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The Ford Bronco Sport is one of the hottest compact SUVs on the market today. The Badlands trim adds an up-powered engine and a significant list of off-road features not found on many SUVs of any size today. This is the first installment of a long-term test series we are conducting on the vehicle.
Why Our Review of the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands Is Unusual
The majority of automotive reviews you read are from testers who spend a week with a manufacturer-supplied media vehicle. A week is needed to gain an understanding of the vehicle, find its strengths and weaknesses, allow for photography, and to get the publication prepared. Our testing will be conducted over a greater span of time so that we can dive more deeply into the vehicle than most reviews do.
Related Story: 4 Ways the Ford Bronco Sport Is Amazing and 1 Thing Missing
What We Paid For Our 2023 Bronco Sport Badlands Test Vehicle
I didn’t receive any discounts or special promotions from Ford when I purchased my Bronco Sport Badlands. I paid the full MSRP plus the Destination charge plus the dealer’s $459 documentation fee. In total, the Bronco Sport Badlands with the Premium Package, Falken WildPeak A/T3W tire upgrade, Power Moonroof, Tow Hitch, Cargo Management System, Front and Rear Splash guards, and a deletion of the 4G LTE WiFi Hotspot came to $45,474.00. This price does not include sales tax or RMV fees charged by our state.
Related: Ford Bronco Sport Is Not Smaller Than The Bronco Where It Matters Most - A Dimensional Analysis
Why The Bronco Sport?
Your author owns a cabin in a remote section of central New Hampshire. I enjoy the outdoor life, road-tripping in the mountains, and exploring dirt roads and trails. While there are many posers on the market today that add stickers and plastic cladding to the body of a crossover, there are few true off-road capable SUVs. My former vehicle was a 2016 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium. It was adequate for dirt roads and absolutely amazing in snow. I had added Falken WildPeak A/T Trail tires as well as Blizzak winter tires to enhance its capabilities. I needed every bit of that vehicle’s abilities in bad weather to access my cabin, so I needed a replacement at least as capable.
Moving from a crossover with an engine that barely got the job done and a CVT I came to dislike over time, I knew that I wanted more torque and more power than the base engine offered in any crossover of this type. More importantly, I was looking for a (real) geared automatic transmission with manual control via paddle shifters. The robust powertrain of the Bronco Sport Badlands was a key reason I opted to buy my very First Ford.
Why The Badlands Trim?
When I tested the First Edition trim of the Bronco Sport back in February 2021, I quickly realized that the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine was one of its best features. I also found its rugged off-road capability a major plus. Therefore, I opted for the Badlands trim, which is very similar to the First Edition.
Favorite Things About Bronco Sport Badlands after 500 Miles
Powertrain
The powertrain in the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands is easily my favorite part of the vehicle. The abundant torque is addictive. In the mountains, the Bronco Sport Badlands eagerly climbs hills, never running short of power. Sport mode is even more fun, and adds a lot of engine braking to the mix. The gear shifts are perfect for every scenario I have experienced thus far.
Infotainment System
The easy-to-operate infotainment system in the Bronco Sport Badlands is quickly winning me over. I use Android Auto every minute I’m in the vehicle, and using the cord is not ideal, but manageable. The B&O sound system is a fantastic step up from my prior vehicle’s system. It is loud and clear when the glass is all open, which is my preferred way to enjoy the vehicle.
Moonroof
I’ve never been much of a moonroof user in my life, but the Bronco Sport Badlands is quickly making me a convert. I love the size of the moonroof, and I open it at every opportunity. When parking in warm weather, I like to pop up the moonroof to allow for some ventilation.
Falken WildPeak Tires
With inventory very limited, I had no choice as to the tires my Bronco Sport came equipped with. However, I was pleased to see the Falken WildPeak A/T3W tires were part of the options package. I have had a chance to test the WildPeak A/T Trail tires and wanted to do a comprehensive review of the A/T3W tires. So far, I am very impressed with their on-road capabilities as well as their dirt-road and wet-weather strengths.
