Introduction and trim decision help.

[WildFord]

I will toss in my opinion...

I'm very happy with my BL. Tho I wished I have more interior lighting like the OBX trim. I couldn't accept the power on the OBX/BB/Base trims. But, those trims also has better gas mileage. sounds like you will have some good dirt roads to drive on, I'd go with the BL with optional tires and better clearance.

If you considered the 4runner, which I was also, and if you need more room, you could also consider the Pilot if you don't need a true off-roader or truck like handling. Very good AWD system and much more room than the BS. I just peeked...I see Honda also raised the price especially on the off-road trim. I think those cars is not exactly in the same segment (bigger and cost a little more).

Have fun shopping! make sure you test drive them all. The BS has lead this segment for a year or two. in another year or two, there will be many other choices of unit body crossover that is off-road capable with reasonable manner on the pavement. I think the new Hyundai Santa Fe is going that direction.

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[DesertRat19]

^This, or a Badlands trim or any trim with towing will have a full size spare that bumps the cargo floor up about two inches consequentially reducing the FT³ space.

One thing that is different about your considerations are the wheels. The Outer Banks comes on 18s. The Badlands comes on 17s. The 17 will probably net you more tire options in an AT tire and the larger sidewall is an obvious benefit off-road. There's already plenty of discussion about the other differences. Agree with you about the on-road handling. Sport is much smoother.

I just drove a heritage with continental cross contact atr. Wasn’t as smooth as the outer banks, more like a truck but that should be expected. It had enough interior features.
Given everything stated here I’m putting the heritage over the outer banks.

 

[Tigger]

Heritage or Heritage Limited Edition? If Heritage, that’s the same as Big Bend and Outer Banks, so you should not have felt a difference in the drive feel. If Heritage Limited, then that is based on the Badlands and should feel different.

Edit: And don’t feel bad if you did not know the difference. The people that monitor this forum don’t know either as they do not even have HLE as a choice of Bronco Sport models.

 

[Glamdring70]

I just drove a heritage with continental cross contact atr. Wasn’t as smooth as the outer banks, more like a truck but that should be expected. It had enough interior features.
Given everything stated here I’m putting the heritage over the outer banks.

Yeah, Like Tigger said, I think you drove a Heritage which is like a Big Bend in a dress up package with special fabrics and the two-tone unique colors. The Heritage Limited is based on a Badlands with an alternative dress up package. They're very limited production, under 2,000 units and are generally not available on a lot having been spoken for prior to production in most cases, or having ridiculous dealer markups. So there are actually six different trims available plus a First Edition trim that was only 1 MY.

If the ride feel is that important to you, I highly suggest you test drive a Badlands with the different drive system. People quickly point out the obvious difference of the 2.0 motor. But I have said many times, it is more different than just the engine.

 

[DesertRat19]

But I have said many times, it is more different than just the engine.

yeah, it was two different locations as well so it that could also explain it. It wasn’t a huge negative, just the outer banks felt more comfy, even the seat which is allegedly exactly the same. And yes, I know the difference between the heritage and heritage limited.
I’m test driving a BL today. There’s more of them coming to dealerships and I can likely pay less than MSRP. (Definitely can if I jump on it now). I’ve also found a bunch of new, full size broncos available and discounted but not interested in that size vehicle yet. Biggest limit will be color but I’m not too picky on that.
I’m not concerned about a smooth ride, just don’t want a wrangler experience, hehe.
As people have been saying and I’m starting to see, BL gives more off roading fun.

 

[Elegance]

Welcome to the forum!

I'm a Forest Service employee who just moved out of AZ - Worked on the Coronado previously but just moved to NC. The Badlands is the best choice for you, hands down. I owned a Big Bend (Same engine and suspension as the Outer Banks) and upgraded because it was not enough to get me down all the FS roads I wanted it to. You will appreciate the upgraded suspension, 1.5 inch lift, and 2.0L engine to handle AZ's rock and rut filled roads.

 

[fsjdw2]

you be ok going with badlands and the larger tires, depending on how bad off-roading roads around Phoenix are. As for the road manners, the badlands is great, handles like a small unibody suv. Off-road you can go pretty good but it isn’t a dedicated body on frame off road rig. The wrangler is far more capable off road but you lose road manners as a result.
For upgrades and such the bronco sport is limited.
hinestly, if you can get a outer banks, great mileage and manners, and get a old wrangler/Cherokee 4.0 I6 and you can get best of both worlds.

id absolutely recommend the CMS though, can’t be installed easily later but super handy at the time.

 

[DesertRat19]

Welcome to the forum!

I'm a Forest Service employee who just moved out of AZ - Worked on the Coronado previously but just moved to NC. The Badlands is the best choice for you, hands down. I owned a Big Bend (Same engine and suspension as the Outer Banks) and upgraded because it was not enough to get me down all the FS roads I wanted it to. You will appreciate the upgraded suspension, 1.5 inch lift, and 2.0L engine to handle AZ's rock and rut filled roads.

Thank you. Coronado is one of the places I plan to go. I'm also real close to Agua Fria, and Tonto, so it doesn't take long for me to get on a dirt road. I went badlands, put the deposit down hoping to pickup on Monday. I'll make another post once it's a done deal.

