2021 Ford Bronco Sport review
Ford Bronco Sport highlights
Customer rating
RepairPal reliability rating
(data not available)
Pros
- Adjustable floodlights on the liftgate
- Multiple traction settings
- High ground clearance
Cons
- Jerky transmission shifting
- Cramped backseat
- Wind noise on highways
Mileage (EPA estimate)
21 city, 26 highway, 23 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
The adventure starts here.
When off-road capability is a non-negotiable but super-size just isn't your style, Ford has you covered with the 2021 Bronco Sport SUV. With a rebellious streak running deep to its core, the Bronco Sport is athletic, fun, and utterly capable, no matter the conditions. It's wildly good-looking too, which never hurts. Think Cyber Orange exterior paint (or one of the nine other colorways), available privacy glass, and generous ground clearance too. Inside it's packed with connective tech and has room for your family, pets, bikes, boxes, and more. It will match your driving ambitions on forest, rock, or river trails, thanks to its aptly named G.O.A.T. Modes™ system. This is serious fun—there's no doubt about it. Keep reading to find out more about the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport.
All Ford Bronco Sport years
2021 Ford Bronco Sport trims
Base:
Features 17-inch wheels, roof rails, LED headlights, rear liftgate with flip-up window, eight-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, six-speaker audio system, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, Terrain Management System™, liftgate floodlights, two smart-charge USB ports, and more.
Big Bend:
Adds rubberized cargo floor, SecuriCode™ keyless entry keypad, front seatback zipper map pockets with MOLLE strap system, fog lights, heated mirrors, keyless ignition and entry, automatic climate control, stain-resistant cloth upholstery, and more.
Outer Banks:
Adds dual-zone automatic climate control, rain sensing wipers with de-icer, 12V power points, AC power outlet, ambient interior lighting, rear privacy glass, heated front seats, leather upholstery, leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, and more
Badlands:
Adds 2.0L EcoBoost® engine, off-road suspension, skid plates, front towing hooks, two additional drive modes, forward-facing 180-degree camera system, trail control system, rear-seat underfloor storage, and more. Removes some Outer Banks features, including ambient lighting and household-style power outlets.
Limited Edition
Adds wireless charging pad, 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen® audio system, sunroof, class II tow hitch receiver, trailer sway control, and more.
Ford Bronco Sport photos
5 reasons to buy the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport
1. Your outdoor home
Whether you're at home under a forest canopy or prefer desert landscapes under a canopy of stars, the Bronco Sport is a welcome companion on your camping trips. It makes these back-to-nature trips easier, without getting between you and the earth beneath your feet. Need some light at the campground? The Bronco Sport's adjustable liftgate floodlights can illuminate up to 129 square feet. An optional slide-out table for the cargo bay, a built-in bottle opener, and plenty of useful carabiner hooks and loops all add up to make this your ideal outdoor kitchen-diner. Want to brew up your morning coffee? The Bronco Sport has available AC power outlets too.
2. Explore & stay connected
No matter how far you travel, staying in touch with your loved ones and your surroundings still matters. The Bronco Sport has lots of convenience features at every trim level. For example, the optional Ford Co-Pilot 360™ Assist+ includes a voice-activated touchscreen navigation system. Standard across all trims, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ connectivity keeps you connected and entertained. Not only can you access your favorite playlists, but the Bronco Sports' SYNC® system also allows you to make voice-activated requests, from seeking a gas station to calling your grandpa with the latest fishing trip tale.
3. Driver comforts
Despite being an all-action SUV, the Bronco Sport's interior design is a passenger-pleasing delight. Hard-wearing surfaces are in it for the long haul, while the optional easy-clean upholstery scrubs up well, no matter what you bring into the cabin after a day outdoors. A crisp driver display, rotary gear shift dial, easy access cupholders, and a deep console bin ensure your focus as the driver can remain with the road ahead. Getting settled for a longer trip? Both front seats have multi-way adjustability as standard — they're heated, too, on the Outer Banks and Badlands trims.
