As Ford continues to put the Bronco through its paces before the first customer deliveries start next year, it is also making sure the smaller Sport is worthy of the fabled Bronco name.
On first impressions, one could be fooled into thinking the Bronco Sport is just another compact crossover. However, as this video proves, it is a very capable off-roader and far from just a marketing exercise from Ford to expand the Bronco range.
This clip was filmed in Moab, Utah where the Bronco Sport is undergoing testing alongside the regular Bronco. You may be shocked at what the crossover can do, particularly when you consider that it isn’t rocking the massive 35-inch mud-terrain tires available on its sibling. It is able to breeze up steep and slippery rock faces with few issues, other than a bit of wheelspin.
Two different engines are offered with the Bronco Sport. Sitting at the base of the range is a 1.5-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder rated at 181 hp and 190 lb-ft (257 Nm) of torque. Badlands and First Edition variants feature a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder with a total of 245 hp and 275 lb-ft (372 Nm) of torque. All models feature an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive as standard.
To ensure the Bronco Sport can tackle some proper off-road terrain, Ford has equipped it with trail-ready suspension and a terrain management system with up to seven GOAT (Goes Over Any Terrain) modes including Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Sand. The crossover also has a Trail Control system that acts as a cruise control for off-roading and operates at speeds of up to 20 mph (32 km/h) forward of 6 mph (10 km/h) in reverse.