And Now for Something Completely Different…

2021 Bronco Sport

February 4, 2021: Had I more than one life to live, in addition to being a writer,  I would have been an automotive journalist.  I have loved cars and trucks as long as I have loved horses – since I was little- little.  My earliest favorite was the Jaguar E-type, with that long sleek nose. I had one as a red diecast Corgi (fastback) in the mid-60s that I adored.

So it’s not unusual that Tom and I take the occasional test drive. Most recently, we test drove the new Bronco Sport from Ford.

Bear in mind that this is not a “sportified” version of the new, revived, full size Bronco, due out later this year. The Bronco Sport is built off the Ford Escape SUV platform while the new Bronco will be built off the Ranger truck platform. 

Now I’ve had the  privilege of owning a Subaru Baja, a 2-door Jeep Wrangler and my current vehicle,  the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. And let me just say, the Bronco Sport does not significantly advance the conversation.  I really expected more. Especially for the $32k (as tested) highest trim version, the 4×4 Badlands.

Whereas the Wrangler has a wonderfully deliberate and utilitarian simplicity to it, the interior of the Sport just feels cheap in all-black plastics. The front windshield is narrow and restricted, though headroom is better than my Cherokee. I like the dial-up gearing (after getting over my “What, no macho gearshift?” reaction), as well as the different transmission modes (eco, sport, etc.). Even the 4 wheel drive is dial-up. But this is nothing new or break-through. Just an iterative progression.

The touchscreen is fairly intuitive but the passenger cannot engage much once the vehicle is in motion. The vehicle does offer front and rear cameras but would benefit (as all cars would) from the 360 degree camera on my husband’s 2015 Nissan Murano. However, other granny controls, such as lane assist, don’t make sense in this kind of vehicle and seem senselessly grafted on because Ford could. This is a youth-oriented adventure vehicle.  Why would you want granny controls? Even if they can be disengaged, why pay for all that software?  And why granny controls but no lumbar adjustment for the heated seats?

The Sport drives well enough, with sufficient torque in its 2.0 liter turbo for traffic. Body lean in cornering could not really be determined on the limited initial test drive.  The doors do close with a nice solid “thunk” though.

Finally, the body styling is, I suppose, retro and clean-ish, but with no cool.  Unless round headlights and a black plastic grill are supposed  to count. The body colors are truly uninspired despite their creative names (“Area 51” — really?) and even the tires are a disappointment (let alone the style of the wheels). At 17″ they seem neither big enough nor aggressive enough for true, Badlands’ off-roading. 

There is no distinctive personality here that would be the culmination of a winning and focused design and appointment. In the end, if Bronco Sport is the Bronco’s little brother,  as Motor Trend calls it, I don’t think it knows what it wants to be when it grows up.