4. G.O.A.T. modes
What does it mean? According to Ford, the G.O.A.T. Modes system indicates that the Bronco Sport can "Go Over Any Type of Terrain". And while that moniker is pretty fun, it's no gimmick. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims can switch up between five different driving modes (Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, and Sand) to suit the conditions you come up against. Decide on a Bronco Sport Badlands trim, though, and you get two further modes: Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl. Add in the minimum 7.8-inches of ground clearance and its water-wading capability (up to 17.7-inches at Base trim level), and you've got a spirited SUV that's up for anything.
5. The off-road badlands trim
The Bronco Sport is an SUV for active lifestyles and it's the Badlands trim that pushes the boundaries even further with some extra features for your next adventure. The two further G.O.A.T. Modes can take you through muddy fields or up to rocky hilltops. More ground clearance (up to 8.6-inches) and water fording depth capability (upped to 23.6-inches) can help you blaze a trail through new pathways that would be hard to navigate otherwise. Trail Control™ functionality and a 180-degree front-fascia mounted camera offers detailed assistance as you control your surroundings.
Similar vehicles
If you're interested in the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, you should also check out these similar vehicles from Previous generation years.
The five-seat 2017-2021 Jeep Cherokee is an action-packed off-roader, powered by a choice of three engine options across five trim levels. The 2017-2021 base model is powered by a 180-hp 2.4L four-cylinder engine. As you move up the trim levels, you can unlock two further engine options for the 2017-2021 Cherokee; a 3.2L V6 and, from 2019, a turbocharged 2.0L. The Jeep Cherokee is a chameleon; its stylish exterior and off-road functionality ensure this SUV is at home on both urban roads and forest trails.
The 2018-2021 base trim Cherokee Latitude includes these standard features:
Rearview camera
Bluetooth functionality
Cloth upholstery
The 2021 Bronco is a midsize SUV that can handle all the big jobs that life throws at you. Available as a two-door model seating four or a larger four-door model that seats five. This SUV offers a choice of removable hard or soft top roofing, plenty of cargo space (up to 38.3 cubic feet in its four-door, soft-top iteration), and fully removable doors too. These features mean it's a strong contender if you're seeking warm weather off-road ability. The standard engine is a 275-hp, 2.3L four-cylinder, paired to a seven-speed manual transmission.
The 2021 base trim Ford Bronco also features:
Forward collision warning
Eight-inch touch screen
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity
The 2018-2021 Subaru Crosstrek is a compact SUV that's roomy enough to take your crew, and their outdoor gear, on the trip of a lifetime. Following a ground-up redesign in 2018, the Crosstrek has plenty to recommend — including standard all-wheel drive, smartphone connectivity, and Subaru's intuitive Starlink® infotainment system. All 2018-2021 base trim models are powered by a 152-horsepower 2.0L four-cylinder engine paired to a six-speed manual transmission or continuously variable automatic (CVT). Want further between fill ups? A Crosstrek Hybrid was added in 2019.
All 2018-2021 Crosstrek base trim models feature as standard:
Cloth upholstery
Rearview camera
Four-speaker audio system
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Ratings & reliability
Ford Bronco Sport features and specs
Big Bend 4WD/AWD 4D Sport Utility
Standard Features
- 4WD/AWD
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Bluetooth Technology
- Cloth Seats
- Cruise Control
- Lane Departure Warning
- Overhead Airbags
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear View Camera
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Side Airbags
- Smart Key
- Sync System
- Traction Control
- Turbo Charged Engine
- Automated Cruise Control
- Front Seat Heaters
- Full Roof Rack
- Navigation System
- Parking Sensors
- Power Seat(s)
- Running Boards
- Sunroof(s)
- Tow Hitch
Drive Wheels
Four Wheel Drive (4WD/AWD)
Engine size
1.5L
Horsepower
181
Torque (ft-lbs)
190
Engine type
Turbo Gas
Fuel capacity
16
Wheelbase
105.1"
Overall length
172.7"
Width
74.3"
Height
70.2"
Leg room
F 42.4"/R 36.9"
Head room
F 41.5"/R 41.7"
Front tires
P225/65HR17
Rear tires
P225/65HR17
Seating capacity
5
Max towing capacity
200/2000 lbs.
Transmission
Automatic
2021 Ford Bronco Sport FAQ
In addition to the standard rearview camera, the 2021 Bronco Sport Badlands trim features a 180-degree front camera system that gives a wider view of what is in front of your vehicle, especially useful when you're navigating challenging terrain. For a 360-degree camera system, check out the standard Ford Bronco with the available High or Lux Packages.
