Ford’s capable and powerful full-size Bronco gets most of the love in the overlanding community, but the company also sells a huge number of the smaller Bronco Sport models of the iconic nameplate. Now, a new trim option may make it a more capable off-roader right from the factory.
Like its bigger sibling, the Sport in Badlands and Outer Banks trim can be further equipped with the Sasquatch package, which adds in a number of overlanding improvements and toughens the traditionally more urban-focused Bronco Sport.
The AWD Badlands package itself has the option to bump the Sport’s motor to a paddle-shifted 238 horsepower turbo four from the 1.5-liter 3-banger, and includes an improved 2,700 pound tow rating. The chassis also gets a 1-inch lift, rolls on A/T tires as standard, and gets some skid plates and suspension upgrades. The Badlands package also gets a new Rally drive mode on the selector dial.
Adding the Sasquatch package moves things upward with 29-inch 235/65R-17 Goodyear Territory A/T skins, adds in Bilstein shocks with remote reservoirs, bumps approach to 31.2 degrees instead of 24.1 and nets 21.7 degrees breakover. Ground clearance is about the same at just under 9 inches.
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Trim bits include steel bumpers front and rear, relocated recovery/tow hooks, and a new bull bar up front perfect for adding aux lights. New cast D-rings hang out on the back bumper for easier reverse recovery access. Special pop-out tie-down hooks on the front quarters make mounting up canoes, kayaks, SUPS, and other rooftop cargo bits easier and less vision-restrictive.
Inside, all Bronco Sport models get a new 13-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch gauge cluster, new Ford Sync 4 software and UI, OTA updates, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, along with updated (and thankfully still physical) HVAC controls, adaptive cruise control, AUX toggle switches and some new 360-camera options for off-roading awareness. While picking your way down a tight trail, you can soak in your favorite tunes from a 10-speaker Bang and Olufsen audio system. All in all, it’s some welcome and marked improvements for the junior Bronco.
The Bronco Sport in Badlands trim with the ‘Squatch package goes for about $44,500USD; adding more options will make that number go up of course. Ford says the Sasquatch models will be in dealerships early next year. We hope to review one soon.
