2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend AWD - What's New Review
FEEDING APPETITE FOR URBANE ADVENTURE: In response to a growing American hunger for light trail motoring, in 2020 the Blue Oval automotive brand served up a compact unibody companion to its body-on-frame Moab thumping Bronco SUV. Undoubtedly, the Ford Bronco Sport has brought many an active lifestyle city-folk into the unbroken equine corral.
Roadblazing.com editors recently saddled up a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend for some some urban pasture laps in the expedition themed crossover ute.
2025 FORD BRONCO SPORT BIG BEND AWD DIFFERENCES FROM LAST TESTED 2023 FORD BRONCO SPORT HERITAGE AWD:
2023 Ford Bronco Sport Heritage AWD - Bottom Line Review
UN-BROKEN HOOVES LITE: From urban to the edge of wilderness and beyond the most mechanism for traversing is the rough and tumble upfittable type, like the Ford Bronco. However, for the more urbane experience to and past the trail head the options are more diverse. For its part, Blue Oval
George Straton
New for '25 - Standard
- Revised grille, front & rear fascia
- 12.3" inch instrument panel
- 13.2" landscape tablet upper center dash LCD touch media display
- Sync 4 My Ford Touch 5G infotainment
- Wireless charging pad & Co-Pilot 360 Assist Plus
- Sirius XM w/ 360L standard
New for '25 - Optional
- Black Diamond off-road package, optional on Big Bend trim
- Fender mounted recessed anchors (for roof rack tie-downs)
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend 4x4: in Azure Grey with Black Diamond off-road package & graphics
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New for '25 on the Ford Bronco Sport: standard upsized 12" gauge cluster, 13" touch media screen, MyFord Sync 4 5G
2025 FORD BRONCO SPORT BIG BEND AWD CARRIED OVER / SHARED WITH 2023 FORD BRONCO SPORT HERITAGE AWD:
Segment, Style & Finish:
- Off-road vehicle themed, compact unibody sport activity utility vehicle, 5 occupant seating
- The "Baby Bronco" is based on the C2 platform shared with the Ford Maverick pickup truck (and now retired Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair C2 platform).
- Boxy as any expeditionary SUV can be, with a tall greenhouse, low cowl, rising roof, oversized wheel arches and bumper covers, marked by a parabolic upper front clip, lateral cheese grater upper grille, prominent dual flanking dome hood, wrap around darkened glass from floating D-pillar to D-pillar, low loadfloor, deep liftgate, round headlamps with lateral bisecting directionals, rear corner inboard "F" taillamps.
- Black Diamond contrasting hood & lower body decals
- Assembled in Hermosillo, Mexico
- Ruggedized, moisture resistant cabin finish
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The unibody Bronco Sport takes over entry slot in the Ford sport activity lineup from the recently departed Escape.
Performance:
- turbocharged 1.5L DOHC inline-3 petrol engine
- 8-speed automatic transmission
- electronic viscous clutch all-wheel drive
- Broad low to mid engine speed thrust
- rated power - 181 hp, 200 lb-ft @ 3000 r.p.m.
- 27 miles per gallon, 461 miles highway driving range
- Fully independent chassis, ample four wheel disc brakes
- Quick ratio electric assist steering, heavy weighted resistance
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend 4x4: base petrol 1.5T I-3 is torquey but tinny, despite Black Diamond package the Conti CrossContact ATR rubber is more highway than all-terrain
Terrain Capability:
- Standard viscous clutch all-wheel drive
- G.O.A.T. terrain management, with descent control
- Continental CrossContact all-terrain tires
- Rugged wheel arch and body splash cladding
- Auxiliary toggle switches x 4 - 1st Row overhead console
- Extra 1.0" ground clearance (Black Diamond pkg.)
- -1 Lacks surround / trail camera, differential lock, descent crawl control
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend 1.5T AWD DRIVING HITS:
- Eight speed autobox keeps engine at a boil
- Stiff damping, restrained roll
- Light & quick steering, liveable around brake pedal effort
- Optimal balance of clearance for passenger ingress
- Reasonable fuel economy
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend 1.5T AWD DRIVING MISSES:
- Light on passing verve powerplant
- Transaxle shift hesitation
- Valve clatter
- Stiff legged ride compliance
- Delayed brake bite
- No reinforced underbody bash plates
- No driver activated center differential lock; No descent control
- Wind noise from "Black Diamond" accessory roof platform
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands 1.5T AWD specifications:
Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP): $38,815 = as tested 2025 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands 1.5T AWD (non-turbocharged 2.5L Meridian T AWD from $34,645)
Curb Weight (pounds): 3729 pounds, 20.6 pounds per horsepower
Powertrain - petrol: turbocharged direct injected 1.5L 12V DOHC I-3, Start - stop idle
Horsepower petrol / Torque (pound - feet): 181 hp @ 5000 r.p.m. / 200 lb-ft @ 3000 r.p.m.(87 AKI unleaded fuel)
Drivetrain / Final drive ratio: 8-speed torque converter automatic planetary gear transmission / 3.81:1; PTU to viscous clutch differential all-wheel drive, 90:10% to 50:50% F:R axle torque split, open differentials + ABS torque vectoring, driveshaft disconnect, 18:1 crawl ratio
Drive Modes: (5) G.O.A.TTM modes: Normal, Slippery, Eco, Sport, Off-road
Chassis:
- Front strut + upper A-arm, Rear four-link, F&R: coil springs, sway bars, F: twin-tube, R: mono-tube dampers
- F/R suspension travel: 9.0" / 9.0"
- Front: 12.1" vented rotors, Rear: 11.8" solid rotors, F+R: 1-piston sliding calipers, electronic parking brake
- Continental CrossContact ATR A/T M+S, 17"alloy wheels, front & rear 225/65-H, compact donut spare tire
- Electric power steering, 15.1:1 ratio, 2.7 turns-to-lock
Dimensions:
- LxWxH: 175.1" x 74.3"(76.2" mirr. fold) x 71.7"
- Wheelbase: 105.1" inches
- Ground clearance: 8.8" inches
- Approach / Departure / Breakover angles: 24.1o / 27.3o / 21.0o
- Water Fording: 20.6" inches
Capacities:
- Headroom (Rows 1, 2 inches): 41.5", 41.7"
- Legroom (Rows 1, 2 inches): 42.4", 36.9"
- Cargo (nominal - expanded ): 29.4 - 60.6 cubic feet
- Towing: 2200 pounds; Payload: 934 pounds
- Roof platform static weight: 600 pounds
Fuel Economy - observed (miles per gallon): 27 m.p.g.
