Going from 21 Big Bend to 22 Badlands - thoughts and impressions

[Mark S.]

The only problem is I tend to forget to grab the phone off the pad when I exit the vehicle.

They say the first thing to go is your hearing. I can't remember the next thing...

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[delm]

Great write-up. Valuable perspective, for sure, with your real-world experience in both vehicles.

I don't mind the seats at all - even find them comfortable. But there are others in my family that really don't like them at all. We need to buy a car for my daughter, and she scratched the BS off her list because she hates the seats.

The only thing I'd say is flat-out 100% true, it's that the 2.0 simply is a better engine and makes for a completely different and improved driving experience. If one can afford it, and you don't mind the (relatively minimal) MPG loss from the 2.0, then the 2.0 is a must-have. I wouldn't buy a BS without the 2.0 engine. But I also wouldn't buy the Badlands without the premium package, which many people see as optional. I think the BS Badlands with the Premium Package and 360+ is the top of the BS food-chain. Best of all worlds.

You also may have a bum B&O system. I'm no audiophile, but the B&O in my son's Badlands sounds great. It sounds noticeably better than the Harmon Kardon system that came in my BMW.

In my opinion, the BS Badlands w/ premium and 360+ is simply as good as it gets. Start removing things from it and going down in trim, and it's a question of what you are willing to give up to meet your needs/budget/etc.

 

[SportWest]

The only thing I'd say is flat-out 100% true, it's that the 2.0 simply is a better engine and makes for a completely different and improved driving experience. If one can afford it, and you don't mind the (relatively minimal) MPG loss from the 2.0, then the 2.0 is a must-have. I wouldn't buy a BS without the 2.0 engine.

Agreed, I wouldn't go back to a 1.5L on the Sport. I'm not really a lead foot but having the extra power makes all the difference for merging and passing. On my usual route, I have to make a left turn, where I have a very short stretch to merge into traffic, which is coming at me around a bend in road -- a real dead man's curve situation. So it's best to floor it once you have the all-clear, and that's where I'm glad to have the extra horses.

And maybe it was just my build, but the Big Bend often sounded like a jalopy from an old-timey cartoon, with the wheezing, sputtering, chattering, and of course BRRR/GRRR noise at low speeds.

With a lot of adjustments and trial/error, my seat discomfort has gone from 9 to 7.5 on my made-up scale, where 9-10 is "back pain for hours after you leave the vehicle" and 7.5 is "uncomfortable and disappointing but not painful." I'm hoping the aftermarket cushion/pad will further improve things but I don't think I'll ever like the seats.

The B&O system sounds much better than the Big Bend's stock system, but that's a low bar to clear. I've fiddled with the settings and it still sounds "hollow" for lack of a better term. Not really a deal-breaker but it's another strike against the Premium Package.

 

[Warpious]

The 2.0 is not immune from the grinding sounds, just FYI. Took about 2000 miles but have had it ever sense. It got REALLY loud and winey while we were at elevation 7000+ Yellowstone, Colorado etc. Never felt like I lost any power at elevation but definitely was whinier till got back to lower elevations. Has been pretty quiet ever since, though I did hear it again yesterday around the 1500 rpm. I've gotten used to it though after 10k miles now.

 

[Mark S.]

In my opinion, the BS Badlands w/ premium and 360+ is simply as good as it gets. Start removing things from it and going down in trim, and it's a question of what you are willing to give up to meet your needs/budget/etc.

I think that's pretty much true of any car sold at different trim levels. Isn't this why Ford charges to the most for it?

 

[delm]

I think that's pretty much true of any car sold at different trim levels. Isn't this why Ford charges to the most for it?

Well, when you put it that way....

 

[Spartan007]

I went from a 21 OB to a 21 BL (almost even trade at the dealer).

My BL does not have the premium upgrades and I don’t really miss any of them. 19$ netted me wireless charging. 89$ netted me wireless CarPlay (carlinkit 3.0) and the seats are WAY easier to clean than the leather from the OB. Especially with all the sandy dust here in Phoenix.

Don’t get me wrong, the OB was NICE. But the BL is better. And I am not sure I would have done this in the lower trims. Maybe…. But the BL didn’t even sniff.

Great video! What tires are you running? Are those the optional Falken ATs?

 

[SportWest]

I think that's pretty much true of any car sold at different trim levels. Isn't this why Ford charges to the most for it?

True, however do many other new vehicles have jumps comparable to the 1.5L -> 2.0L? Or put differently, I feel like the delta between the Badlands and the other trims makes it feel like I'm driving a different vehicle, as opposed to "more goodies with the higher trim."

 

[IconicSilver2002]

I'll get to the point: if you're considering a Bronco Sport and can afford both the cost and wait time, place an order for a Badlands with the 2.0L engine. But think twice about the Premium Package.

