How Does the Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend Stack Up?
The Ford Bronco Sport is a cheaper, smaller version of the Bronco. Like the Bronco, it comes in four versions. The Big Bend holds its own among these.
Written by Alex Reale
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Table of Contents
When the Bronco finally came back after its long hiatus, in one of the happier events of 2020, it was met with almost universal swooning.
The waitlist for the beautifully redesigned 4x4 soon became unreasonable, but luckily
Ford
gave those clamoring for an original Bronco an additional option: the Ford Bronco Sport. Read on to learn how the Ford Bronco Sport
Big Bend compares to the other versions in its peer group.Comparing to the Bronco
One big difference between the Sport and the regular Bronco is in the chassis. The Sport version is based on a car, while the regular Bronco is based on a truck. The effect of using a car basis for Sport, notes
Car and Driver
, is a softer vehicle. C&D compares the Bronco Sport to the Jeep Renegade and Compass, as well as the Ford Escape. All these vehicles are the more level-headed siblings of tough off-roaders.The Sport version of the Bronco matches the original in a few key aesthetic areas, including in the lights and the grille, but its feel is less Wrangler and more Escape. The suspension of the Sport version, reports
MotorTrend
, is more forgiving for its passengers, but what you gain in comfort you may lose in off-road capabilities. But don’t be fooled: Sport may be based on a car, but it can hold its own as a truck. Drivers can select from multimodal driving options, making driving in sand or mud an easy task. The Badlands version even incorporates two additional modes, notes MotorTrend. Enjoy Rock Crawl and Mud-and-Ruts, if needed.
Intramural Sports
Like the Ford Bronco, the Sport edition comes in four options: base, Big Bend, Outer Banks, and Badlands. In the summer of 2020,
Car and Driver
took them all out for a spin.The Big Bend is the next level up from the base edition of the Bronco Sport, but the reviewer for this version pointed out that tacking on $1,500 worth of additional features essentially moves it onto the podium. He noted that the bang for his buck came in the form of “fog lamps, heated exterior mirrors, tinted rear windows, push-button start, SiriusXM satellite radio, and two extra cupholders.”
Plus, most of the paint colors for the Big Bend came with no additional cost, and coughing up another $1,595 added in the coveted heated seats, plus moonroof, parking sensors, and a pointlessly plush wireless phone charger, among other fun car geek stuff. Total cost for this customized Big Bend came to $32,240.
The reviewers for the Badlands and Outer Banks versions were similarly impressed by the optionality of the Sport, plus all the vehicles’ seamless transition from commuter car to capable off-roader. And it seems that the main differences between the four Sports can be leveled off by the features you choose to add or not add.
So if you’re looking for a reasonably priced SUV with off-road capabilities, then the Big Bend should be right in your wheelhouse.
Saving on your Sport’s insurance
Whether you’ve put in your time and you finally have your original Bronco, or you settled for Sport, you’ll want to be sure your insurance is as great as your new car is. If you want to save money on car insurance, the
Jerry
app is a good place to start. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.
And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.6/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.
4.7
