Undecided, trim level

hellb0y

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no, a big bend is a base trim level, cloth heated seats, no heated mirror, base stereo, smaller screen in the gauge cluster with less display options and so on..

I am talking interior comfort options, like the 10 speaker stereo, heater steering wheel, dual temp climate control, 6" screen instead of the 4" screen (or what ever size it is) in the dash, Ambiant lighting (I actually like it), fog lights and so on... like I said you can order those options on any other model (or most of them I believe) and customize but they are standard of the outer banks trim level. it is like the fully loaded. the badlands is more off road, different rear end from what I have been reading, two more g.o.a.t. modes and more geared for off roading but the factory trim level for it is the same as the big bend. I went through all the differences when I bought mine as I had requirements as I use it for commuting to work and back every day about a 130 mile round trip, on a bad high mountain road in the winter and a smaller two lane highway that is in the middle of nowhere, and since I was buying used I didn't have the option of adding options. the one I really loved was the robins egg blue heritage but it didn't have the fog lights, leather trimmed seats, heated steering wheel, upgraded stereo, wireless charger (although I am now trying to figure out how to disable that) and so on.. so I had to pass on that one, plus they gave me a good deal on the outer banks.

it all comes down to what you are buying it for, I was looking for a commuter that would have enough room for my hockey equipment in and would handle the bad roads to work and back with no issues, with the occasional mild off road checking out campsites to take the camper to in the summer. If I was a diehard off roader like I was in my youth, I still probably wouldn't have bought the bronco sport badlands, I would have bought a full size bronco, I'm sorry but a ford escape platform is not a good 4x4ing platform. but it is good for that in-between area so in my opinion a badlands is giving up a few comfort features to gain a little more off road capability, unless you add packages to get those features back which you have the luxury of doing if you order your new vehicle. I wanted all those options standard not as options.

as for the 1.5L I have owned this since aug, and not once have I said this needs more power, but I use it as a commuter. it holds 75mph up a grade 11 hill what more can you ask for in a commuter.. now if I was a hard core off roader first I wouldn't have bought the bronco sport but if I did then ya maybe the 2L would be better, the wife has the 2L in here car it is decent but not as good on fuel. this 1.5L is more powerful then the 2.5L I had in my fusion which was my old commuter car that I retired due to milage.

as for the auto wipers, I am actually liking them now that I know how to use them, and know when to turn them off
the BL proposition is diminished for 2025 - you can get all the same hardware in the OB. Sales will likely decrease…in the used market the OB and BL are already about the same price, making the BL a good deal if one is buying used.
 

Jmuns

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the BL proposition is diminished for 2025 - you can get all the same hardware in the OB. Sales will likely decrease…in the used market the OB and BL are already about the same price, making the BL a good deal if one is buying used.
I don't think sales of the BL will decrease. Yes you can get the same options, but the difference still and will always go back to the 1.5 vs 2.0 debate. That is still present and will continue to drive BL sales regardless of other options. This goes for new and repeat purchasers of the BS. Yes the 1.5 is fine, but after having the 2.0 in my BL and driving numerous rental 1.5 BS's over the years it is quite a difference. I can't speak for anyone else but if I were to buy another BS in the future I wouldn't downsize the engine.

Now on the flip side, BL sale might decrease but I don't think it would be from an options standpoint, but from Ford's pricing structure which is out of control.
 

Truckbuddy

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I vote Badlands, I have an F350 Platinum 6.7 that has been used for short trips too much, so we bought a 2024 pretty much loaded. My wife got a great trade in on her '17 Buick Cascada convertible, almost what we paid for it, ended up paying 27k for the Bronco Sport.

The ride is unbelievably comfortable, the amount of storage is incredible, and it has a trailer hitch. We usually get over 28mpg I'm sure it will pull my 8x6 Carry on trailer with no issue, I can pull that with my golf cart. 😅 It has 7,000 miles on it with no issues. If you grab a '24 BL don't leave the dealer without getting all the issues resolved.
 

hellb0y

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I vote Badlands, I have an F350 Platinum 6.7 that has been used for short trips too much, so we bought a 2024 pretty much loaded. My wife got a great trade in on her '17 Buick Cascada convertible, almost what we paid for it, ended up paying 27k for the Bronco Sport.

The ride is unbelievably comfortable, the amount of storage is incredible, and it has a trailer hitch. We usually get over 28mpg I'm sure it will pull my 8x6 Carry on trailer with no issue, I can pull that with my golf cart. 😅 It has 7,000 miles on it with no issues. If you grab a '24 BL don't leave the dealer without getting all the issues resolved.
if the OP decides for a 24 and 2.0 I agree…I wouldn’t recommend the MPC 2.0, it now has a very expensive particle filter - just like in a diesel - that will require repairs/maintenance…you can blame California for that one.
 


B-Dog15

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Now on the flip side, BL sale might decrease but I don't think it would be from an options standpoint, but from Ford's pricing structure which is out of control.
I agree with your last point. At the price of getting a BL w/ SAS package you can get into a full size Bronco OR another very nice SUV or midsize truck.
 

Badlander1234

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looking For, something I can use as a runaround car and let the Diesel sit in the garage. Being from a Ford family we have had the escape for the wife and loved it, but I’m looking for a little more off-road ability for the occasional gravel road that turns into a goat trail.

that said 90% of what I do is gonna be highway 75 mph & gravel Road 35 mph stuff granted our gravel roads can be pretty rough so I’m curious does the Badlands ride a lot better on washboard roads versus the Outer Banks or should I just stay with the 1.5?
Thanks
Outer Banks will definitely fit all of your requirements
 

hellb0y

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Did we hear any comments from the original poster ? By now he’s probably so overwhelmed by the enthusiastic responses , he’s heading to his local GM dealer to pick up a GMC Terrain …
I mean…that’s not terrible at all. The 25 ones look sweet…!
 

