2024 Bronco Sport RV & Trailer Towing (GVWR / GCWR) Guide From Ford

[wiyeti]

Congratulations to you both who figured out the 2.0 has more power…

Imo i have no issues with the power from my 1.5 big bend. 90% of my driving is highways. Even with my 500lb utility trailer attached i don’t feel scared from lack of power.

Its certainly not a race car or even considered fast but to say its dangerous is a stretch

LMAO, I usually say don't engage with the 2.0L homers, but this made me smile.

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[NMhunter]

Long ago, I drove a Karman Ghia with a 1200cc engine. Merging safely has little to do with acceleration, and more to do with discretion.

That said, I like the acceleration of the Badlands. I pull a small utiility trailer for camping (as shown in my avatar), and it works great for that. No way I could fit that big wall tent into my BS.

 

[wireman]

Long ago, I drove a Karman Ghia with a 1200cc engine. Merging safely has little to do with acceleration, and more to do with discretion.

That said, I like the acceleration of the Badlands. I pull a small utiility trailer for camping (as shown in my avatar), and it works great for that. No way I could fit that big wall tent into my BS.

Since you tow a lot more than most of us, have you changed the ATF yet? At what mileage and what was the condition like?

Just curious.

 

[Mark S.]

The tradeoff for gutless acceleration while merging into traffic at speed and the requisite danger that presents is higher MPG and lower payload capacity.

No thanks. I don't care about MPG if it compromises my safety. I do care about not getting creamed by a semi bearing down on me as I get onto I95.

Motor Trend and Car & Driver testing returned the following zero-to-sixty times:

Bronco Sport (1.5L) 8.6
Mazda CX3 8.1
Rav4 8.0
Honda CR-V 7.9
Kia Seltos 7.4

Of note is that most of these vehicles are newer designs than the Bronco Sport with the 1.5L, which is coming up on three years without a major update to the powertrain. Still, the numbers don't suggest a significant difference in acceleration performance between the Bronco Sport and the vehicles it competes with. While acceleration may not be brisk, per se, I wouldn't consider 1.5L-equippped Bronco Sports to be gutless, much less unsafe.

 

[Cjdicesare]

I get baffled by the number of people here who really go around high-fiving themselves over having the 2.0 while driving to Target on a 35 mph paved street with a traffic light.

Every single one goes on about how the 1.5 is a death trap because you can’t accelerate. It’s something like 8.5 seconds to get to 60mph. Hell the Jeep Cherokee 4cyl engines are 9.5 seconds. The 2.4-liter Compass Trailhawk takes 10.4 seconds , and they are everywhere on the road.

There are several cars that take 11-12 seconds to reach 60mph and we don’t see stories of the hundreds of thousands dead from them.

Buick Encore took 11.2 seconds.
Hyundai Kona SEL is 11.1 seconds.
Chevrolet Spark takes 12 seconds.
The Mirage takes 12.2 seconds.

Having the 2.0L dosen’t make one special. The extra two seconds you save in acceleration counts for a fart in the wind. A two second difference more then likely won’t save you from being creamed by the same truck that would cream the 1.5L.

If you need to brag about something how about the extra off-road capability? No because most of you won’t be driving it off-road conditions. Like I said, I have the Outer Banks and I probably take it off road more then 90% of Badland Owners. I take it up to the mountains on dirt roads and forest service roads with a roof tent and my fishing poles, I drive on the beach and occasionally find myself in muddy washed out dirt roads. No mud/ruts mode or 2.0 yet I still magically get through. Even did one water crossing (only 12” but fun anyway).

the 1.5 has gotten me from city, to highway to country, to mountain and back without feeling unsafe or disappointed. I am getting between 30 and 31 mpg so saving a barrel from my Ram 1500 V8 turbo. Was the 2.0 nice feeling? Sure was! Yet I haven’t found something it can do my 1.5 can’t and more importantly I don’t feel disappointed in it’s capabilities.

Now if I was rock climbing maybe I’d care, but like I said 90% of badlands owners are driving to target or Walmart for more hemorrhoid cream while thinking they are superior because they go brooom 2 seconds faster.

 

[Cjdicesare]

The tradeoff for gutless acceleration while merging into traffic at speed and the requisite danger that presents is higher MPG and lower payload capacity.

No thanks. I don't care about MPG if it compromises my safety. I do care about not getting creamed by a semi bearing down on me as I get onto I95.

You would hate the Jeep Cherokee that takes 9.5 seconds or even the Jeep Compass limited that takes 10.2 seconds. Or Jeep Liberty that takes 9 seconds. Or Jeep patriots were all between 9 and 10 seconds. Or Jeep Renegades at between 9 and 10 seconds depending on trim.

My point being all these widely popular cars accelerate more sluggish yet we aren’t bombarded by daily news of the millions dying in devastating fireballs, trying to merge onto a highway.

I’m more curious as to why a two second difference and acceleration times me and life or death to you.

 

[Cursed Bronco]

You would hate the Jeep Cherokee that takes 9.5 seconds or even the Jeep Compass limited that takes 10.2 seconds. Or Jeep Liberty that takes 9 seconds. Or Jeep patriots were all between 9 and 10 seconds. Or Jeep Renegades at between 9 and 10 seconds depending on trim.

My point being all these widely popular cars accelerate more sluggish yet we aren’t bombarded by daily news of the millions dying in devastating fireballs, trying to merge onto a highway.

I’m more curious as to why a two second difference and acceleration times me and life or death to you.