Range (maximum): 440 miles (15.7 gallons)
Performance: 0-60 miles/ hour: 8.3 seconds; Top speed: 115 m.p.h.
Manufacturer Provided Specifications @2026 Roadblazing.com
Safety:
- IIHS - Top Safety Pick Plus (2026 MY)
- 8 SRS airbags, rear camera, blind spot warning & avoidance, park warning (fore & aft, audible & visible), reverse tilt wing mirrors
- Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0: 1.5 advanced driver assisting adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, forward collision avoidance braking, lane departure warning
- +1 Traffic sign recognition audible announcement
- -1 Test vehicle lacked traffic jam or cruise lane keep assistance
- MyKey restrictive access
- Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0: 1.5 advanced driver assisting adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, forward collision avoidance braking, lane departure warning
- Adaptive headlights - available (tested)
- +1 Low cowl good forward view;
- -1 Slim rear backlight; -1 Small wing mirrors; -1 No surround camera; -1 No reverse auto-braking
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend 4x4: newly standard CoPilot 360 Assist Plus ADAS
Comfort & Convenience:
- Keyless entry, push button ignition
- 7.1" classic twin analog dial + Multi-information Display configurable TFT instrument cluster
- Sport Bucket front seats, good torso support
- Terracotta saddle leather with dark piping, inverted on dashboard & door cards, all with hanging contrast stitching
- 2-zone automatic climate control, heated & cooled 8-way driver, 6-way pax power seats, heated tilt/ telescoping steering wheel, wing mirrors, wiper de-icer, 2nd Row climate vents & heated seats
- Power windows, full express x 4, 2nd Row privacy glass
- Power folding wing mirrors
- Power panorama sunroof + shade
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend 4x4: ruggedized theme carries into cabin & cargo bay
Utility:
- Upright liftgate cargo bay shape, available liners
- Opening rear backlight
- Low load liftover
- 60:40% split, flat folding 2nd Row seatback, cargo bay remote releases
- Long door pockets
- Molle style 2nd Row front seatback hooks
- Cargo bay wall bag hooks, Spring loaded anchors
- 110VAC x 1, 12V bay accessory power supply
- Bright dual LED tailgate cargo side lighting
Infotainment:
- 13.2" MyFord Sync 4 5G landscape dashtop pod touch LCD infotainment screen
- Three home screen panes integrates wireless Android Auto / Apple CarPlay projection
- USB-C x 4 , Rows 1 & 2
- 12V x 2, (including cargo bay)
- 6-speaker, 180W streaming audio, HD radio
- Bluetooth hands-free communication, SMS, wireless charging
- FordPass mobile app & key, Wi-Fi, Sirius XM satellite entertainment - by Subscription (with limited trials)
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend 4x4: this year brings up-sized screens, Sync4 5G, more native apps
2025 FORD BRONCO SPORT BIG BEND 1.5T AWD PRICING:
- $38,815 price, as tested 2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend Black Diamond 1.5T AWD in Azure Grey ( CX-50 2.5L non-turbocharged Meridian Edition from $34,645)
- 3 years / 36,000 miles bumper to bumper; 5 yrs. / 60k miles powertrain warranty
LIKES ABOUT THE 2025 FORD BRONCO SPORT BADLANDS 1.5T AWD:
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Newly available Bronco Sport Big Bend Black Diamond package powder coated steel bumpers, tow hooks and front brush bar, capture the truck-frame Bronco off-roader vibe.
- Active adventure lifestyle travel vibe adds overlanding theme
- Off-road accessories
- Above-par fuel economy
- Conventional torque converter automatic gearbox
- Syrupy input reactions
- Exemplary occupant headroom
- Quiet riding on surface roads
- Clever cabin & cargo hooks
- Acceptable cabin material contrast
- Usefully upsized displays
NOT PREFERRED ABOUT THE 2025 FORD BRONCO SPORT BADLANDS 1.5T AWD:
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Ford Bronco Sport rides a bit harshly, lacks the Escape's polish, while the turbo three-banger resonates coarsely.
- No surround / trail cameras
- No center differential lock, no descent crawl control
- No off-road underbody bash plates
- Narrow door opening angles
- Engine valve clatter
- Wind & road noise from Black Diamond roof crossbars
- Ride chop
- Uneven gap cabin plastics
- Agrarian looking & feeling control switchgear
- Climate control, seat heating built into media screen
- Slim rear backlight hinders rear view
- Stiff seat cushions
- Non-illuminated lower center stack connectivity shelf
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ROADBLAZING.COM BOTTOM LINE: The butch Bronco Sport, gains tech & light overlanding as it takes over the Blue Oval's entry SAV slot.
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