BLUEOVALRACER

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see and with the 1.5L I am getting over 39mpg in the mountains and mid 30's in town on 87 pump gas. if I put my summer tires back on the highway milage goes up to 43mpg and town is up around 37mpg. but I bought mine for commuting to work and back so milage was important. and I haven't had any issues with the water pump or anything with the engine for that matter.
I only got 24.3 mpg my last tank of gas but it's been cold here in Northeast,Ohio in the teens at night and it finally got into the high 30's today!! The best Mileage i've ever gotten with my 1.5 was in June 30 mpg that was some back and forth to work driving and Ohio Turnpike Driving 180 mile round trip.Maybe with the Pedal Max my Mileage isn't as good but i'll take the Performance over the Mileage!!
 


hellb0y

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I only got 24.3 mpg my last tank of gas but it's been cold here in Northeast,Ohio in the teens at night and it finally got into the high 30's today!! The best Mileage i've ever gotten with my 1.5 was in June 30 mpg that was some back and forth to work driving and Ohio Turnpike Driving 180 mile round trip.Maybe with the Pedal Max my Mileage isn't as good but i'll take the Performance over the Mileage!!
yep!! My lifetime average so far is 36mpg…lately been getting 26-29, but it’s winter and remote start galore for at least 10min…
 

Stircrazy

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the BL proposition is diminished for 2025 - you can get all the same hardware in the OB. Sales will likely decrease…in the used market the OB and BL are already about the same price, making the BL a good deal if one is buying used.

not up here they are not the same price, they are close if the badland is factory and no options were added but then your not getting the comfort features and your are still paying more for something that is nothing more than a status symbol badge. but the fact that they come to about the same price used shows that the badlands doesn't hold its value, probably because of the lack of the comfort features. new up here a bone stock badlands is 10K more than a bone stock outer banks but used they are the same price? so either the OB hold value extremely well, or the BL value retention sucks. its probably because the dealer hypes them as a big 4x4 machine and people realize they are nothing more than rough road machines.. lets be real here.
 

KrisO

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Female Perspective here. My previous ride was a 2009 Escape Hybrid....loved that SUV but I did break the tie rods 4 times from taking some dirt roads here in Utah. Most of my driving is @ 80mph on the SLC freeways. I occasionally need to get around Lobotomized Prius drivers. I researched for a year before I used my Ford pin. (thanks Dad). Test drove the all the models. In the end I decided I wanted the fully loaded Badlands with the 2.0. It shifted more smoothly for my driving style. I love the push button FWD and Trail control. My only regret was that I didn't have the dealer swap out the Pirelli tires. While they get better gas mileage, they are useless in the winter and had to go buy all-season 3peaks. The sport mode is fun at traffic lights. The bash plates have been put to use getting to trailheads. Hoping for more snow soon so I can test it getting to/from Snowbird. I only get 25 MPG but I am heavy on the pedal and the 3peaks definitely reduced the gas mileage from the Pirellis. Heated Steering Wheel, where have you been all my life? Luv it. I have yet to use Eco mode. My bf drives a king ranch and he likes driving my car too.
 

Stircrazy

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I only got 24.3 mpg my last tank of gas but it's been cold here in Northeast,Ohio in the teens at night and it finally got into the high 30's today!! The best Mileage i've ever gotten with my 1.5 was in June 30 mpg that was some back and forth to work driving and Ohio Turnpike Driving 180 mile round trip.Maybe with the Pedal Max my Mileage isn't as good but i'll take the Performance over the Mileage!!
I have driven three of them now (two were rentals) and they all hit 39mpg averages for longer trips. Mind you I don't race light to light, I leave home and leave plenty of extra time to get to work and I'm only driving 60 to 65mph all highway like I said mine took a hit when I took the all season energy conserving tires off and put on the Cooper all terrain discoverer road and trail's on it. I only get about 32mpg now but it is a heavier tire plus the more aggressive pattern, but I needed the triple peak snowflake rating for the winter so it is what it is. I did stay with the factory 18" size, so in the summer I'll probably put those good milage tires back on and burn them off. I have never found the performance lacking and because I am driving about 680 miles a week i'll try get the good milage.
 

Stircrazy

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Now on the flip side, BL sale might decrease but I don't think it would be from an options standpoint, but from Ford's pricing structure which is out of control.
you should see the pricing up here. a Outer banks loaded is 50K now. an badlands is almost 60K the base big bend is 41K . for me to spec a badlands to get the same options as the Outer banks you adding another 10K to the price. but already your up to the price of a full size bronco, so if your a 4x4 guys, which if you bought a badlands you must think you are because they are a base model with a bigger engine, tiny improvements in the suspension and a different rear diff. but as far a interior everything I have in my OB standard is a option in the badlands. which makes sense they are targeting two different groups, the badlands is for the weekend warrior 4x4 guy who cant afford a full size bronco, or his wife won't let him buy the full size. the Outer banks is for the guy who spends a lot of time driving there vehicle and want the creature comforts and the 18" wheels (which I wish it didn't have.. 17" rims and rubber are so much cheaper) My dealer was taking Outer banks and throwing 2" suspension lifts on them and then ugly rims and decent tires. with nicer rims it looks real nice but I wasn't going to pay the 9K they wanted for the lift kit. and I have no illusions that the bronco sport platform is anything more than a rough road runner.
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