Background: Sold my 21 Big Bend to CarMax for a nice profit last December. Placed an order for a 22 Badlands (with tow, Assist+, and Premium Package) the same week. With taxes, fees, tire/wheel warranty, and price protection, the Badlands costs all-in about what CarMax paid me last year for the Big Bend lmao. Also got the Ford Credit rates in effect last December (48 months @ 1.9%).

The good:

(1) The 2.0L four banger is a great, peppy engine with the perfect amount of horsepower for the Sport. It also sounds way better than the 1.5L.

(2) No BRRRRRRR/GRRRRRR noise from the transmission at low speeds! What a relief. Based on that mega thread, I'm convinced that a bad batch of transmissions made their way into some 21 builds. The noise I heard was not related to a loose parking brake cable. If nothing else, I'm glad I dumped my 21 with the bum transmission.

(3) Leather-wrapped steering wheel is great.

(4) Fuel economy is what I expected, currently hovering at 24.6 MPG over a few hundred miles (hand calculated).

The bad:

(1) Adding the Premium Package was a mistake. The B&O sound system is not "premium" at all, it sounds like what you'd expect from a "regular," non-cheapo system. My generic "special of the week" aftermarket system from Fry's Electronics (RIP) I put in my old car 12 years ago sounds way better, and I bought it solely because it was discounted.

The seats and accents look great, but the seats are incredibly uncomfortable and stiff. (My leather is perforated FWIW.) After about an hour of driving, my lower back hurts like crazy. I prefer the cloth ones in every respect.

Any suggestions for a lumbar cushion or something?

The wireless charging pad is pretty useless without wireless Sync.

(2) I have a button to pop the hatch, but I'm missing the following bits and bobs compared to MY21:

* No engine cover
* No plastic panel above passenger's feet
* No green light on the start/stop button
* No case for the owners manual
* No temperature displays on the buttons themselves -- this bothers me more than it should
* No folding headrests

The ugly:

(1) The black roof! I prefer the Cactus Grey roof and I'm seriously considering a white roof wrap if I keep the car long-term.

What's next?

(1) Making the driver's seat more comfortable is priority one. If I can't get that resolved through adjustments or aftermarket cushions, I'm selling the car for another profit and calling it quits on the Sport. Unfortunately the seats really are that uncomfortable to me, and it's one of those things that will ruin an otherwise excellent vehicle.

Agreed on the seats. I finally found a cushion that mostly works. It goes under the seat cushion cover which is 3 inches larger than the seat on both sides, length and width. I was just thinking to myself; do you sell a car if you can't get comfortable but you like everything else? haha YES! The seats simply need more bolstering and the bottom part needs to be bigger. I think they made the right sized seat for the Maverick, but I haven't been in one, just seen pics. Too bad they cut too many corners -pun intended - on the BS seats. I'm hoping my new cushions work, sized 17 x 19 inches by 3" high, but still not large enough. We'll see...Good luck finding yours.

 

[CrazyKZ]

My wife and I LOVE the black top and made sure that was specified on our 2023 order. I love the contrast that it gives. Black accents and A51 is perfect.

 

[DemonGT]

If up to me and go for the BL to get the 2.0, unfortunately my wife throws up in your mouth every time she sees the brown interior so will be ordering a OB. ?

 

[AmazingSieve]

If up to me and go for the BL to get the 2.0, unfortunately my wife throws up in your mouth every time she sees the brown interior so will be ordering a OB. ?

Does she know the OB has a brown interior as well?

 

[Mark S.]

True, however do many other new vehicles have jumps comparable to the 1.5L -> 2.0L?

Hmmm, let's see:

• Mustang
• Camaro
• Challenger
• Charger
• F-150
• Silverado
• BMW (several models)
• Porsche (several models)
• RAM 1500
• Etc.
• Etc.
• Etc.

Offering more powerful engines for premium trim models at a higher price point has been a staple of the auto industry for over half a century.

 

[Mark S.]

If up to me and go for the BL to get the 2.0, unfortunately my wife throws up in your mouth every time she sees the brown interior so will be ordering a OB. ?

Wow. I've heard of people throwing up in their own mouths over disgust, but throwing up in someone else's mouth? She must really hate it!

 

[69cuda340s]

Hmmm, let's see:

• Mustang
• Camaro
• Challenger
• Charger
• F-150
• Silverado
• BMW (several models)
• Porsche (several models)
• RAM 1500
• Etc.
• Etc.
• Etc.

Offering more powerful engines for premium trim models at a higher price point has been a staple of the auto industry for over half a century.

Don't forget big Bronco where they let you add 2.7 on the base model. And Maverick where you can get 2.0 on lower trims....

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