2025 Ford Bronco Sport: FOR THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

2025 Ford Bronco Sport:

 FOR THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

LITTLE MISSOURI FALLS, Ark. — The dirt road into the mountains felt like the right kind of break for an adolescent Catahoula and his person. We climbed off the highway and he stretched, sniffed, and settled into that blissful doggy way of taking the world in. 

The map promised a loop. The road delivered a fallen tree, a narrow path, and a steep drop. Turning around wasn’t an option; it was the only option.

I dialed the Bronco Sport Badlands into off-road mode and inched along. While backing up, a camera warned me about tall weeds that the parking sensors treated like solid obstacles. Confident in front-end traction, I eased the Sport into the ditch. Moving forward, another camera showed me precisely how close the cliff edge was. 

Minutes later, we headed downhill toward an eight-mile hike through the Little Missouri River Valley, a slice of the country that looks better in person.

Compact body, immense confidence

The Bronco Sport sits in the compact SUV segment but leans hard into adventure. It’s for people who want daily practicality and genuine off-road capability — young professionals with weekend trails, empty-nesters who camp, city dwellers who want more grit than a polished crossover, and older folks with eager dogs who still like to roam.

Pricing starts around $31,695 for Big Bend trim and climbs to just over $40,000 for Badlands. That’s above base RAV4 and CR-V prices, but the Sport includes standard AWD and packs trail-ready hardware many rivals reserve for higher trims.

Toyota’s RAV4 brings hybrid efficiency and cargo space. Honda’s CR-V offers generous interior room and a supple ride. Neither matches the Bronco Sport’s suspension geometry nor the torque of the optional 2.0-liter turbo.

Looks that work

Though much smaller and mechanically different from the larger, body-on-frame Bronco, the Sport shares that family DNA: a squared profile, upright grille, and short overhangs. The tall roofline and near-vertical liftgate maximize headroom and cargo stacking. Functional cues—roof rails, bash plates, flip-up rear glass—underline the intent: this is built to be used, not just admired.

Average transaction prices reflect that gap: Bronco is roughly $56,900, Bronco Sport is about $31,885 in current market data.

Power and real-world economy

Two engines are offered, both with AWD and an eight-speed automatic.

• The 1.5-liter turbo three-cylinder (181 hp, 190 lb-ft) is adequate for daily driving but can feel buzzy at low revs. Expect low- to mid-20s mpg in mixed use.
• The 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder (250 hp, 277 lb-ft) in Badlands trim feels noticeably quicker and more refined. We averaged about 24 mpg in mixed driving.

Car and Driver calls the Badlands “genuinely quick for a small SUV,” which tracks with our experience. Still, the Sport can’t match the hybrid efficiency offered by some competitors.

Ride, handling, and off-road chops

On pavement, the Sport feels upright and a touch firmer than the CR-V or RAV4, especially over rough surfaces. That trade-off buys composure on gravel, mud, and snow. Badlands adds a twin-clutch rear drive unit with torque vectoring, all-terrain tires, and extra suspension travel—gear we appreciated when the trail got technical.

With a 23.6-inch water-fording depth, a 30.4° approach angle, and Ford’s G.O.A.T. drive modes, the Bronco Sport is the most off-road-ready vehicle in its class. The RAV4 TRD Off-Road is close in spirit but not quite as adept at low-speed traction.

Cabin and tech

The cabin favors visibility and durability over plush finishes—large windows and a commanding seating position make for easy long-distance driving, and optional rubberized flooring is a camper’s dream. Passenger volume is competitive, while cargo space is roomy but trails the CR-V and RAV4.

Highlights:

• 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
• Available 10-speaker B&O audio and 110V outlet
• Useful driver tech and multiple USB ports

The infotainment is responsive and intuitive, though some buyers will miss more physical climate controls. Kelley Blue Book praises the tech package as modern without overwhelming.

Safety and reliability

NHTSA awards a 5-star overall rating; IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick for 2024. Standard Ford Co-Pilot360 features include automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. 

Consumer Reports ranks predicted reliability as average — reasonable for modern EcoBoost engines when properly maintained.

Warranties are robust: three years, 36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper; five years, 60,000 miles powertrain and roadside assistance.

Value and who it’s for

Trim lineup ranges from the sensible Big Bend to the fully-equipped Badlands. Compared with CR-V and RAV4, the Bronco Sport sacrifices best-in-class fuel economy and cargo volume for standard AWD and real trail capability.

Buy the Bronco Sport if you:

• Want dependable AWD and off-road clearance in a compact package
• Prefer upright seating, good visibility and rugged styling
• Live where winter roads or backcountry tracks are part of life

Choose a RAV4 or CR-V Hybrid if your priorities are maximum cargo space or top-tier fuel economy.

Bottom line

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport is a compact SUV that behaves like an off-road vehicle. It’s not the roomiest or the thriftiest, but it delivers a unique combination of capability, tech, and character. For drivers who want a small SUV that’s equally comfortable on a national-park Jeep trail and in a downtown parking garage, the Bronco Sport is a rare, well-priced compromise—one that gets muddy and comes home smiling.