"Huge off-road capability makes up for an Ikea interior and a relatively steep price." The Drive reviews the Bronco Sport Heritage

[greenlaker]

Check it: https://www.thedrive.com/car-reviews/2023-ford-bronco-sport-review-the-sickest-ford-escape-ever

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[PugDad]

Check it: https://www.thedrive.com/car-reviews/2023-ford-bronco-sport-review-the-sickest-ford-escape-ever

Just another opinion. Its value means nothing. If you don’t like the vehicle, don’t buy it. Life is too short for much ado about nothing.

 

[Bucko]

I never buy a vehicle based on others opinion. The only one that counts is mine and my wife's.

Unless they want to make the payments...then I might consider it.

 

[taiga]

With sticker at $46k (Ford configurator quotes $44.6k), that makes sense to me, esp. with the Badlands and Big Bronco stickering at just under $40k. Looks neat though!

 

[Dude]

Pretty decent review and a good test of the ‘23 Bronco Sport 2.0L model. It did seem like for most of the article he wanted the BS to fail but it handled itself well.

He did nail these aspects: “Its interior, meanwhile, is its greatest weakness. Especially at $46,400. The materials feel extremely cheap, the tech feels out of date, Apple CarPlay is wired, and the wireless charging pad works better as a phone heater than a phone charger.”

 

[coopny]

The review is decent, he calls the BS out for what it is: Sporty, off-road capable, not leading in interior quality, $$$ for the segment. He reviewed the Heritage, which stickers higher in favor of additional off-road capability.

While some plastic quality is an issue (I'm looking at the doors for scuffs and the lack of any insulation leading to horrible plastic-on-plastic contact with certain frequencies on the speakers), I can't speak to the rest of the interior on the Heritage (some materials differences to the BS). The overspray of white on trim pieces the author refers to is embarrassing, and the BS should have shipped with Sync 4 and a larger touch screen. (Please note I am not a Tesla "every control should be on a touchscreen" fan - I went through that with touch capacitive controls in my 2015 Fusion before swapping the FCIM for real buttons. But the 12" Sync 4 screen in the 2023 Expedition is miles ahead of the BS, all while having wireless carplay support and being flanked by a ton of real buttons for radio and climate control.)

I don't agree with the "rental-spec gauge cluster", at least on the 6.5" speedo on higher trims. I've seen far worse in 2022 and 2023 rentals. I would prefer a fully digital gauge cluster, but acknowledge freely this is a personal preference.

 

[AmazingSieve]

Pretty high praise…

“The Bronco Sport is a bona fide off-roader built on bones that never had any business being a bona fide off-roader–and that is its real selling point. So, if you don’t mind a bit of hard plastic and you like climbing dusty mountains without the compromise of a truck, this might be the best proposition yet.”

I thought the review was fair tough, but they’re late to the game and kinda repeating what’s common knowledge by now.

What really caught my attention though is that they got it to overheat, I haven’t seen that yet.

 

[SportWest]

“Its interior, meanwhile, is its greatest weakness. Especially at $46,400. The materials feel extremely cheap, the tech feels out of date, Apple CarPlay is wired, and the wireless charging pad works better as a phone heater than a phone charger.”

100% agreed. I'll take it a step further and say that the interior layout and UI is exceptional, but Ford fumbled at the 1 yard line with the cheap-o materials that I'm increasingly convinced won't last under normal usage and sun exposure.

 

[rocks]

100% agreed. I'll take it a step further and say that the interior layout and UI is exceptional, but Ford fumbled at the 1 yard line with the cheap-o materials that I'm increasingly convinced won't last under normal usage and sun exposure.

Even though the Maverick is cheaper, the interior is a lot worse. Awful.

 

[TRWXXA]

He didn't even mention the bottle opener. The guy is a hack.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Overall I'm pretty pleased with it and looking to run down some fire roads and trails next week for the first time.

The small screen and lack of wireless CarPlay is an annoyance. Interior isn't as cheap as the article makes it out to sound, if anything it's practical and decently adorned. The leather feels nice and supple, far better than the plasticy leather of her Subaru and my BMW's Texas baked but well conditioned leather.

I think Ford took a cue from Subaru and made the interior smart and simple. Just enough buttons but that screen is just too small.

If anything the factory mats drive me nuts. Driver's side keeps slipping as im getting in/out. Definitely need to get liners ASAP.

 

[Mark S.]

Confirms what we all knew: The Badlands (and derivatives) is the best available compromise vehicle if you want both on-road driving manners and off-road capability. The Badlands is capable of going places off-road most of its owners wouldn't think about attempting, yet offers road manners rivaling the best-in-class CUVs on the market.

 

[Jrl]

Confirms what we all knew: The Badlands (and derivatives) is the best available compromise vehicle if you want both on-road driving manners and off-road capability. The Badlands is capable of going places off-road most of owners wouldn't think about attempting yet offers road manners rivaling the best-in-class CUVs on the market.

100% agree.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Confirms what we all knew: The Badlands (and derivatives) is the best available compromise vehicle if you want both on-road driving manners and off-road capability. The Badlands is capable of going places off-road most of its owners wouldn't think about attempting, yet offers road manners rivaling the best-in-class CUVs on the market.

QFT.

Nothing against the 3-cyl models but the BL/HL trims get the better motor, better clearance, better 4x4 system, and better amenities. Price is still higher than it should be but given the similarly priced Cherokee Trailhawk was a total let down compared to the Badlands, I'd rather have spent my money on another Ford than another Chryslantis product.

 

[RSH]

The Smoking Tire did the same trail when they tested the Bronco Sport.

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