Desert Sand 2025 Bronco Sport Big Bend Delivered

[DWG]

I can do without it. Touch screens do not belong in cars, especially Sync 4 which moves many functions to the touch screen. They are built-in distracted driving. Stupid Ford and other manufacturers to not recognize it!
I'm very happy to have a '24 and not a '25 Bronco Sport. I would have liked a moonroof, even though two of my cars had moonroofs that broke and the repair costs were huge. But Ford bundles things in a manner that are deal killers for me. To have the moonroof in a '24 BS BL (or earlier) required the Premium package, which includes leather seats. That is a deal killer for me. I've had leather in a couple of cars and find that they are just about as uncomfortable when you first get in your car, as vinyl seats in summer, and even with heated seats in the winter. Cloth seats are not an option on the '25 Badlands.
OTOH, there are things that I really do like about the '25 Badlands: foremost, the 360 degree camera, and the inclusion of Copilot 360 Assist 2.0 as standard equipment. And it is nice to see that others are really enjoying their new cars.

I had Sync 4 on a 23 Escape and another thing that I do not like with Sync 4 is that it requires an annual subscription for navigation to work which is currently $80 per year. Without the subscription the navigation will not work. Also somewhere on Fords website I read a disclaimer that even with the subscription at some point if technology changes or for some other reason Ford could stop supporting the navigation. At least with sync 3 even if you choose to not update the maps annually the navigation system will still work for as long as you own the car.

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[Schuelady]

I had Sync 4 on a 23 Escape and another thing that I do not like with Sync 4 is that it requires an annual subscription for navigation to work which is currently $80 per year. Without the subscription the navigation will not work. Also somewhere on Fords website I read a disclaimer that even with the subscription at some point if technology changes or for some other reason Ford could stop supporting the navigation. At least with sync 3 even if you choose to not update the maps annually the navigation system will still work for as long as you own the car.

Wait! So even with Android Auto, you won't be able to use the maps on your phone while it is Bluetoothed to your phone?

 

[Dude]

Wait! So even with Android Auto, you won't be able to use the maps on your phone while it is Bluetoothed to your phone?

Android Auto and iPhone CarPlay work fine without a subscription. The reference was to the Ford Navigation system.

 

[Schuelady]

Android Auto and iPhone CarPlay work fine without a subscription. The reference was to the Ford Navigation system.

Oh okay! So, as long as I'm hooked up to Android Auto, I'll still be able to use the navigation with that? It just confused me! I love my Android Auto to be able to use its navigation!

 

[Mark S.]

Oh okay! So, as long as I'm hooked up to Android Auto, I'll still be able to use the navigation with that? It just confused me! I love my Android Auto to be able to use its navigation!

Me too! The only downside to Android Auto is that you must download off-line maps if you want to use Google Maps without a data connection.

 

[RushMan]

I had Sync 4 on a 23 Escape and another thing that I do not like with Sync 4 is that it requires an annual subscription for navigation to work which is currently $80 per year. Without the subscription the navigation will not work. Also somewhere on Fords website I read a disclaimer that even with the subscription at some point if technology changes or for some other reason Ford could stop supporting the navigation. At least with sync 3 even if you choose to not update the maps annually the navigation system will still work for as long as you own the car.

There is Connected Navigation, a subscription option, but also built-in Navigation. The SYNC 4 featues page says,
"Reverts to Embedded Navigation with no Connected Navigation services (e.g., live traffic) if a subscription is not purchased after the trial ends "
https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/sync/sync-4/what-are-the-sync-4-navigation-options/
I don't know if that includes the Voice-Activated Touchscreen Navigation System that we have on some SYNC 3 systems, since some Ford docs say "If Equipped."

 

[Schuelady]

Me too! The only downside to Android Auto is that you must download off-line maps if you want to use Google Maps without a data connection.

Oh, so after some time, the Google map I'm getting now will go away? I'm not understanding this! I was told as long as I'm hooked to Android Auto, I can use the navigation when we road trip! What offline maps are there to download?

 

[Schuelady]

There is Connected Navigation, a subscription option, but also built-in Navigation. The SYNC 4 featues page says,
"Reverts to Embedded Navigation with no Connected Navigation services (e.g., live traffic) if a subscription is not purchased after the trial ends "
https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/sync/sync-4/what-are-the-sync-4-navigation-options/
I don't know if that includes the Voice-Activated Touchscreen Navigation System that we have on some SYNC 3 systems, since some Ford docs say "If Equipped."

So, there is a Smartphone navigation? Is that where the offline maps come in? This is all confusing me!! I figured long as I'm hooked to Android Auto, I'm good with navigation, when I need it! Honestly, I'll be talking to my salesman on Monday regarding this issue!

