Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
FIRST LOOK
Think of it as a tougher Ford Escape
ith great fanfare reminiscent of the 1964 Mustang launch, Ford recently introduced not one, but two distinct vehicles from a revived Bronco brand.
The midsize two- and fourdoor Bronco arrive in early 2021, but the smaller Bronco Sport is arriving soon, before the end of 2020.
The major differences between the two models are substantial; so much so that it’s surprising Ford is using the Bronco name for both, unless the plan is to create a whole line of Bronco vehicles, similar to what the Jeep brand does.
The Bronco Sport is considered a crossover since it uses the same carbased platform as the Ford Escape. The Bronco Sport is eight inches shorter, so it slots between the Escape and the tiny EcoSport. The bigger Bronco is much more of a rowdy off-roader as it gets its body-on-frame chassis from the Ford Ranger pickup.
But just because the Bronco is more beefed-up doesn’t mean the Sport cowers in the face of uncharted terrain. Ford says the vehicle’s suspension has been thoroughly tested over the rough stuff and can stand up to plenty of abuse. Indeed, four-wheel-drive comes with all variants, as does a Terrain Management System with Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Sand settings for the Base, Big Bend and Outer Banks trims. The higher-up Badlands and First Edition trims come with locking rear differentials that can direct power to either or both rear wheels when needed. They also get Mud/ Ruts and Rock Crawl modes. Unique front-suspension struts and rear shocks are included.
An available Trail Control system allows you to set forward speed up to 20 mph, or up to six mph when backing up. This allows navigating trails using only the brake pedal.
The shape of the Bronco Sport is also much different than the bigger Bronco. The Sport has a modernistic grille and squared-off rearend, which somewhat resemble the look of the 2020 Land Rover Defender. There are minimal front and rear overhangs, allowing the Sport to approach steep hills and ditches without scuffing bumpers. There’s nearly eight inches of ground clearance and the ability to ford up to 23 inches of water.
The squared-off theme shows up in the interior, where an eight-inch touchscreen is perched upright above the ventilation controls. The floor console is home to a gear-selector knob that replaces the traditional shift lever.
The high roofline gives the Sport plenty of rearpassenger headroom and the fold-down bench also flattens for stowing bulky cargo. Ford says two mountain bikes can be loaded straight-up.
The rear window also flips upward from the tailgate and two built-in floodlights help when loading/unloading in the dark.
Powerplant choices depend on the trim level. Standard for Base, Big Bend and Outer Banks models is a turbocharged 1.5-liter threecylinder engine rated at 181 horsepower and 190 poundfeet of torque. A turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder — 245 horses and 275 poundfeet — comes with Badlands and First Edition.
An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard across the line.
Pricing starts at $28,150, which is a few hundred more than a base all-wheel-drive Escape. The entry-level Base trim is far from lowrent, but you’ll need to skip over the Big Bend and head for the Outer Banks to get heated leather seats (poweroperated in front), heated steering wheel and ambient lighting.
Along with the four-cylinder engine, the Badlands gets 28.5-inch off-road rubber, upgraded suspension, under-body skid plates, tow hooks and a front-facing camera (handy when rock crawling).
At $34,150, the limited availability First Edition is loaded with premium accessories plus unique exterior graphics and paint.
Although the Bronco is likely much more capable than the Bronco Sport (and roomier and more powerful), with the right equipment, the Sport should be able to hold its own for all but 10/10ths extreme off-roading.