2 Years and 21,000 Miles Later (Velocity Blue 2022 Bronco Sport Badlands)

[Horse n Buggy]

Just to share a little of the evolution of my personal Badlands and the journeys and troubles it has gone through now that I've crossed over 2 years of ownership.

I ordered my Bronco Sport having never tested the Badlands nor seeing Velocity Blue in person and I'm so glad on both choices. The car has great road manners, accelerates nicely and got ehhhhh decent gas milage. For a while, sports were an uncommon sight in my city, they are a little more common, but still i only maybe manage to see one or two a day driving around. The biggest issue i've had, and still have, with the Bronco Sport is the lack of companies making meaningful modifications available, or having strange holes in their catalogs.

In the first year of ownership i added some smaller exterior modifications, Tectico fender lights, AVS deflector, the OEM window deflectors, Random amazon letter caps for the front, Diode dynamics fog light. Performance wise i added the S&B intake and Boomba Racing Blow off valve (not really performance but makes a fun noise). Interior wise it was underseat lighting, center screen eyeglass holder, JCR molle panels on rear hatch and center consol. Nothing particularly crazy but i had ambitions in my mind and i was setting a budget for future, dumber, changes. I've always love personalizing a car like you would your wardrobe, so anything to make it yours without endangering other people on the road I'm all for.

This last year things really went off the deepend. JCR roof rack, Rally Innovations Light bar and front skid, Diode Dynamics SS5 4-Pod link, SS2 pro combo ditch lights and 6" "super fogs". Painted the tow hooks yellow, installed two Pelican Vault V800 cases, embedded traction board mounts on one, and a solar panel on the other. Underground Graphics Topo on the A-D Pillars, license plate area and custom Topo Glade fender graphics. Vinyl aurebesh accents from Etsy and as of today, Ford Ranger lifts 1.75" Badlands lift.

The car has done 21,000 miles, been to Virginia and back to Florida three times, carried many sweaty hikers and tired Canoers, had a canoe and a kayak on the roof rack and been on a bunch of other miscellaneous adventures. While she spends most of her time in a parking lot at work, it feel like the perfect weekend adventure vehicle.

Trouble wise i only had two odd instances of electrical issues, both times the car reported several issues and manifested only in the driver door window controls not working. This disappeared after the BCM update recall so hey, I'm good.

That and the fuel mileage keeps going down, but certainly that doesn't have to do with the boxes on the roof, or a lead foot, or now the lift. Must be something else...

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[Mark S.]

Thanks for the update. It sounds like your Badlands is the perfect vehicle for you. It's nice to hear some good news once in a while!

 

[NMhunter]

I'm curious what decent gas mileage means to you. My long term average is over 27 mpg, and on highway trips with no trailer or roof rack I often get 32 mpg.

 

[Horse n Buggy]

I'm curious what decent gas mileage means to you. My long term average is over 27 mpg, and on highway trips with no trailer or roof rack I often get 32 mpg.

On Florida highways (as well as Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia) between 70 and 75mph, even before any modifications and on the stock 225s. I never hit over 30mpgs. Obviously a very different form factor and size, but my Focus was hitting darn near 40 on the same roads.

And on my Monday to Friday drive to work and back with traffic, before and after mods, I'm always at or just below 20mpgs

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Just to share a little of the evolution of my personal Badlands and the journeys and troubles it has gone through now that I've crossed over 2 years of ownership.

I ordered my Bronco Sport having never tested the Badlands nor seeing Velocity Blue in person and I'm so glad on both choices. The car has great road manners, accelerates nicely and got ehhhhh decent gas milage. For a while, sports were an uncommon sight in my city, they are a little more common, but still i only maybe manage to see one or two a day driving around. The biggest issue i've had, and still have, with the Bronco Sport is the lack of companies making meaningful modifications available, or having strange holes in their catalogs.

In the first year of ownership i added some smaller exterior modifications, Tectico fender lights, AVS deflector, the OEM window deflectors, Random amazon letter caps for the front, Diode dynamics fog light. Performance wise i added the S&B intake and Boomba Racing Blow off valve (not really performance but makes a fun noise). Interior wise it was underseat lighting, center screen eyeglass holder, JCR molle panels on rear hatch and center consol. Nothing particularly crazy but i had ambitions in my mind and i was setting a budget for future, dumber, changes. I've always love personalizing a car like you would your wardrobe, so anything to make it yours without endangering other people on the road I'm all for.

This last year things really went off the deepend. JCR roof rack, Rally Innovations Light bar and front skid, Diode Dynamics SS5 4-Pod link, SS2 pro combo ditch lights and 6" "super fogs". Painted the tow hooks yellow, installed two Pelican Vault V800 cases, embedded traction board mounts on one, and a solar panel on the other. Underground Graphics Topo on the A-D Pillars, license plate area and custom Topo Glade fender graphics. Vinyl aurebesh accents from Etsy and as of today, Ford Ranger lifts 1.75" Badlands lift.