I think it is pretty common in most car culture to crap on the guys with the lesser trims and/or smaller engines. Just a way of the world

 

[NMhunter]

Since you tow a lot more than most of us, have you changed the ATF yet? At what mileage and what was the condition like?
[/QUOTE]

I have just over 20,000 miles on mine so far, and I don't tow very often. The avatar photo is the only time I've towed with it. I noticed that the manual recommends more ATF changes even when using a roof rack, which I've also done a couple of times.

 

[FB71]

The tradeoff for gutless acceleration while merging into traffic at speed and the requisite danger that presents is higher MPG and lower payload capacity.

No thanks. I don't care about MPG if it compromises my safety. I do care about not getting creamed by a semi bearing down on me as I get onto I95.

dude... I daily drive a 1991 Ford Festiva currently. I have driven Festivas and Aspires since they were new. They are equipped with a 1.3L engine developing a neck-snapping 62HP and 80ft/lbs of torque. I have zero problems merging with modern traffic on I95, which I commute daily. In fact, I find most drivers are far too slow for my preference, while driving the Festiva. I had a Focus ST for several years, also. While the 1.5L BS is not nearly as capable as the ST, it's far in excess of the Festiva.

 

[KidWiff]

I remember, back in the day, seeing all sorts of vehicles with trailers latched onto the back..... heck, even you'd even see the odd Gremlin, Pacer or Chevy Chevette dragging something down the road now and then. Ahhhhh the 1970's and 80's.... THAT was the Wild West of Towing. While not sure i'd tow with one of them, i don't recall seeing any mushroom clouds above the highway either....

 

[gatornek]

I wouldn't consider 1.5L-equippped Bronco Sports to be gutless, much less unsafe.

I thought "gutless" was a bit strong of an adjective also, and probably what spurred this whole thing.

 

[gatornek]

dude... I daily drive a 1991 Ford Festiva currently. I have driven Festivas and Aspires since they were new. They are equipped with a 1.3L engine developing a neck-snapping 62HP and 80ft/lbs of torque. I have zero problems merging with modern traffic on I95, which I commute daily. In fact, I find most drivers are far too slow for my preference, while driving the Festiva. I had a Focus ST for several years, also. While the 1.5L BS is not nearly as capable as the ST, it's far in excess of the Festiva.

I actually mad applaud you for admitting all this on a public forum. ?

I kid....I kid....hey...some people enjoy power, some people don't.

 

[BourbonRunner]

dude... I daily drive a 1991 Ford Festiva currently. I have driven Festivas and Aspires since they were new. They are equipped with a 1.3L engine developing a neck-snapping 62HP and 80ft/lbs of torque. I have zero problems merging with modern traffic on I95, which I commute daily. In fact, I find most drivers are far too slow for my preference, while driving the Festiva. I had a Focus ST for several years, also. While the 1.5L BS is not nearly as capable as the ST, it's far in excess of the Festiva.

LOL. Maybe I should have said 495/695 where there's precious little merge lanes... or perhaps 83N in PA where there's only yielding and not merging. Imagine doing a rolling quarter mile every time you get on the highway to avoid a loaded semi at speed. That's where the 2 seconds matters.

I really triggered a bunch of you didn't I?

I hate to break it to everyone but the 1.5 3cyl is a CAFE-satisfying engine. It allows Ford to sell more powerful motors like the 2.0 (I can't believe I just wrote that) and the various turbo 6's and V8s by getting that average fleet MPG down. Which is also why the 2.0 is only available on the top trim- the majority of buyers will buy the majority of what is available. For the automakers it is an endless numbers racket to satisfy the bureaucratic decrees from Mordor on the Potomac. Corporate fuel economy is just one of many.

 

[FB71]

LOL. Maybe I should have said 495/695 where there's precious little merge lanes... or perhaps 83N in PA where there's only yielding and not merging. Imagine doing a rolling quarter mile every time you get on the highway to avoid a loaded semi at speed. That's where the 2 seconds matters.

Well, let's see...I regularly travel to Central NJ, Leader Heights PA, Williamsport PA, Chantilly VA, Frederick MD, and Leesburg VA. Plus a few times a year, I travel to Richmond VA, Lodi OH, and Detroit MI. So, yes, 695, 495, I83, 295, NJTP, I68, 301, 11/15, I75, I70, 270, I76, I80, etc.. Yes, all in my Festiva. I put 30K/year on a vehicle now, down from 50K+ twenty years ago. It's not the vehicle, it's the driver...

 

[Cjdicesare]

Well, let's see...I regularly travel to Central NJ, Leader Heights PA, Williamsport PA, Chantilly VA, Frederick MD, and Leesburg VA. Plus a few times a year, I travel to Richmond VA, Lodi OH, and Detroit MI. So, yes, 695, 495, I83, 295, NJTP, I68, 301, 11/15, I75, I70, 270, I76, I80, etc.. Yes, all in my Festiva. I put 30K/year on a vehicle now, down from 50K+ twenty years ago. It's not the vehicle, it's the driver...

I just thinking this guys a timid or fearful driver myself. I live just outside of Philadelphia and Drive to North Jersey, Tioga County PA and Potter County PA routinely in the 1.5L and have absolutely no issues with what he’s talking about. I’m honestly concerned about him on the highway if he thinks a 2 second acceleration advantage is going to save him if he makes a poor decision. I would hate to spend so much time on the road as I do scared like that.

Hell you se Subaru’s every 10 feet in Pennsylvania and they have a 9.6 acceleration to highway speeds yet no one is badmouthing them or scared to drive them. Same with most of the Jeeps.

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