Ford rocked the automotive world when it brought back the Ford Bronco in 2021 after a 25-year break. However, the brand upped the ante by also introducing the new Bronco Sport. This subcompact version of the larger Bronco provides a smaller SUV with a difference. Unlike so many other subcompact SUVs on the market, the Bronco Sport is rugged, with a design that works equally well for your daily commute and your weekend adventures. For instance, the Bronco Sport comes standard with four-wheel drive instead of front-wheel drive. This sends power to all four wheels, giving you exceptional traction, especially in off-road conditions.
With the model entering its fifth year, now is a great time to find a used Ford Bronco Sport for sale. There are plenty of great used Ford Bronco Sports to choose from, giving you the ability to find one with the features you want. The key is knowing what to look for when buying used. This includes deciding between the engine options, trim levels, and special features. With this knowledge in hand, you should be able to find your next used Bronco Sport.
Two Different Engines to Choose From
Since it was introduced in 2021, the Ford Bronco Sport has always offered drivers two different engines, each paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The smaller engine comes standard on most trims and is a turbocharged 1.5-liter EcoBoost I-3 gas engine with an output of 181 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. The larger 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 gas engine comes standard on the Badlands trim and is also turbocharged. However, it has a more powerful output of 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque.
As you would probably expect, the larger engine provides better acceleration while the smaller one is more fuel-efficient. When equipped with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, the Bronco Sport can go from 0-60 mph in just 5.9 seconds, while the 1.5-liter EcoBoost takes about 8.2 seconds to get to 60 mph. However, the Bronco Sport with the 1.5-liter EcoBoost will give you 26 MPG combined fuel economy as compared to 23 MPG combined fuel economy for the Bronco Sport with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost. This is why the smaller engine may be better for commuters considering a used Bronco Sport, while the larger engine works well for drivers who want a little more adventure.
A Variety of Trim Options
While the engines have stayed the same throughout the Bronco Sport’s initial generation, the same cannot be said for the trim selection. During the model’s run, Ford has added and removed a number of trims. When it was first introduced in 2021, the base trim of the Bronco Sport was the Base. As you can see, someone at Ford spent a lot of time thinking up that name. But seriously, the Base has all the standard features of the Bronco Sport but none of the extras seen on other trims. This trim level was discontinued after the 2023 model year.
The remaining original trims of the Bronco Sport, in order of increasing features, are the Big Bend, Outer Banks, and Badlands. It is good to see that the folks at Ford did a better job coming up with these names. Each evokes the sense of off-roading, a capability that you get in your Bronco Sport. However, the Badlands is by far the most off-road capable option, offering the larger engine, a more sophisticated four-wheel drive system, and other rugged upgrades.
Ford added two more trims to the Bronco Sport after its initial launch, reflecting past eras of off-road models. The Heritage was introduced during the 2023 model year and has a 1960s appeal, with an Oxford White painted roof and matching wheels. The trim’s interior has a plaid fabric on the seats, giving you the 1960s vibe inside and out. The Free Wheeling trim was added in 2024, and it is all 1970s Day-Glo charm. This option features a rainbow sunset pattern on the sides and hood. The red-painted wheels go with the exterior design. The interior of the Free Wheeling continues the retro design with cloth seats featuring Ombre stitching and sunset weave cloth, so you will think you are heading out to the disco with John Travolta. Both of these trims combine the looks of the past with the capabilities and technology of the present.
During its run, the Bronco Sport has also featured a pair of special edition models that were only available for one year. The First Edition came out in 2021 only, while the Heritage Limited Edition was only available in 2023. There are top-trim options that offer all the features available for the Bronco Sport, along with unique styling. If you are interested in either trim, you will have to look at the used market.
Standard and Special Features
No matter which pre-owned Ford Bronco Sport you choose, you will get certain features regardless of trim level and model year. For example, every Ford Bronco Sport comes with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of active safety and driver assistance features. This will help you avoid accidents while riding in your Bronco Sport, as well as reduce the impact of unavoidable collisions. You also get the SYNC infotainment system on an eight-inch touchscreen (there is a new 13.2-inch screen for 2025). This allows you to stay connected with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can make hands-free calls and texts. The touchscreen also serves as the screen for the standard backup camera.
Beyond these technological features, you also get a terrain management system with GOAT modes. That stands for “Goes Over Any type of Terrain” and makes the Bronco Sport one of the greatest of all time when it comes to off-roading. You can select the conditions you are encountering to adjust the powertrain and suspension to best handle the situation. The Bronco Sport also has a safari-style roof. This gives more headroom in the back than in the front, allowing you more clearance when putting objects into the Bronco Sport’s trunk. It also is reinforced, allowing it to hold up to 150 pounds of cargo on the standard roof rack. As a result, you can carry canoes, skis, tents, or other large objects.
There are some specialized features that are either trim-specific or are available as optional equipment. Some examples of the Ford Bronco Sport have a MOLLE straps system in front seatbacks for storing objects like flashlights and camping gear. Other models have LED fog lamps that can provide improved lighting when out on the trail at night or in fog. You can also find used Bronco Sports with bash plates that shield the undercarriage of your vehicle from damage caused by rocks, logs, and other debris when off-roading. Finally, available items like front and rear tow hooks can come in handy, especially if you get stuck out on the trail and need to use a winch to pull your vehicle out of a rut.
Interior Design Differences
The Ford Bronco Sport can carry up to five passengers in a surprisingly roomy interior for a subcompact SUV model. This is because Ford has done an exceptional job of apportioning space between the two rows of seats. For example, front-row passengers enjoy 41.5 inches of headroom and 42.4 inches of legroom, while rear-seat passengers will enjoy 41.7 inches of headroom and 36.9 inches of legroom. The greater headroom in the back is the result of the safari-style roof.
One thing to keep in mind is that models with the smaller 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine provide more storage space than ones with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine. This is the result of the added space taken up by the powertrain and other performance features. As a result, the Bronco Sport with the smaller engine has 32.5 cubic feet of space in the trunk that can be expanded to 65.2 cubic feet by folding down the rear row of seats, while choosing a used Bronco Sport with the larger engine reduces trunk space to 29.4 cubic feet, with the ability to expand this to 60.6 cubic feet of cargo space. Still, those are exceptional numbers for a model in the Bronco Sport’s segment.
Have Some Fun in a Used Ford Bronco Sport!
The Bronco Sport is a subcompact SUV that is built for work and play. Its solid fuel economy makes it a good choice for a commuter vehicle, while its off-road capabilities allow you to have a great time hitting the trail. Now that it’s been on the market for five years, it’s increasingly possible to score a great deal on a pre-owned model. However, it’s still new enough that even the oldest used examples are filled with modern features that will appeal to any driver.
