2025 Ford Bronco Sport First Drive Review + Video

Static photos by Dan Ilika. Action shots courtesy of Ford.

You might not know it to look at it, but the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport has been updated — meaningfully, too.

Sure, styling tweaks are usually part of the package when it comes to this kind of mid-cycle refresh, but then this unquestionably cute compact crossover wasn’t in need of any more aesthetic appeal. That’s why the team behind it decided to leave well enough alone and focus on the stuff that matters — the stuff that makes it more practical, not to mention more capable.

Some of the appreciable improvements were inspired by its bigger sibling, while others are from engineers hellbent on making the Bronco Sport the most proficient off-roader its size. And they just might’ve done it.

More Capable

If you’re shopping for a little crossover with outsized prowess off the beaten path, there’s no shortage of options these days. While Jeep probably deserves credit for kicking off the craze with its Trailhawk treatment, the pandemic opened the floodgates for adventure-ready entries like this one.

That makes the timing of the Bronco Sport just about perfect, having first hit the market for 2021 as an agreeable alternative to a more hardcore offering like the full-size Bronco. Make no mistake: that overbuilt rig elevates the off-road experience entirely; but when equipped the right way, this one can go places previously reserved for more purpose-built machines.

The biggest difference this year is the addition of the so-called Sasquatch package to both the top-of-the-line Badlands trim, as well as the cheaper Outer Banks that’s powered by a turbocharged three-cylinder engine. Yes, that might seem small for a crossover with such big off-road aspirations, but in conjunction with the rest of the add-ons it does just fine.

Those extras include chunky all-terrain tires, a tweaked suspension that offers a little more ride height and 15 mm (0.6 in) more travel, and the same twin-clutch locking rear differential that’s standard on the Bronco Sport Badlands. That system has been tuned to provide more torque vectoring than before.

That’s also where the new rally drive mode comes in, which works with unique throttle and transmission mapping — as well as traction control tuning — to keep the wheels spinning even in deep sand and help the vehicle oversteer when turning. Ripping across desert plains might not be on your Bronco Sport bingo card, but now you can slalom to your heart’s content.

Likewise, crawling up and over rocks and other obstacles might seem like it’s beyond the Bronco Sport’s skill set, but it will happily articulate across undulating terrain without much fuss thanks to the extra suspension travel it offers. It’s stunning just how far this Ford will go.

Taking aim at a gulch that seemed at first glance as though it might be beyond this crossover’s limitations, all it took was measured throttle and steering inputs — and some top-level spotting — for the Bronco Sport to calmly climb its way out. Even your humble author was impressed by just how easily it managed the gnarly rock formations we came across in the California desert.

Still Agreeable

That was behind the wheel of a Bronco Sport Badlands — equipped, of course, with the Sasquatch package — that provides ample output thanks to the turbocharged 2.0L under the hood. While the lack of low-range four-wheel-drive gearing means turbo lag is a little more noticeable, the 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque the four-cylinder provides is plenty.

But then even the lesser 1.5L three-cylinder is generous enough for on- or off-road duty, with 180 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque to work with. It might not make the Bronco Sport an especially quick crossover, but the tiny turbo motor is more than capable of smooth and steady acceleration — ideal for everyday driving or even the occasional exciting sojourn.

Regardless of what’s under the hood, how often you’ll find yourself venturing off the beaten path in the Bronco Sport should be taken into consideration before settling on the Sasquatch package. While there’s no question it looks good, and it ratchets up this crossover’s capabilities, skipping its all-terrain tires means significantly more on-road engagement.

No, it isn’t sporty; but this little crossover is as agile as it needs to be, with a steering rack that tracks well and provides good feel and feedback when changing direction. Adding those meaty tires means barely-there steering feel and a sense of vagueness that isn’t uncommon for a crossover with this kind of treatment, but it’s noteworthy nonetheless.

Subtle Additions

Beyond the obvious upgrades, like the new 13.2-inch touchscreen, the 2025 Bronco Sport has a few extra touches that are more subtle, sure, but they’re certainly helpful. Take the pair of USB-C ports mounted on top of the dash just behind the infotainment system; borrowed from the big Bronco, they’re perfect for plugging in an action camera out on the trail.

The Sasquatch package adds overhead auxiliary switches for hooking up off-road lights and other accessories — although they mean sacrificing the sunglasses holder in the headliner — plus a forward-facing camera that’s handy for spotting obstacles on the trail. (It features tire overlays, too.) Then there are the drive modes, plus an electronic locking rear differential.

There are also tie-downs hidden in the front fenders of the Bronco Sport Badlands — as well as the Outer Banks trim with the optional Sasquatch package — that can be used to secure roof-mounted accessories. All that stuff joins existing features like tailgate glass that opens separately from the rest of the hatch, plus seat-integrated storage, and more.

Existing Imperfections

Whether destined for a life on the pavement or treated to the occasional trip off it, this crossover isn’t quite perfect. For instance, rear-seat legroom is cramped — something to be mindful of if you’re shopping for a family hauler. The same goes for the cargo area, which has a fairly high load floor that requires a deep stretch beyond the bulging bumper to reach all the way inside.

Another annoyance that’s probably more pertinent to off-road driving is the rotary gear selector that’s used in the Bronco Sport (as well as its pickup truck sibling, the Ford Maverick). While it’s fundamentally fine, the lack of hard stops when engaging park or drive leads to a certain sense of unease that’s particularly problematic when negotiating tight obstacles on the trail.

New Pricing

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend starts at $38,495 before options, freight, and tax, while both the Heritage and Free Wheeling trims are priced at $42,495. Notably, all three of them are $500 less than they were last year.

The Bronco Sport Outer Banks is the same $43,195 as before, while the range-topping Badlands trim is $48,995 — a $2,445 increase compared to the same trim’s MSRP in 2024, although it’s the one that’s been fitted with the most year-over-year upgrades. (A non-negotiable freight charge of $2,195 applies to all five trims.)

That puts this Ford at a higher price point than most compact crossovers, with the gas-powered Toyota RAV4 ranging from $33,685 to $45,305 before freight and tax, and the Subaru Forester priced between $33,495 and $44,995, just to name a couple.

Meanwhile, the number of truly capable competitors is limited, as some simply look the part but can’t actually play it. Subaru offers a trio of Wilderness trims, with the slightly smaller Crosstrek ringing in at $38,495, while the Forester is $40,995, and the Outback is $45,295. Then there’s the Jeep Compass Trailhawk that’s $48,995.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport is an intriguing little crossover in spite of its slightly elevated asking price, while the expanded availability of the Sasquatch package makes it uniquely capable in a modern market brimming with options. In fact, when decked out accordingly, the Bronco Sport almost skews too extreme, with its tires in particular diminishing its everyday friendliness.

Skipping the Sasquatch kit leaves the Bronco Sport feeling better on the road, but it doesn’t reduce its abilities on the trail entirely. Plus, there’s the new Black Diamond package ($3,645) that’s offered on the base trim, which comes with a few off-road goodies of its own while remaining perfectly pleasant on the pavement.