The Ford Bronco Sport gets updates for 2024 and a new retro trim—you’ll dig it

The Bronco Sport has only been around since the 2021 model year, and it’s based on the Escape, which arrived just 12 months or so before. That means the tech is fresh, and the safety features are up-to-the-minute. There’s just a bit of a trade-off in the chassis between what might work best on a dirt trail and what’s preferable on paved roads.

However, if buyers are happy to get that squared-off modern SUV styling (what goes around comes round) and bask in a bit of light reflected from the Bronco, then we say go for it.

The larger 2024 Ford Bronco is reviewed separately.

What’s new for 2024

The Free Wheeling version makes its debut. It’s essentially a Big Bend model with colorful graphics along the sides. We dig it. The previous base Bronco Sport has been discontinued, so now the Big Bend comes in at the entry level.

Plus: The 2024 Ford Maverick review: A versatile compact pickup that’s good for work and play

2024 Ford Bronco Sport pricing

The 2024 Ford Bronco Sport starts at $31,230. That’s for the Big Bend version with all-wheel drive as standard, plus blind-spot monitoring.

These are manufacturer’s suggested retail prices and do not include the $1,595 factory-to-dealer delivery fee (destination charge).

The more rugged contenders in the compact SUV class might also be of interest, like the Mazda CX-50
MZDAY,
+0.94%,
 from around $30K. The Subaru
FUJHY,
+1.01%
Forester is more in the $27K region, although the off-roading Wilderness trim is priced in the mid-30s. Or there’s a TRD Off-Road version of the Toyota RAV4
TM,
+1.56%
 in the high 30s. The bigger Ford Bronco is closer to $40K.

Before buying a new Bronco Sport SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The Subaru Forester tends to enjoy the strongest resale values — we don’t expect the Bronco Sport to change that situation.

Power, ride and handling

Most versions of the Bronco Sport SUV have a relatively modest 181 horsepower from a turbocharged 3-cylinder engine. That’s pretty much the same as the Subaru Forester and about 20 horsepower shy of the Toyota RAV4. As long as the stylized ruggedness of the Bronco Sport is the main attraction, then this will do the job.

In the context of the Bronco Sport, GOAT does not mean “greatest of all time.” But the tongue-in-cheek reference is kind of fun. Instead, it refers to this SUV’s ability to “go over any terrain.”

That’s slightly optimistic, but more possible in the Badlands because of its advanced all-wheel-drive system, which comes with five GOAT driving modes in its terrain response feature. This is an exclusive pairing to the more powerful of the two engines available, a 250-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder unit.

We’ve found the ride quality to be not quite as refined as typical compact SUVs like the Honda CR-V
HMC,
+1.66%
 and Kia
000270,
-1.28%
Sportage that have no real intention of straying away from the tarmac. Instead, the Bronco Sport is a little rougher, especially the more off-road-oriented Badlands.

See: The 2024 Kia Sportage review: an attractive mix of sport, luxury and tech in one of the roomiest SUVs in its class

Fuel economy

The turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine achieves 26 combined mpg (25 city, 28 highway). That’s exactly the same as the Subaru Forester Wilderness. The other Forester trims and the RAV4 have better fuel economy. The 2.0-liter engine in the Badlands makes an unimpressive 23 combined mpg (21 city, 26 highway).

Easy-clean interior

Plastic has a strong presence inside the 2024 Bronco Sport SUV, but not merely to keep costs down. Like the cloth upholstery in the lower trims, it’s meant to be cleaned easily after an excursion through the mud.

Every version has an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, although higher trims bring navigation and a pinch-to-zoom function.

Rear legroom is 36.9 inches — not as good as a Subaru Forester (39.4 inches) but just about acceptable. Cargo space is more of a mixed blessing. The Bronco Sport outdoes the Forester for luggage area behind the rear seats: 32.5 or 29.4 cubic feet (a more sophisticated all-wheel drive system with the 2.0-liter engine takes up extra room), compared with 28.9. When the rear seats are folded, the Forester enjoys 74.2 (Base trim) or 69.1 cubic feet, while the Bronco Sport makes 65.2 or 60.6 cubic feet.

Also see: The 2024 Land Rover Defender 110 finds a near-perfect balance between off-roader and luxury SUV

Cool exterior

Retro-inspired design still has its place as long as the source of inspiration is cool. In the case of the Ford Bronco, cool is an understatement.

The chunky squared-off lines of that classic SUV are echoed on the 2024 Bronco Sport. They make sense from a functional perspective because it’s easier to gauge where the corners are while driving off-road.

Both the Bronco and this Bronco Sport appear to have sprung from the same pen. Each vehicle has the word Bronco spelled across the grille in upper-case letters. But the Bronco Sport doesn’t have a removable roof or removable doors.

The tailgate’s window opens separately. That’s quite handy for dropping something into the luggage area without having to lift the whole thing.

The new-for-2024 Free Wheeling trim adds red/orange/yellow stripes along the sides in a kind of sunset (or sunrise) pattern, plus alloy wheels with red accents. The Heritage offers Robin’s Egg Blue, similar to the color offered by the old Bronc. This is set off with white highlights, including the wheels and roof.

Check out: 10 new SUVs coming soon—and worth the wait

Our favorite features and tech

Safari-style roof
The high roof of the 2024 Bronco Sport SUV not only provides generous headroom for passengers, it also allows the installation of an optional interior bike rack that can stow a couple of mountain bikes upright (with their front wheels removed).

Roof rack
This humble feature can handle up to 600 pounds — when the Bronco Sport is parked. That’s strong enough for a rooftop tent, which is part of the optional Camp Outfitter bundle.

Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+
We think this options bundle is worth considering. It includes adaptive cruise control with lane-centering, plus evasive steering assistance. It also adds voice-controlled navigation and pinch-to-zoom screen functions.

Front-facing 180-degree camera
Off-roading can be tough and challenging, and there’s always some obstacle that’s hard to spot. This wide-angled camera takes a lot of the stress out of the experience. It’s standard on the Badlands model.

B&O setup
Bang & Olufsen equipment is more often found in luxury cars like Audi or Aston Martin. So to find one in a Ford is a joyful occasion for audiophiles. This 10-speaker/560-watt surround-sound B&O system has been tuned especially for the Bronco Sport. It’s optional in the Outer Banks and Badlands models, standard in the Heritage Limited.

Dog Outfitter bundle
Every family member can come along. This optional bundle includes a storable kennel for the cargo area, a cargo mat, and seat covers.

Engine and transmission

In four of the five 2024 Bronco Sport SUV trims, propulsion comes from a turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine making 180 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. The Badlands model has a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine developing 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque.

These output figures are achieved with premium gasoline, but regular gas may be used.

Both engines connect to an 8-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive is standard across the lineup. The 3-cylinder engine can tow up to 2,000 pounds; the bigger unit can handle 2,200 pounds.

You might like: The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness: Oh, yeah, it will take you into the wild

3-year/36,000-mile warranty

Ford’s new-vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles, which includes roadside assistance. This is typical among mainstream manufacturers.

Safety ratings

The Bronco Sport has won the highest accolade of Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and gained a maximum 5-star overall score from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high beams.

KBB’s car review methodology.

This story originally ran on KBB.com.