The car has done 21,000 miles, been to Virginia and back to Florida three times, carried many sweaty hikers and tired Canoers, had a canoe and a kayak on the roof rack and been on a bunch of other miscellaneous adventures. While she spends most of her time in a parking lot at work, it feel like the perfect weekend adventure vehicle.

Trouble wise i only had two odd instances of electrical issues, both times the car reported several issues and manifested only in the driver door window controls not working. This disappeared after the BCM update recall so hey, I'm good.

That and the fuel mileage keeps going down, but certainly that doesn't have to do with the boxes on the roof, or a lead foot, or now the lift. Must be something else...

Your Bronco looks great! Here's to many more miles and memories with your ride

 

[NMhunter]

The roof rack will definitely affect mileage. I have a large roof box, and my mileage goes down 4 or 5 mpg when it is on. My lift didn't seem to change mileage. New, bigger tires will change it once my Wildpeaks wear out.

 

[sajohnson]

The roof rack will definitely affect mileage. I have a large roof box, and my mileage goes down 4 or 5 mpg when it is on. My lift didn't seem to change mileage. New, bigger tires will change it once my Wildpeaks wear out.

Years ago, CR tested mileage change from stock (no roof rack); to with roof rack; and with rack and bikes. I'm too lazy to try and find it but the difference -- esp with the bikes -- was crazy. Like 36 mpg down to 18-20 mpg Granted, it was a Honda Civic (IIRC) -- so it was more sensitive to the increased drag than (say) an Excursion would be, but still. I was amazed at the decrease.

 

[Mark S.]

Years ago, CR tested mileage change from stock (no roof rack); to with roof rack; and with rack and bikes. I'm too lazy to try and find it but the difference -- esp with the bikes -- was crazy. Like 36 mpg down to 18-20 mpg Granted, it was a Honda Civic (IIRC) -- so it was more sensitive to the increased drag than (say) an Excursion would be, but still. I was amazed at the decrease.

Wind drag is a far bigger factor in fuel economy than most people suspect. It's almost certainly the reason why forum members who live at higher altitudes enjoy significantly better fuel economy.

 

[Rockboz]

Very tastily done. Bravo! We have 4k on our BL. Averaging 27 mpg ( 3mpg better than the V6 Edge we had). Leaving Monday on a 3200 mile trip.

 

[redbucky2022]

Just to share a little of the evolution of my personal Badlands and the journeys and troubles it has gone through now that I've crossed over 2 years of ownership.

I ordered my Bronco Sport having never tested the Badlands nor seeing Velocity Blue in person and I'm so glad on both choices. The car has great road manners, accelerates nicely and got ehhhhh decent gas milage. For a while, sports were an uncommon sight in my city, they are a little more common, but still i only maybe manage to see one or two a day driving around. The biggest issue i've had, and still have, with the Bronco Sport is the lack of companies making meaningful modifications available, or having strange holes in their catalogs.

In the first year of ownership i added some smaller exterior modifications, Tectico fender lights, AVS deflector, the OEM window deflectors, Random amazon letter caps for the front, Diode dynamics fog light. Performance wise i added the S&B intake and Boomba Racing Blow off valve (not really performance but makes a fun noise). Interior wise it was underseat lighting, center screen eyeglass holder, JCR molle panels on rear hatch and center consol. Nothing particularly crazy but i had ambitions in my mind and i was setting a budget for future, dumber, changes. I've always love personalizing a car like you would your wardrobe, so anything to make it yours without endangering other people on the road I'm all for.

This last year things really went off the deepend. JCR roof rack, Rally Innovations Light bar and front skid, Diode Dynamics SS5 4-Pod link, SS2 pro combo ditch lights and 6" "super fogs". Painted the tow hooks yellow, installed two Pelican Vault V800 cases, embedded traction board mounts on one, and a solar panel on the other. Underground Graphics Topo on the A-D Pillars, license plate area and custom Topo Glade fender graphics. Vinyl aurebesh accents from Etsy and as of today, Ford Ranger lifts 1.75" Badlands lift.

The car has done 21,000 miles, been to Virginia and back to Florida three times, carried many sweaty hikers and tired Canoers, had a canoe and a kayak on the roof rack and been on a bunch of other miscellaneous adventures. While she spends most of her time in a parking lot at work, it feel like the perfect weekend adventure vehicle.

Trouble wise i only had two odd instances of electrical issues, both times the car reported several issues and manifested only in the driver door window controls not working. This disappeared after the BCM update recall so hey, I'm good.

That and the fuel mileage keeps going down, but certainly that doesn't have to do with the boxes on the roof, or a lead foot, or now the lift. Must be something else...

Do you have the link for those vinyl fender guards?

 

[Horse n Buggy]

Do you have the link for those vinyl fender guards?

It's a slightly custom piece from Underground Graphics. I Had them extend it upwards to connect their glade fender graphic to the A-Pillar graphics

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Very tastily done. Bravo! We have 4k on our BL. Averaging 27 mpg ( 3mpg better than the V6 Edge we had). Leaving Monday on a 3200 mile trip.

That's awesome Randy!

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