2023 Ford Bronco Sport Review

Trims

2023 Ford Bronco Sport trim comparison

Starting MSRP

Starting Market Average

$30,810

$32,825

$34,995

$37,210

$39,685

$46,250

$27,844

$29,665

$31,627

$33,628

$35,865

$48,204

MPG

Engine

Drive Type

Seating Capacity

Automatic Emergency Braking

Basic Warranty

Horsepower

Blind Spot System

Surround View Camera

Adaptive Cruise Control

Remote Engine Start

Parking Sensors

25 city/28 hwy

21 city/26 hwy

1.5L I3 Turbo

2.0L I4 Turbo

4WD

5 passenger

3 yr / 36k mi

181 hp

250 hp

Engine Type

Fuel Type

Horsepower

Horsepower RPM

Torque

Torque RPM

Engine Displacement

Engine Configuration

Cylinders

Aspiration

Variable Valvetrain

Valvetrain

Number of Valves

Compression Ratio

Eco Mode

Sport Mode

EPA City Fuel Economy

EPA Highway Fuel Economy

EPA Combined Fuel Economy

Start/Stop System

Gas

Regular Unleaded

181 hp

250 hp

6000 rpm

5500 rpm

190 lb-ft

277 lb-ft

3000 rpm

1.5 L

2.0 L

Inline

3 cylinder

4 cylinder

Turbocharged

Double Overhead

12 valve

16 valve

11.0

10.0

25 MPG

21 MPG

28 MPG

26 MPG

23 MPG

Pricing

How much should I pay for the Ford Bronco Sport?

Use the chart below to see how much shoppers are paying for each 2023 Ford Bronco Sport trim on average. This will help you determine how much to pay on a lease, financing, or cash basis. Get upfront price offers from Certified Dealers in your area by selecting a trim and following the steps to build your car.

MSRP

$30,810

Market AverageMarket Avg

$27,844

Average Savings off MSRPAvg Savings

9.6% off MSRP

Average Total Price Paid for Ford Bronco Sport Trims

Base

$27,844

Big Bend

Popular

$29,665

Heritage

$31,627

Outer Banks

$33,628

Badlands

$35,865

Heritage Limited

$48,204

Price Information

These prices reflect the national market average, based on the sale prices of similar vehicles.

The base model of the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport has an MSRP of $30,810, but the average price paid is $27,844 based on 55 transactions from the past 20 weeks.

Shoppers are paying 9.6% less than MSRP.

Reviewed by Ben Stewart

Overview

The larger, retro-designed Ford Bronco may look tough and tug on the heartstrings of drivers who remember the original. But for many buyers, the Bronco drives too much like a truck. Buyers looking for a comfortable family crossover are likely better served by a less expensive alternative with better road manners. Ford's smaller, lower-priced, five-passenger Bronco Sport hits those notes perfectly. It offers hints of the big Bronco's styling but has none of the on-road drawbacks. Still, each Bronco Sport model has all-wheel drive and can be optioned for additional off-road capability.

The Sport shares bones with the Ford Escape, so it rides well and handles corners better than the big Bronco, making it a direct competitor to the Jeep Compass. The Sport comes with either a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine or a zippy turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Both come paired to an eight-speed automatic. The 2.0-liter makes the Sport downright quick. It's a much more rewarding engine, but you'll pay a lot more as it's only offered in the top trim levels.

The Bronco Sport's squared-off utilitarian design delivers plenty of room on the inside with special touches such as tie-downs for securing gear. Its cabin is more spacious than some competitors, with a roomier cargo hold than the Compass or larger Jeep Cherokee.

Drivers looking for serious capability will want the Badlands model. Not only does it come with the larger engine, but it also has plenty of mechanical goodies and electronic drive modes that increase its off-road handling. It comes with a slightly stiffer ride, but that's not enough to deter us from recommending the package.

In all, the Bronco Sport offers hunky good looks, a legendary nameplate, and real off-road capabilities in a package that's a pleasure to drive every day. Mix that with Ford's excellent onboard tech, and you have a crossover that stands above most of the competition.

Positives

Retro-inspired design. Good off-road capability for the class. Smart options.

Considerations

Opting for turbo power is expensive. Rivals offer a nicer interior. Not quite as desirable as the "big" Bronco.

