The Ford Bronco Sport Badlands Offers Something Honda and Toyota’s Compact SUVs Can’t
The compact SUV class is more crowded than ever. What sets the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands apart?
Written by Alex Healey
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Last year saw the long-awaited release of the new
Ford
Bronco SUV, and its little brother, the Bronco Sport crossover.Critics argued the Bronco Sport was essentially a more rugged version of the Ford Escape and had little in common with its namesake.
They questioned if it was even deserving of the “
Bronco
” label, so Ford replied with the Badlands edition, promising improved off-road specs.While it's not perfect, the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands is certainly more truck-like, and it has unique qualities when compared to other compact SUVs.
The Ford Bronco Sport Badlands is a unique compact SUV
As explained by
Throttle House
, the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands is designed for people who want to drive a crossover, without looking like they are driving a crossover.The Badlands is a unique specimen. It’s not an off-road vehicle like the original Ford Bronco. It’s a compact crossover SUV, with a unibody frame designed primarily for road use.
It’s designed to look like an off-road vehicle, with a high step and prominent skid plates.
Furthermore, the high-driving position makes it feel like you’re driving an off-road truck, and unlike other compact SUVs, the AWD has no discernable front-wheel bias.
But there are some key tweaks in the driving experience that make it more SUV-like. The Bronco Sports Badlands offers multiple driving modes for various scenarios, and thanks to a 2.0-liter Inline 4 Turbo engine, it has more power than competitor models.
So, where other compact SUVs like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 feel like cars, the Badlands offers owners a more rugged experience—and Ford has worked hard to improve its off-road readiness.
Ford Bronco Sport Badlands, pros and cons
All of this begs the question, why would anyone want a car to feel more truck-like? After all, trucks are less comfortable than cars, with worse handling and ride quality.
All of this is true for the Bronco Sports Badlands. While it is indeed quick, Throttle House says it has terrible NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness), and driving it is like standing next to a leaf blower.
The ride is rough, with awkward steering for a daily driver, and the interior feels cheap when compared to other compact SUVs.
But there are some perks. The 8-speed transmission is smooth, the seats are comfortable, and the tall frame provides tons of headroom.
With impressive AWD tech and some off-road features, this SUV is more capable than most, and it looks cool too!
Overall, the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands is a welcome addition to the compact SUV class. Sure, it’s not as refined as the Mazda CX-5 or Hyundai Santa Fe, but what it lacks in luxury it makes up for in rugged good looks.
Getting insurance for your Bronco Sport Badlands
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4.7