Fuel Economy
I mainly drive on rural country roads, suburban streets, and highways. Because of this, I usually exceed the EPA MPG rating of the vehicles I test. The same is holding true of the Bronco Sport Badlands. In mixed driving over my first 500 miles, I have recorded a running average of 25.3 MPG. That is about 2 MPG higher than the EPA Combined estimate. I have verified that the on-screen display is accurate to within about 3% of the true fuel economy measured at the pump (The display matches the calculations at the pump within a half MPG).
Best Surprises After 500 Miles
Handling
My happiest surprise is that the Bronco Sport Badlands, on its larger-than-typical all-terrain Falken WildPeak A/T3W tires, handles great on pavement. I am using the recommended 33 psi pressure setting and am finding the steering crisp enough, the tracking very straight, and the comfort over road imperfections superb. Given its ride height, short wheelbase, knobby tires, and long travel suspension, the Bronco Sport Badlands is more enjoyable in terms of handling than many allegedly sporty crossovers I test.
Noise
The Bronco Sport Badlands is much quieter than any Subaru SUV model I have tested or owned. Even with its all-terrain tires, the Bronco Sport Badlands is quiet enough inside for normal conversation levels while driving on the highway. I will be listening attentively to detect if tire hum emerges over time.
Visibility
The Bronco Sport Badlands has a lot less glass than my Forester did, and the headliner is further forward. Yet, the visibility is good. There are blind spots created by the large B and C pillars, but it is manageable. Pulling out into traffic sometimes requires maneuvering the vehicle so its side faces traffic. I’ve adapted, and I am using the blind spot warning system more than in most vehicles. I remembered the First Edition as having limited visibility, but after 500 miles, I now feel it is not a minus of this vehicle.
Lane Keeping Warning and Assistance
Having been driven crazy by the “beep beep beep” of the lane departure warning system in my former vehicle, I was hoping the system in the Bronco Sport would not be so annoying. I’m pleased to report this is the case. First of all, it can be turned off entirely, and it stays off if you wish. The system does two things. It vibrates the steering wheel if it senses a departure from one’s proper lane. Second, it inputs a bit of steering to nudge you back to your proper spot. The sensitivity is adjustable. I’ve turned it to high sensitivity, and I like the system’s warning and steering support. When one wishes to cross a line, say to give a dog walker some more space, the system is easy to ignore and steer through.
No Wind Buffetting
Even in relatively cool temperatures, I like to drop all of the side glass in a vehicle. Some beat you up with wind, and some do not. Thankfully, the Bronco Sport is one of the vehicles that does not beat you up with in-cabin wind. There is a nice amount of circulation and zero buffeting. Adding in an open sunroof also causes no issues. Even at speeds as high as 50 MPH, the Bronco Sport is serene inside with the windows all open. The Bronco Sport is a great vehicle for open-air motoring.
Least Favorite Things About the Bronco Sport Badlands After 500 miles
Floor Mats
The floors of the Bronco Sport Badlands are rubberized, so the carpeted floor mats slide around on top of them. This makes getting in and out a bit weird sometimes. To mitigate this, I added an anti-slip carpet liner under the driver’s side floormat.
Cargo Management System
The Cargo Management system is popular on the Bronco Sport forums, but I don’t like it. I have removed it after experimenting with it. If I end up learning to love it, I will mention that in a later review post. It was only an added $195, so it is not a big deal to me.
The Full-Size Spare Does Not Match
I'm a spare tire nut, in case you are not familiar with my work. One thing I love about the Bronco Sport Badlands is that it has a "full-size spare." However, it bugs me a bit that it is not exactly the same tire as the four on the corners. It's a Pirelli tire with a 10mm narrower tread. Why not use the exact tire?
Follow For More Updates On the Bronco Sport Badlands Long-Term Test
If you wish to follow along and hear more about how the Bronco Sport Badlands’ long-term test is proceeding be sure to check back to Torque News. Next up, we will report on how the Bronco Sport Badlands handles heavy rain and off-pavement excursions. In case you missed it, we have already conducted a week-long test of the Bronco Sport in wicked winter weather.
John Goreham is an experienced New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can follow John on Twitter, and connect with him at Linkedin.
Image of Ford Bronco Sport by John Goreham.
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