Ford would like you to see the Bronco Sport as a smaller, more affordable version of the Bronco. But really, it’s more closely related to the Ford Escape SUV. Still, the Bronco Sport does have more off-road chops than most compact SUVs, particularly after some enhancements were added last year. The most serious kit comes with the Sasquatch package, which is reserved for the top two trims, but even the lesser models offer an optional off-road package more than capable of tackling a dusty trail. All Bronco Sports come standard with all-wheel drive, and most feature a 180-hp turbocharged three-cylinder engine. At the top of the lineup, you’ll find a gutsier turbocharged four-cylinder. Despite the company’s emphasis on its off-road capability, the Bronco Sport is agreeable on pavement, although the ride can be somewhat stiff. There are utilitarian touches inside, but this isn’t the roomiest cabin in the segment. The exterior has a square-shouldered look that emulates its big brother, which may ultimately be the Bronco Sport’s strongest selling point of all.
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