Observations: my 2021 vs. 2025 Bronco Sport Badlands

[wireman]

As I posted a couple of weeks ago, I traded my 2021 BL in for a Gold Certified 2025 BL with 5.8k miles.

Here are my observations comparing the 2021 vs the 2025.

The ride quality is improved.

It seems that the interior noise is quieter, though this may because of the Continental tires vs the Wildpeaks on the 2021.

It looks to me that the rear of the 2025 sits up a little higher than the 2021.

The new 2.0L MPC engine has a higher cold idle.

The 12.3 inch screen is an improvement, but the HVAC controls will take some time to get used to.

On the 2021 Sync 3, I remember when Apple car play was active, if you hit the squares at the bottom left of the screen there was a Sync icon to return to Sync 3, I don't have that icon on Sync 4. From what I gather I have to hit the home button to return to Sync 4 from Apple car play. Is this correct?

The 360 degree camera is great.

Having memory seats is a plus.

Still not crazy about the black wheels.

Still waiting for my 22,000 Ford pass points. If you got these from purchasing a vehicle, how long did it take to get them?

Happy with the deal I got on the BL.

NO RECALLS, YET!

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[rugedraw]

On the 2021 Sync 3, I remember when Apple car play was active, if you hit the squares at the bottom left of the screen there was a Sync icon to return to Sync 3, I don't have that icon on Sync 4. From what I gather I have to hit the home button to return to Sync 4 from Apple car play. Is this correct?

Correct.....hit the home button. I wish ours had Sync 4. Hopefully, it will have it soon courtesy of a 3rd party vendor who is working on an upgrade kit.

 

[OBSASQ]

I bought my OB 22 days ago and still don't have mine. Sales manager says it can take up to 30 days.

 

[dwrufus53]

I bought my '25 new, so my points (31,000) showed up almost immediately (and the history screen shows them added on the purchase date). Not sure if it's delayed because you purchased a pre-owned BS.

As far as SYNC, you could access the Ford vehicle settings/menu with SYNC3 via the Ford icon in CarPlay (assume Android Auto worked the same way). With SYNC4, there is no Ford icon in the CarPlay interface. Instead, you have to go back to the main Settings menu (tap the double headed arrow in the upper left corner to "shrink" the screen, then tap Settings icon on the right pane of the screen.

My wife had previously had an Edge with SYNC4, so the HVAC controls were not much of an issue for us. Muscle memory can be a b***h.

UPDATE: It's not the double-headed arrow, but tap the Home button (house in a circle) to see the Settings button.

 

[jkernitzki]

Instead, you have to go back to the main Settings menu (tap the double headed arrow in the upper left corner to "shrink" the screen, then tap Settings icon on the right pane of the screen.

The shrink screen icon while in CarPlay only shows the secondary info screen on the right. You have to touch the Home icon in the far top left to see the Settings on the right.

 

[wireman]

I do like the settings option to open with or without Apple car play when you start your vehicle.

 

[wireman]

I do like the settings option to open with or without Apple car play when you start your vehicle.

To clarify this is a setting on my I phone. Not sure if it's there because of IOS 26 or because of the phone connecting by bluetooth to Sync 4.

I don't remember it being on my phone previously with my 2021. Maybe it showed up when I updated to IOS 26 and I didn't notice it till I got my 2025 BL and was checking settings.

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

As I posted a couple of weeks ago, I traded my 2021 BL in for a Gold Certified 2025 BL with 5.8k miles.

Here are my observations comparing the 2021 vs the 2025.

The ride quality is improved.

It seems that the interior noise is quieter, though this may because of the Continental tires vs the Wildpeaks on the 2021.

It looks to me that the rear of the 2025 sits up a little higher than the 2021.

The new 2.0L MPC engine has a higher cold idle.

The 12.3 inch screen is an improvement, but the HVAC controls will take some time to get used to.

On the 2021 Sync 3, I remember when Apple car play was active, if you hit the squares at the bottom left of the screen there was a Sync icon to return to Sync 3, I don't have that icon on Sync 4. From what I gather I have to hit the home button to return to Sync 4 from Apple car play. Is this correct?

The 360 degree camera is great.

Having memory seats is a plus.

Still not crazy about the black wheels.

Still waiting for my 22,000 Ford pass points. If you got these from purchasing a vehicle, how long did it take to get them?

Happy with the deal I got on the BL.

NO RECALLS, YET!

I no longer have My 2023 BS BB but have a 2025 XLT AWD Maverick now with the 2.0 MPC and have also noticed the High Cold Idle. The Maverick exhaust note is also kind of different during the cold high idle is Yours the same? And also what kind of Mileage are You getting non Highway?

 

[sandog]

Those Wildpeaks do howl on rough asphalt or when I'm going slow on pavement with the windows down. But with the windows up doing 80 I don't find the tire noise bad at all.
The BS seems quieter inside than the Ranger I traded in.
I added some cross bars to the BS roof rails and I hear the whistling from them more at highway speed than any tire noise.

I received 11,000 points when I bought my BS and it showed up right away.
But I think the 11K was for registering a new vehicle on Ford Pass. It would have been nice to get more points for buying a used vehicle.

 

[wireman]

I no longer have My 2023 BS BB but have a 2025 XLT AWD Maverick now with the 2.0 MPC and have also noticed the High Cold Idle. The Maverick exhaust note is also kind of different during the cold high idle is Yours the same? And also what kind of Mileage are You getting non Highway?

I haven't paid attention to the exhaust sound.

I'm still on the full tank of fuel from when I purchased the BL. I'm sitting at 47% remaining but will fill it up Friday or Saturday.

I've only put on 184 miles, so I really don't have a good indicator of city mileage. On 1 highway trip of about 26 miles, it showed 28.7 mpg.

I have reset trip 2 a couple of times when running around town and without auto start stop, I'm around 18-19 mpg but that's dependent on driving conditions.

 

[aweston]

NICE! I dig the black wheels. Got my points right away new.

 

[Ernest T]

I haven't paid attention to the exhaust sound.

I'm still on the full tank of fuel from when I purchased the BL. I'm sitting at 47% remaining but will fill it up Friday or Saturday.

I've only put on 184 miles, so I really don't have a good indicator of city mileage. On 1 highway trip of about 26 miles, it showed 28.7 mpg.

I have reset trip 2 a couple of times when running around town and without auto start stop, I'm around 18-19 mpg but that's dependent on driving conditions.

We get about 28 mpg around town with our ‘25 Badlands, but our area is pretty rural. Speed limits run 45-55 and stop signs are a mile or so apart so not really your typical urban area.

 

[kenmitch]

Still not crazy about the black wheels

I liked them at 1st, but wanted to change the stock tires and went with a rim
tire combo instead. The stock Badlands trim look is black with a colored strip down
the middle....lol

I have reset trip 2 a couple of times

I only reset trip 1 when I fill up the tank. I use trip 2 more like a lifetime stat.

If I go on a trip and want to see my average MPG's on it I just reset the Fuel Economy tab.

 

[dwrufus53]

We get about 28 mpg around town with our ‘25 Badlands, but our area is pretty rural. Speed limits run 45-55 and stop signs are a mile or so apart so not really your typical urban area.

Nice. I'm getting just over 21 mpg in true city driving... heavy traffic, many stop lights, short, quick trips with multiple stops.

 

[Brent@ANParts]

Congrats on the upgrade! I agree the tires probably make the biggest difference in road noise, especially when they get some age and miles on them.

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