expensive models, but it’ll handle whatever mud you fling its way.
Under the hood of the base Bronco Sport models you’ll find a turbo-3 with 181 hp. They don’t feel fast, but the job gets done. Choose your trails carefully, since these Bronco Sports get a basic all-wheel-drive setup and street tires. For more off-road capability, look to the Badlands configuration, with a turbo-4, 245-hp engine and a twin-clutch AWD system, plus real off-road tires. Upgrades like larger all-terrain tires and skid plates are available.
Bronco Sports can carry around 65 cubic feet of cargo. Compared to the Escape, there’s less passenger space, but the seats themselves are higher quality, so it’s a trade-off. Storage options abound, such as bins, cubbies, tie-downs, carabiners, and stylish Molle straps. The cabin’s functional, sure, but also gets loud with wind and tire noise.
Safety is another fully practical aspect of the Bronco Sport, with great crash-test scores and standard safety tech such as active lane control and automatic emergency braking.
How much does the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport cost?
The base Bronco Sport comes in at just under $31,000, in theory; supply shortages mean this model is unavailable as of the beginning of the 2023 model year. Still, its features list includes all-wheel drive, roof rails, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. We’d pay about $32,500 for the Bronco Sport Big Bend, for keyless start and a more rugged cabin. The Badlands climbs into the high $30,000s with more robust off-road gear, and the new-for-2023 Heritage Limited builds on that with exclusive retro styling for about $42,650.
Where is the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport made?
Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
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