Undecided, trim level

[hellb0y]

23 OB owner here - don’t bother with the BL, the 2.0 drinks too much gas but the worst issue here is how hard the BB rides…the extra off-road hardware in there is not necessary for 90% of the people and the ride quality is just sooo poor - believe me: I live in the prairies, 70 miles away from the nearest town and deal with deep snow, ice…etc.

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[Mark S.]

the ride quality is just sooo poor -

Hmmm. I'm surprised to hear this. My Badlands doesn't ride all that differently from the wife's Escape.

 

[Wolf256]

I would rather have the Badlands with the 4 cylinder than deal with some of the 3 cylinder issues. Depending on my speed, I’m gettin 28+ mpg on the freeway. 25-26 in town depending on the amount of stop and go. All with the ASS (Auto Stop/Start) off. I generally use 87 oct. When traveling through mountains I use 92 and get even better mileage. I would say a lot depends on your age/gender/foot weight. Senior woman with a light foot. ?

 

[ltcdwb]

23 OB owner here - don’t bother with the BB, the 2.0 drinks too much gas but the worst issue here is how hard the BB rides…the extra off-road hardware in there is not necessary for 90% of the people and the ride quality is just sooo poor - believe me: I live in the prairies, 70 miles away from the nearest town and deal with deep snow, ice…etc.

I'm a little confused here. When you say BB are you referring to the Badlands version? I'm new to this community, but I understood BB is the Big Bend version.

As for ride quality our used Badlands rides the smoothest of our three other vehicles, the F150 King Ranch, the Tacoma TRD OFF ROAD, and our JEEP Wrangler.

 

[hellb0y]

I'm a little confused here. When you say BB are you referring to the Badlands version? I'm new to this community, but I understood BB is the Big Bend version.

As for ride quality our used Badlands rides the smoothest of our three other vehicles, the F150 King Ranch, the Tacoma TRD OFF ROAD, and our JEEP Wrangler.

auto correct messed me up sorry, I meant BL…

and it’s my personal opinion - I have a F150 Lariat, Bronco Badlands, a Explorer and the Sport…I found the BL ride unbearably harsh for a daily driver. The F150 and Explorer are the best rides…

 

[hellb0y]

Sometimes there is a bad engine in any large group of engines. However, both our Bronco Sport Badlands with the 2.0 l and Maverick 2.0 l give excellent gas mileage. That includes running true winter tires with studs around the city. I calculate mileage, as evaluating equipment was part of my job for many years. In addition, I had a discussion with a manager at a large rental company, that has a substantial fleet of various models of Bronco Sports. He states there is very little difference in fuel mileage between the two, and as a result, purchased a Badlands for his personal use. As far as comfort goes, I haven't been in any Bronco Sport that had a poor ride. Believe me, with all the back surgeries I have had, I would notice.

good for you! In my opinion the ride is very stiff…

.I advise the OP to take both on a test drive (which is what I did) and go over road bumps, potholes, imperfections and washboards before making their decision here.

 

[hellb0y]

None of the Bronco Sport model ride rough. I can't ride in rough vehicles. If happen to get buy one by mistake, it would traded ASAP, no matter how expensive it would be. Actually, the Badlands and other 3 models give a smoother ride than most 4x4s. If you want to try a rough riding 4x4, I suggest you try an old Susuki Side Kick, or Chevrolet Geo.

I am not the only one:

C&D: “We've driven a Bronco Sport Badlands and noted its hefty steering and firm ride that made it feel trucklike but not particularly smooth and steady on the highway.”

https://www.caranddriver.com/ford/bronco-sport

And there are many others out there:

https://driving.ca/reviews/road-test/off-road-review-2021-ford-bronco-sport-badlands

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/ford/bronco-sport/

This is the same conclusion I arrived after driving the BL and OB back to back…the OB is so much less stiff than the BL…

 

[MAGPLM]

i would say, we all need to agree to disagree on whether or not Badlands has a smooth ride or not. And let's just move on!

 

[hellb0y]

i would say, we all need to agree to disagree on whether or not Badlands has a smooth ride or not. And let's just move on!

which is exactly why I recommended the OP try both back to back over a few kind of terrains to decide.

 

[NMhunter]

On the Badlands, you can upgrade to steel wheels and 235/65R17 tires. The more rubber between you and the washboard road, the smoother the ride. I've averaged around 27 mpg for the last 31,000 miles. If you drive fast on gravel roads, you'll tend to get lots of flats. Ask me how I know. Upgrading to LT tires will solve that, but cost gas mileage.

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

I would rather have the Badlands with the 4 cylinder than deal with some of the 3 cylinder issues. Depending on my speed, I’m gettin 28+ mpg on the freeway. 25-26 in town depending on the amount of stop and go. All with the ASS (Auto Stop/Start) off. I generally use 87 oct. When traveling through mountains I use 92 and get even better mileage. I would say a lot depends on your age/gender/foot weight. Senior woman with a light foot. ?

What are the 3 cylinder issues besides Water Pump and Fuel Injectors and FWIW those aren't really engine issues?

 

[Black Rob]

What are the 3 cylinder issues besides Water Pump and Fuel Injectors and FWIW those aren't really engine issues?

Really just the water pump. The fuel injector issue was a recall, just in case they fail.

 

[Stircrazy]

Then isn't an Outer Banks just a Big Bend? Isn't the Big Bend just a Base? I'm not sure what is meant by this.


Same. If I had the option, I would probably turn it off.

Yeah, prices really skyrocketed in 3 years. Part of the reason I bought in 2021 was I knew where supply and prices were going. I wouldn't go 50k on this car.

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

 

[Stircrazy]

I would rather have the Badlands with the 4 cylinder than deal with some of the 3 cylinder issues. Depending on my speed, I’m gettin 28+ mpg on the freeway. 25-26 in town depending on the amount of stop and go. All with the ASS (Auto Stop/Start) off. I generally use 87 oct. When traveling through mountains I use 92 and get even better mileage. I would say a lot depends on your age/gender/foot weight. Senior woman with a light foot. ?

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.

 

[Mark S.]

but the factory trim level for it is the same as the big bend.

Badlands trims get the larger dash display.

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