 

[DesertRat19]

you be ok going with badlands and the larger tires, depending on how bad off-roading roads around Phoenix are. As for the road manners, the badlands is great, handles like a small unibody suv. Off-road you can go pretty good but it isn’t a dedicated body on frame off road rig. The wrangler is far more capable off road but you lose road manners as a result.
For upgrades and such the bronco sport is limited.
hinestly, if you can get a outer banks, great mileage and manners, and get a old wrangler/Cherokee 4.0 I6 and you can get best of both worlds.

id absolutely recommend the CMS though, can’t be installed easily later but super handy at the time.

I decided on the badlands. A lot of what people here said helped me realize it is the way to go. I keep cars a pretty long time, and I've really been wanting to go off roading for the last 10 years. So the extra cost will be worth it.

Really, thanks everyone for your input. Can't wait to start sharing picks and hopefully get to meetup with some people.

 

[Barry S.]

Cargo Management System may not be a bad idea for you if photography is a side hustle and you want to hide your equipment without using a blanket or having 5% tint installed all around. Something to consider because the Bronco Sport doesn’t have any cargo area cover that can be installed afterwards.

I have a black blanket in the cargo area. If there's anything I don't want seen, I simply throw the blanket over it. With the heavy tinting of those rear windows, it's virtually impossible to see anything back there.

 

[Jmuns]

I have a black blanket in the cargo area. If there's anything I don't want seen, I simply throw the blanket over it. With the heavy tinting of those rear windows, it's virtually impossible to see anything back there.

For sure a blanket can hide things, but the windows are only around 20% tinted and in sunlight you can see right through them without much difficulty. You really need to add tint if you wanted to impede someone trying to look in.

Nothing beats having an OEM solution. BS should have come with a pull out privacy curtain/cover that covers the trunk area. Someone looking to steal and seeing the privacy curtain or shelf from the CMS is many times more likely to move on versus seeing a blanket with a bulge under it. Especially in the OPs situation where they may be at a trailhead and their car could be all only out in the wilderness.

 

[PugDad]

Is it better to not have a CMS installed and go third party?

There isn’t really any third party option. The Cargo Management System is the way to go, if your needs warrant it. If you wait after the fact, from what information from members here say it is, north of $2000.00 .That is just for the new panels and cover, then installation of parts if you are not so inclined to do.

 

[PugDad]

you be ok going with badlands and the larger tires, depending on how bad off-roading roads around Phoenix are. As for the road manners, the badlands is great, handles like a small unibody suv. Off-road you can go pretty good but it isn’t a dedicated body on frame off road rig. The wrangler is far more capable off road but you lose road manners as a result.
For upgrades and such the bronco sport is limited.
hinestly, if you can get a outer banks, great mileage and manners, and get a old wrangler/Cherokee 4.0 I6 and you can get best of both worlds.

id absolutely recommend the CMS though, can’t be installed easily later but super handy at the time.

I agree the CMS is definitely worth the few dollars in cost. Two levels of storage, cargo area divider, shelving area for working outside , safety for valuables. What’s not to like.

 

[PugDad]

I will toss in my opinion...

I'm very happy with my BL. Tho I wished I have more interior lighting like the OBX trim. I couldn't accept the power on the OBX/BB/Base trims. But, those trims also has better gas mileage. sounds like you will have some good dirt roads to drive on, I'd go with the BL with optional tires and better clearance.

If you considered the 4runner, which I was also, and if you need more room, you could also consider the Pilot if you don't need a true off-roader or truck like handling. Very good AWD system and much more room than the BS. I just peeked...I see Honda also raised the price especially on the off-road trim. I think those cars is not exactly in the same segment (bigger and cost a little more).

Have fun shopping! make sure you test drive them all. The BS has lead this segment for a year or two. in another year or two, there will be many other choices of unit body crossover that is off-road capable with reasonable manner on the pavement. I think the new Hyundai Santa Fe is going that direction.

To me it’s not just this vehicle against that vehicle, better for this or that. I must like the look first and foremost. Then I begin the process of what has what and the cost against one or the other. I was so tired of the boring soccer SUV egg shapes. The BS has nice style in comparison. When we get apples against apples. Then maybe the Bronco Sport will not be my choice.

 

[PonyDriver43]

If you haven't decided, take a careful drive again in any of the 1.5L models again. Specifically in stop/go traffic, school zone speeds, large parking lots. I had a 22 (dec built) OBX that I really enjoyed for just under a year and 7000 miles. I put BFG Terrain Trails on it. Very stable at expressway speeds and power was great for me (old guy primary in town driver).
BUT - The 1.5L has a cylinder deactivation feature. I could not for the life of me find out how to disable it via FORSCAN or any local tuners.
As I'm mostly in town driver, when not under load and in traffic, parking lots speeds, etc it would drop to 2 cylinders and it vibrated. Nothing "wrong", just the nature of the engine & OEM tune.
It was like a manual transmission car you "lugging" in 3rd or higher gear. YES, you can twist the know to "SPORT" mode and it would go back to 3 cyls active. Along with that came a more sensitive throttle mapping that could be touchy in stop/go traffic. Nothing you couldn't get used to or handle, but it just really irritated me. So while it was some what in demand, I traded it.
I had sold a 14 Mustang convertible (retirement gift to self) when prices were crazy high and ordered my BS. It was the best "built" vehicle I've ever had. Fit/finish was exceptional. Paint very good, everything worked great. Loved it in town, but just could not handle the low speed shudder.
In January found a new leftover 22 Mustang Ecoboost Prem. Dealer wanted my OBX a lot. Promptly put it on lot for $3K OVER over original sticker price.
I miss the BS (except when driving the Mustang) and it's not impossible that I may order a 23 or wait for a 24 Badlands.
My $.02, good luck with your decision.

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