Verdict

Most crossovers in this class shy away from real dirt adventures — not the Ford Bronco Sport. While not as capable as the full-size Bronco, when optioned with the right equipment, the Sport can tackle surprisingly tough terrain and still provide a comfortable driving experience on the street.

What's New for 2023

For 2023 the Bronco Sport stays largely the same, save for some cool new trims and option packages. Just like the big Bronco, the Sport is now offered in Heritage (based on the Big Bend trim) and Heritage Limited Edition (based on the Badlands) models. Both feature a white grille, wheels, and roof, combined with fun new exterior colors. A new Black Diamond off-road package adds skid plates, new wheels, and special styling to the Big Bend and Outer Banks models, but that's not enough for them to match the dirt skills of the Badlands model.

Trims and Pricing

The 2023 Ford Bronco Sport is available in six trim levels: Base, Big Bend, Heritage, Outer Banks, Badlands, and Heritage Limited. All-wheel drive is standard across all trims. Big Bend is the popular model, but we prefer the Badlands. We'll explain why.

Base

Starting at $30,810 (including a $1,495 destination fee), the base trim comes well-equipped with automatic LED headlights, power-adjustable side mirrors, roof rails, a five-mode terrain management system, 17-inch wheels, adjustable flood lights on the liftgate, and Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The passenger compartment has cloth upholstery with seating for five. The backseat folds for additional cargo space. Drivers will appreciate on-road safety technology, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring.

Big Bend

Priced at $32,825, the Big Bend trim adds automatic climate control, heated exterior mirrors, 17-inch gray-painted aluminum wheels, a rear center fold-down armrest with two cupholders, and illuminated vanity mirrors in the front sun visors.

Heritage

The retro-themed Heritage ($34,245) includes everything from the Big Bend and adds a painted Oxford white roof, grille, and wheels. Inside, the old-school vibe continues with plaid fabric seat inserts.

Outer Banks

For $37,210 the Outer Banks includes 18-inch black-painted aluminum wheels, 225/60R18 all-season tires, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting, a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel, and heated leather-trimmed front bucket seats.

Badlands

All Bronco Sport trims are trail-ready, but the serious off-roader will be best served by the Badlands trim, which starts at $38,935. We recommend this trim as it showcases the true spirit of the Bronco Sport. It includes a more powerful 2.0-liter engine, specially tuned suspension, a more capable 4x4 system, more aggressive all-terrain tires, two additional terrain modes, and a 180-degree front camera system.

Heritage Limited

The Heritage Limited ($46,250) builds upon the capable Badlands, adding the retro-themed styling from the Heritage model.

Engine and Performance

The 2023 Ford Bronco Sport's base engine is a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The engine delivers a healthy 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque, which is plenty of power for day-to-day driving and plenty of torque for mild off-road adventures. The Badlands has a more robust turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It produces 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. With this engine, the Bronco Sport provides strong acceleration, hitting 60 mph from a standing start in about 6 seconds, according to independent testers. The Ford Bronco Sport's powertrain compares well with the Jeep Compass. All Compass models use a 177-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 172 lb-ft of torque. The Bronco Sport, with either engine, delivers a quiet, comfortable on-pavement ride. Good outward visibility, the available front-facing camera system, and the backup camera all contribute to excellent off-road capabilities.

Fuel Economy

With the 1.5-liter engine, the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport delivers an estimated 25 mpg during city driving and 28 mpg on the highway, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. With the 2.0-liter engine, it gets an estimated 21/26 mpg city/highway. In mixed urban and freeway driving, our test vehicle returned 20 mpg. A base front-wheel-drive Jeep Compass with six-speed automatic transmission earns 22/31 mpg city/highway. A Compass 4x4 with the nine-speed automatic transmission is rated at 22/30 mpg. The gas-powered Toyota RAV4 TRD Offroad gets significantly better fuel economy at 25/32 mpg.