 

[RushMan]

So, there is a Smartphone navigation? Is that where the offline maps come in? This is all confusing me!! I figured long as I'm hooked to Android Auto, I'm good with navigation, when I need it! Honestly, I'll be talking to my salesman on Monday regarding this issue!

Instead of using the built-in Navigation/mapping, some folks prefer to use Google maps on their cell phone, or Waze, another mapping app for the cell phone. To use those through your Infotainment screen, you just need to use Android Auto or Apple Car Play, as is appropriate for your cellphone (Google Android operating system or Apple iOS).
The offline maps for the built-in navigation system can be upgraded when Ford makes them available every year - free for the first year, and for a price later on.
One downloads the file from Ford, to a USB thumb drive, and installs it themselves. Or one can buy a thumb drive from Ford with the updated map data. At least one update is free, although some have said here that they have gotten 3 years of upgrades. The website wasn't recognizing my VIN for the free update, and I couldn't download nor buy the thumb drive. Ford sent me the thumb drive gratis. It seems that Ford doesn't update their database of owners very often for the mapping.

 

[Mark S.]

Oh, so after some time, the Google map I'm getting now will go away? I'm not understanding this! I was told as long as I'm hooked to Android Auto, I can use the navigation when we road trip! What offline maps are there to download?

Google maps runs on your phone. You will see the map when you connect your phone to SYNC via Android Auto. Google maps gets map information from Google's servers, which means you need to be connected to cell service (a data connection) to get map data. If you download maps to your phone you don't need a data connection. If you're driving around a major metro area, or (generally) near a major Interstate highway you'll pretty much always have a data connection. If you plan to hit the back roads, or go off-road, you should download maps to your phone so Google maps will still work if you lose your data connection.

 

[Schuelady]

Instead of using the built-in Navigation/mapping, some folks prefer to use Google maps on their cell phone, or Waze, another mapping app for the cell phone. To use those through your Infotainment screen, you just need to use Android Auto or Apple Car Play, as is appropriate for your cellphone (Google Android operating system or Apple iOS).

Okay, Yes! That's how it was explained to me! So as long as I have it hooked to Android Auto, then the Google maps will be available for me, like it is now! Thanks for explaining that to me!! Hopefully for the next 10 or so years Ford won't decide to stop the SYNC4!!

 

[Schuelady]

Google maps runs on your phone. You will see the map when you connect your phone to SYNC via Android Auto. Google maps gets map information from Google's servers, which means you need to be connected to cell service (a data connection) to get map data. If you download maps to your phone you don't need a data connection. If you're driving around a major metro area, or (generally) near a major Interstate highway you'll pretty much always have a data connection. If you plan to hit the back roads, or go off-road, you should download maps to your phone so Google maps will still work if you lose your data connection.

Okay!! Thanks for that explanation!! I was starting to freak out but you and others are making me feel better!!

 

[Dude]

Oh okay! So, as long as I'm hooked up to Android Auto, I'll still be able to use the navigation with that? It just confused me! I love my Android Auto to be able to use its navigation!

That’s correct .. all of the Navigation Apps like Google maps, Waze, etc will work from your Android (via Android Auto) and there’s no subscription cost

The one impact for sync 4 is the Ford navigation system which incurs a subscription cost starting after the 1st year

 

[Mark S.]

and there’s no subscription cost

Other than your monthly cell phone bill.

 

[DWG]

There is Connected Navigation, a subscription option, but also built-in Navigation. The SYNC 4 featues page says,
"Reverts to Embedded Navigation with no Connected Navigation services (e.g., live traffic) if a subscription is not purchased after the trial ends "
https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/sync/sync-4/what-are-the-sync-4-navigation-options/
I don't know if that includes the Voice-Activated Touchscreen Navigation System that we have on some SYNC 3 systems, since some Ford docs say "If Equipped."

The Navigation version that comes on the 25 BS is not optional. If I understand correctly some of the original sync 4 vehicles came with connected built in navigation while the newer sync 4 are connected where navigation functionality stops without the subscription. It should indicate on the window sticker which type the car has. But even with the sync 4 built in navigation I believe you will not be able to update the maps like you can in sync 3 without the subscription.

This is from the 2025 Bronco Sport Order Guide:
Navigation services require SYNC®4 and FordPass Connect™ (optional on select vehicles), complimentary connect service and the FordPass app (see FordPassTerms for details). Customer receives a complimentary 1-Year Subscription of navigation services when an eligible vehicle is added to a member’s FordPass account. Trial period begins on the new vehicle warranty start date. At the end of the complimentary period, navigation service will terminate. This means without the navigation subscription the map will still work but you cannot set destinations.

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