Yes, the 2021 Bronco Sport can be fueled by regular gasoline. All 2021 Bronco Sports models have a 16-gallon tank and stop-start technology. When new, the base trim Bronco Sport (1.5L engine) can achieve an EPA-estimated 26 mpg combined.
Fuel economy figures are based on EPA estimates for when vehicle sold as new. Fuel economy may vary for reasons like driving conditions and vehicle history. Unless specified, figures are for vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission. See fueleconomy.gov.
When new, all 2021 Bronco Sport have a spare tire. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trim models are equipped with a mini spare wheel and tire. The Badlands trim is equipped with a full-size spare wheel and tire. Choose a 2021 Bronco Sport Big Bend, or Outer Banks, with the optional Class II Trailer Tow Package, and a full-size spare is part of the package (when new).
More about the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport
Color options
Exterior colors:
Alto Blue Metallic Tinted Clearcoat
Area 51
Cactus Gray
Carbonized Gray Metallic
Cyber Orange Metallic Tri-coat
Iconic Silver Metallic
Kodiak Brown Metallic
Oxford White
Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat
Shadow Black
Interior colors:
Ebony (Base, Big Bend trims)
Ebony/Active Orange (Badlands trim only)
Ebony/Area 51 (Big Bend trim only)
Ebony/Roast (Outer Banks trim, Badlands option package)
Medium Dark Slate (Big Bend trim only)
Navy Pier (Outer Banks trim only)
Interior details
The 2021 Bronco Sport has seating for five across two rows. Cloth upholstery is standard, while the Outer Banks trim features a leather upholstery upgrade. A safari-style higher roofline and 105.7 cu-ft of total passenger space give this cabin a spacious atmosphere. Headroom is a little over 41-inches across both rows, while legroom is generous too: 42.4-inches in the front and 36.9-inches for the rear row seating.
The base trim Bronco Sport has 32.5 cu-ft of fixed cargo space, increasing to 65.2 cu-ft when the 60/40-split rear-row seating flips down. The interior surfaces are built for tough usage and there are some clever features that acknowledge its adventure-led uses. A rubberized cargo floor that can be removed for cleaning is also standard from the Big Bend trim upwards.
For a touch of luxury, pick the Outer Banks or Badlands trims for heated front seats. The Outer Banks trim also comes with ambient interior lighting.
Child seat details
The 2021 Bronco Sport is suited to family life. It is equipped with two complete sets of LATCH connectors (two lower anchors and an upper tether) in the second row's outboard seats. The rear-row middle seat also features an upper tether.
Caregivers have plenty of room to fit seats of all types, thanks to the size of the Bronco Sport's cabin, with little to no impact on front-seat passenger comfort.
Performance
The 2021 Bronco Sport offers a choice of two engine options. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims are powered by a 181-hp 1.5L EcoBoost turbocharged engine with automatic start-stop technology, all-wheel drive, and an eight-speed automatic transmission. These models all feature 7.8-inches of ground clearance and the ability to cross water up to 17.7-inches.
For a horsepower boost, pick the Badlands trim. It is equipped with a 250-hp 2.0L EcoBoost turbocharged engine and is paired to an eight-speed SelectShift® automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Ground clearance increased to 8.6 inches, and it has an impressive zero-to-60 time too; 5.9 seconds, according to the manufacturer, when new.
Bronco Sport models with the 1.5L turbocharged engine achieve an EPA-estimated 26 mpg combined.
When properly equipped, the 2021 Bronco Sport with 1.5L turbocharged engine can tow up to an estimated 2,000 lbs, while the 2.0L turbocharged engine can tow up to an estimated 2,200 lbs.
Year comparisons
2021-2022 Ford Bronco Sport (First Generation)
With a name familiar to many, the Ford Bronco Sport makes its debut for the 2021 model year, as a brand-new compact SUV model. The 2021 Bronco Sport is available in four standard trims, and one further limited-edition trim which is only available for the 2021 model year, and capped at just 2000 units. The all-terrain capability and athletic styling of the Bronco Sport makes it a standout SUV for adventurous drivers. The 2022 model continues the success story, with only minor trim level equipment changes from the previous year.
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Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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