Interior

Designed for tight off-road trails, the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport has a smaller exterior than many of its competitors. Yet its high roofline gives its cabin a spacious feel that compares favorably to the roomy Toyota RAV4 and is on par with the Subaru Outback. The second row provides good seating positions even for adult adventurers. The Badlands trim has washable rubber flooring throughout the cabin and cargo area, plus easy-to-clean cloth seating surfaces and silicone-sealed control switches. Lower trim levels have a less sophisticated mix of interior materials than competitors. An interior bike rack accommodates two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes behind the locking liftgate. Front and rear camera systems work great for rock crawling or parking on urban streets.

Overall, the Bronco Sport has more cargo capacity than the Jeep Compass and even the longer Jeep Cherokee. The Bronco Sport's 32.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat is 5 cubic feet more than the Compass and a surprising 7 cubic feet more than the Cherokee. The Bronco Sport's cargo space expands to a substantial 65.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, versus 59.8 in the Compass. A flip-glass rear window, low load floor, and roof rack contribute to the Bronco Sport's carrying abilities.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Ford's Sync 3 infotainment interface is among the best in the business. The 2023 Ford Bronco Sport's 8-inch touchscreen system has big, clear icons and is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. All Bronco Sport trims also carry a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Other available technology features include Ford+Alexa and SiriusXM satellite radio. Bronco Sport Outer Banks and Badlands models can be upgraded to a Bang & Olufsen audio system with 10 speakers and a subwoofer, which boasts impressive sound quality.

Safety

The 2023 Ford Bronco Sport received a top five-star overall rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) issued the 2023 Bronco Sport its top Good ratings for crashworthiness and named the nearly identical 2022 model a Top Safety Pick+.

The Ford Bronco Sport is loaded with electronic safety systems. Ford Co-Pilot360 includes automatic high-beam headlights, a blind-spot information system with cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, lane-keeping alert, and driver alert. It also features pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, and dynamic brake support. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane centering, and evasive steering assist are optional. Trail Control is similar to cruise control but for off-road use. It is available on the Badlands trim.

Ford Bronco Sport vs. the Competition

With its distinctive styling and a variety of trim levels, the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport is the key competitor of both the Jeep Compass and Jeep Cherokee. The Ford SUV delivers a solid combination of off-pavement ability and composed city and highway driving. Buyers who enjoy off-roading should also consider the four-wheel-drive Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road. Drivers who want a small crossover but are unlikely to venture off the pavement should check out the Ford Escape and Mazda CX-5.

Ford Bronco Sport vs. Ford Escape

Ford Bronco Sport vs. Jeep Cherokee

Ford Bronco Sport vs. Jeep Compass

Ford Bronco Sport vs. Mazda CX-5

Ford Bronco Sport vs. Toyota RAV4

TrueCar Expert Review Methodology

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Owner Reviews

2023 Ford Bronco Sport Owner Ratings & Reviews

1st Generation Ford Bronco Sport

2021 - Present

Overall Rating

4.9

Based on

Performance

4.7

Comfort

4.6

Fuel Efficiency

4.5

Safety Technology

4.7

Features

4.6

92%

6%

1%

< 1%

Search

All reviews

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5.0

Performance

5.0

Comfort

4.0

Fuel Efficiency

4.0

Safety Technology

5.0

Features

4.0

Performance

5.0

Comfort

4.0

Fuel Efficiency

4.0

Safety Technology

5.0

Features

4.0

pros

Styling, options package

cons

Smallish wheels, brown interior the only option on the badlands package

Submitted by Hardy D on --- --- ----|2023 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands|Purchased on --- --- ----

5.0

Performance

5.0

Comfort

5.0

Fuel Efficiency

4.0

Safety Technology

5.0

Features

5.0

pros

Has everything I wanted and more. The breath of safety is impressive. Has plenty of room for kid’s hockey stuff.

cons

The turning radius isn’t great as sight lines with small windows. Takes a bit of a slam to get the back hatch to close properly.

Submitted by Evan C on --- --- ----|2023 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend|Purchased on --- --- ----

5.0

Performance

4.0

Comfort

4.0

Fuel Efficiency

3.0

Safety Technology

3.0

Features

4.0

pros

Love it but wish it was faster with better audio speakers inside

cons

The audio speakers are too low with hardly any base at all and the breaks will squeak early morning every now and then after investigating steering wheel will shake a little as this is normal with these cars

Submitted by Rey D on --- --- ----|2022 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend|Purchased on --- --- ----