Need some help/perspective

[dwrufus53]

I have had my 2025 Bronco Sport BB for almost a year. My wife is retiring soon and we will be downsizing to a single vehicle. We are considering selling her vehicle and trading my ’25 BSBB on a new, better appointed BS… looking at the OuterBanks and the Badlands. I doubt that we will be doing any serious off-roading, but I really like the look and the handling of the BS… so:

You’ve got a gun to your head and you have to decide… what do you do? Which vehicle do you choose? What features do you absolutely need to have?

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[jlpskydive]

The Badlands is the way..... I post this as my first post and an owner of 25 Badlands SAS. All others lack a cylinder ....

 

[Rockboz]

Absolutely get the 2.0 engine.

 

[TheX]

Outer Banks for me, with Sasquatch. The interior and add-ons are the only way for me.

 

[davidg4781]

If I were doing this, I'd build the exact one I want and order that. Check out the different packages and see which ones you like.

Personally, I'd either get a BB with Black Diamond and Convenience (and a couple of add ons) or the Badlands (not sure if I'd get the Tech package).

I guess now that I think about it, if it was just a driving around town BS, I'd get the OBX.

Yeah, good luck! Sorry I wasn't much help.

 

[jkernitzki]

If I were doing this, I'd build the exact one I want and order that. Check out the different packages and see which ones you like.

Personally, I'd either get a BB with Black Diamond and Convenience (and a couple of add ons) or the Badlands (not sure if I'd get the Tech package).

I guess now that I think about it, if it was just a driving around town BS, I'd get the OBX.

Yeah, good luck! Sorry I wasn't much help.

If my intention was solely pavement-only, I would've definitely gone OBX. As it was, I wanted the best factory off-road package available, as well as not regret any "shoulda added that" options later. Mine's about as maxed out as you can get, sans hole in the roof and unnecessary stickers on the side.

 

[davidg4781]

If my intention was solely pavement-only, I would've definitely gone OBX. As it was, I wanted the best factory off-road package available, as well as not regret any "shoulda added that" options later. Mine's about as maxed out as you can get, sans hole in the roof and unnecessary stickers on the side.

Yeah that makes sense. I was thinking the BB because I do some light off roading... whenever I can get to it.

 

[RSH]

First of all you don't have a gun to your head.

It's different talking about retirement than being retired.
I would wait until your wife is actually retired and see how her adjustment to retirement goes.
Instead of spending money on another Bronco Sport maybe a bucket list type of vacation could be a congratulations to yourselves for reaching a new stage in life.
There is plenty of time to decide what to do about your transportation wants or needs.

In my case I have a 2021 Badlands that I purchased new. I test drove various 1.5 model's at the time including the OuterBanks and while it's interior was nicer than the Badlands I chose the Badlands powertrain and added capability over the OuterBanks creature comforts.

 

[SeaJay]

We simplified to one vehicle before retirement. Love it.
If you have the luxury of waiting you should order exactly what YOU want instead of taking ANY compromises off a lot. (Personally I am in agreement with the guy who says to avoid getting one with a hole in the roof?) A “luxurious” OBX with a 1.5 is still pretty capable for a steep gravel drive, snow, or light off road scenarios. FWIW.

 

[Ernest T]

I went with the Badlands because of the engine. It’s pretty well appointed except for the rubber floor mat. I don’t like how quickly it gets dirty. It shows dirt a lot quicker than carpet.

 

[Frenchy906]

I went with the Badlands because of the engine. It’s pretty well appointed except for the rubber floor mat. I don’t like how quickly it gets dirty. It shows dirt a lot quicker than carpet.

Yes. But it’s also 100x easier to clean than carpet. And that’s the point of it lol

 

[max the dog]

I have had my 2025 Bronco Sport BB for almost a year. My wife is retiring soon and we will be downsizing to a single vehicle. We are considering selling her vehicle and trading my ’25 BSBB on a new, better appointed BS… looking at the OuterBanks and the Badlands. I doubt that we will be doing any serious off-roading, but I really like the look and the handling of the BS… so:

You’ve got a gun to your head and you have to decide… what do you do? Which vehicle do you choose? What features do you absolutely need to have?

I have a 21 BL 23K love it, if gentle can get 30mpg.

 

[dwrufus53]

Appreciate the perspectives of y’all. We have several months before she retires, so we’re just taking our time and considering the options.

 

[North_of_49]

The 2025 Outer Banks I bought last fall was a replacement for a 2014 Escape Titanium that was becoming a money pit. Having no plan to ever go off road with it my main goal with chosen trim level was to have as many of the comforts and tech features as my Escape (including decent factory audio with sub) and the same looks of a larger nice looking wheel that isn’t all black. Although I knew I’d probably miss the pep of the the turbo 2.0L I’d gotten used to, my more important goal this time around regarding drive train was fuel economy. Although I’ve always had my dash fuel economy gauge set to display the typical Canadian litres per 100 kilometres (L/100km) so I could compare to my dad’s Toyota hybrid, I recently tried changing it to MPG on the high speed freeway I take to and from work (Anthony Henday Freeway in Edmonton) and, now that the engine is broken in, have been very happy to see that it’s been consistently showing an average of 35 to 40 MPG in Eco driving mode depending whether I’m on a perfectly flat section or a section with slight ups and downs and resetting the gauge fresh once I’m already up to speed (not including the acceleration onto the freeway). I put a bit wider (and slightly taller) Michelin Primacy Tour tires on it which throw off the speedo, odometer and therefore obviously the indicated fuel economy a bit but only by about 3%

I don’t find the turbo 1.5 lacking in pep when in sport driving mode which I use sparingly like accelerating onto said freeway or climbing the steeper grades of the city roads that go up over that freeway. I’m in Eco mode most of the time otherwise. My vehicle is pretty much just for commuting to work, getting groceries and picking up the odd home and yard large item from the hardware store. I do plan to take it on its first road trip to the mountains soon (my “happy place”, good for the soul!).

 

[Dude]

Getting an “ average of 35-40 MPG in Eco driving mode depending whether I’m on a perfectly flat section or a section with slight ups and downs and resetting the gauge fresh once I’m already up to speed (not including the acceleration onto the freeway) “ is certainly very impressive!!

Under those same conditions my 2.0L Badlands (with heavier than the optional OEM 235/65R17 Falken Wildpeak tires) gets 32mpg

The fuel economy gauge on my Badlands reads 1.2mpg high over the life of driving the vehicle

What’s more important is your hand calculated long term mpg average or at least hand calculated over about 3 full tanks: over the past 4+ years and over 40k miles my Badlands long term hand calculated average over all driving conditions since new just dropped below 23mpg at 22.9mpg

In the hot summer months (March to November) I get 20mpg or less

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