Ford’s reintroduction of the Bronco name came twofold; although the Jeep Wrangler-fighting full-size Bronco stole all the headlines, it’s the smaller Bronco Sport (which shares its platform with the Ford Escape) that is better executed. Even so, the experience varies depending on which trim level you choose.
From engine upgrades and off-road hardware to active safety tech and leather-trimmed seats, opting for the wrong trim level could mean missing out on the features you need. Want to avoid that? Here’s our trim guide.
Bronco Sport (Base) – $28,910
We’ll start with the basics. Because of its off-road intentions, the Bronco Sport comes with standard AWD even on the base model.
Most variants of the Bronco Sport (including the base model) are powered by a humble 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine kicking out a respectable 181 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic is the only transmission option, and it’s operated via a rotary gear shifter located between the front seats. You get five selectable drive modes, too: Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, and Sand.
Even the base Bronco Sport includes a handful of Ford’s Co-Pilot360 driver assist technologies. Automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist, and automatic emergency braking are all standard.
Outside, the base Bronco Sport wears black on its front and rear bumpers, door handles, bodyside cladding, rocker panel, and wheel arches, as well as the front grille, which includes “Bronco” spelled out in an almost comically large font. The base model rolls on 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels. A manual liftgate with segment-exclusive flip-up rear glass is standard as are LED taillamps and a rear windshield wiper.
Step inside, and you’ll notice the base Bronco Sport is minimalist without feeling overly stingy. You get cloth upholstery and manually adjustable front seats, a standard (not leather-wrapped) steering wheel, and front floormats branded with the Bronco Sport name. Base model buyers are stuck with single-zone manual climate control. Second-row 60/40 folding rear seats are included, and the cargo area features cargo tie-down carabiner hooks and loops.
There are dual USB charge ports up front as well as a 12-volt outlet; there’s another 12-volt in the cargo area. An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity is standard on all models, and the base SUV gets a 4.2-inch instrument cluster display, as well. Six-speaker audio is standard.
Bronco Sport Big Bend – $30,475
The Bronco Sport Big Bend includes a few notable improvements over its stripped-down sibling. Walking up to the car, you’ll notice the Carbonized Gray front grille with Bronco lettering in white. The Big Bend also includes tinted privacy glass for the second-row windows and liftgate, and it rides on 17-inch wheels in the same Carbonized Gray as the Big Bend’s face. The sideview mirrors feature heated glass for frosty mornings.
The Big Bend trim will be quieter inside thanks to additional sound deadening, and in place of the base model’s carpeted cargo floor, this middle-tier variant features a rubberized surface. Big Bend buyers ditch the base SUV’s switchblade-style key in favor of keyless entry and push-button start.
Upgrading to the Big Bend nets buyers single-zone automatic climate control, including rear vents that base-model buyers miss out on. Silver-painted air vents help break up the relatively monochrome interior. The Big Bend features unique cloth seats that Ford claims are easier to clean, too. Sun visors gain illuminated vanity mirrors, and rear seat passengers are treated to a fold-down center armrest.
There are two appreciated tech features, as well. The rearview camera gets a washer nozzle, and inside, the infotainment system gains SiriusXM satellite radio capability.
Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+
The Bronco Sport Big Bend is the least expensive trim on which you can order Ford’s full suite of Co-Pilot360 active safety features through the Co-Pilot 360 Assist+ package. Selecting that option adds stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, lane centering, evasive steering assist, and speed sign recognition. The package also includes integrated navigation for the 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
The Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package is available on the Big Bend, Outer Banks, and Badlands.
Convenience Package
Big Bend buyers can also choose an option package that adds some of the luxury features included with the Bronco Sport Outer Banks. Ticking the box for the Convenience package adds Ford’s keyless entry keypad, LED foglamps, rear parking sensors, and a universal garage door opener. In the cabin, buyers will notice heated front seats, an eight-way power driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a wireless charging pad.
Bronco Sport Outer Banks – $34,725
The Outer Banks trim is the Bronco Sport for buyers who don’t plan to tackle any especially tricky off-road trails but want an SUV well equipped with luxury and convenience features. Visual differentiators include body-color door handles, a black grille with Bronco in white, LED foglamps, LED headlights with signature lighting, a roof painted in black with unique roof rails, and 18-inch black wheels.
Interior improvements are even more evident. In addition to leather-trimmed sport seats, buyers get heated power-adjustable driver and passenger seats, a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a 110-volt power outlet. The front seat backs gain zippered pockets, and the rear seatbacks get an easy-cleaning rubberized finish. There’s also a 6.5-inch instrument cluster display.
Additionally, four-door keyless entry and Ford’s keyless entry keypad are standard, as are rain-sensing wipers, a windshield wiper de-icer, remote start, and rear parking sensors.
Tech Package
Buyers who want even more feature content can spend a little extra dough for the Tech package. It includes a 10-speaker B&O audio system, HD radio, a universal garage door opener, and a wireless charging pad.
Bronco Sport Badlands – $35,585
The Bronco Sport Badlands doesn’t have all the same convenience features as its Outer Banks sibling, but this range-topping model includes additional hardware that makes it not only the most capable off-road, but the most fun to drive of the bunch. Headline items are a 245-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, an upgraded AWD system with a twin-clutch torque-vectoring rear end, and off-road suspension.
Other performance improvements include additional off-road modes (Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl), a front 180-degree off-road camera system, and Trail Control low-speed cruise control. Badlands buyers get paddle shifters for the eight-speed automatic transmission, too.
The superior engine, AWD setup, and suspension are only the start. The Badlands model is the only Bronco Sport trim that wears standard all-terrain tires and the only variant with a full-size spare. You also get metal underbody skidplates, front tow hooks, black front and rear bumpers, and the same black contrast roof as the Outer Banks.
In the cabin, the Badlands is a combination of Big Bend and Outer Banks. You get the premium cloth upholstery with a power driver’s seat and manual passenger seat, both heated. Unique to the Badlands, the passenger seat features an underseat storage compartment. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is included, as is the 6.5-inch instrument cluster display and the zipper-pocket front seats. Buyers get Badlands-specific floormats, too.
Premium Package
If you want a fully loaded Bronco Sport, it’s a Badlands model with the aforementioned Co-Pilot360 Assist+ pack and the Premium package. The latter adds two-tone perforated leather upholstery, a power passenger seat, the 10-speaker B&O audio system, dual automatic climate control, a heated steering wheel, HD radio, and a wireless charging pad, but that’s not all. Opting for the Premium package also adds an auto-dimming rearview mirror, body-color door handles, remote start, rear parking sensors, and a universal garage door opener.
Recommended Trim
Yes, it’s pricey, but we’d recommend the Bronco Sport Badlands, preferably with the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package. The Badlands has more off-road capability than the rest of the lineup, but even if you’re not planning on hitting the trails, this is still the one to buy.
The Bronco Sport’s base three-cylinder engine can be notably sluggish, which makes the Badlands’ four-cylinder all the more desirable, and the Badlands-exclusive torque-vectoring rear end makes the little trail monster genuinely fun to drive. Unless leaving options on the table will make you crazy, we’d recommend skipping the Premium package and instead reveling in the sweet-looking fabric upholstery and saving a little cash.
2022 Ford Bronco Sport Trims:
- Base
- Big Bend
- Outer Banks
- Badlands (MT’s pick)
Keyword: What’s the Best 2022 Ford Bronco Sport Trim? Here’s Our Guide