With the reprise of the iconic Ford Bronco and birth of the Ford Maverick, the new generation of vehicles are shaping the landscape of future car buyers’ expectations. Efficient, customizable, all terreran, everyday drivers with enough storage capacity to sleep in during a camping trip will be the standard for a generation filled with wanderlust and “what if’s”. As adventure becomes more accessible due to the advent of the internet and various recreational conservation efforts, making vehicles more accessible is vital in reaching these emerging consumers. As the market tends to this emergence of our primal lust of natural thrill, car buyers will be presented with al-la carte options when purchasing their next vehicle; giving them the flexibility to build around their lifestyle.
Ford is stepping ahead of the curve with their latest lineups of vehicles like the Bronco and Maverick, both geared towards young groups looking for the flexibility of customization and efficiency of a new vehicle. In this series we will be focusing on the features of these vehicles, our experiences with the Bronco, news related to these vehicles, and various anecdotes we feel could be helpful to anyone interested in these vehicles.
As with many new 2021 vehicles, the release of the new off-road focused Bronco SUV is being delayed and some models like the “Sasquatch” package are being pushed back to a 2022 release date. Fortunately, the Bronco Sport models have made it to the road and are beginning to fill driveways across the nation.
We have been fortunate enough to secure multiple Bronco Sports at our dealerships and even drove a Rapid Red Big Bend model down the coast and throughout the state of Oregon
(more information and content to come from that ride soon). To say the least, we are big fans of the Bronco Sport. It’s versatility as an everyday driver has been very exciting, providing ease when traversing through backcountry to highway. I personally learn something new about the vehicle everytime I drive it. Without taking the time to study its various specs, you’ll never utilize them all – so let’s dive into some of my favorite Bronco Sport features.
AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM CONTROL
You never knew you needed automatic high beam control until you’re driving through the emptiness of night desperately looking for a place to set up camp. When you are driving through the vastness of Montana or weaving trees of Northern California with nothing but the moon and your headlights illuminating the road, your focus needs to be dialed in. It is a huge help to have your brights activated to give you a brighter, wider field of view to avoid any nocturnal animals running in front of your vehicle or sudden drop offs in the road. With that, you must also put other’s safety into serious consideration if another vehicle is driving ahead of you about to pass coming from the opposite direction. It seemed almost like magic when my headlights automatically switched from the high beams to low beams when the sensor detected oncoming headlights in the far distance. As soon as the vehicle passed, the high beams were reactivated; creating a smooth transition while not losing visibility for a split moment. This is something I was not expecting in the Bronco Sport and a taste of the great safety and tech features Ford is committed to implementing in their new line of vehicles.
G.O.A.T MODE
The “G.O.A.T Mode” feature in the Bronco Sport is a given when it comes to exciting specs. The acronym stands for “Going Over Any-type of Terrain”. This also is a great salute to Ford history as the first African-American designer hired by Ford, McKinley Thompson Jr, coined the G.O.A.T term when designing the original Bronco in the early 1960’s. There are 7 modes available including Eco, Mud, Normal, Rock Crawl, Sand, Slippery, and Sport (varies depending on trim level). I am not too sure how efficient each terrain mode is, but you could definitely feel an enhanced powertrain control when powering the throttle in Sport Mode, and Eco Mode will make the most out of your gas tank. I got the thing stuck pretty badly in the sand on the Oregon coast line and the Sand Mode was no saving grace. As the different modes do optimize your 4-wheel drive capabilities and electric power steering, the vehicle still has its limitations. I would assume the new Broncos coming out will handle nasty terrain better, but since I see the Bronco Sport as an everyday driver, it doesn’t lose any points there for me. Thankfully we were able to eventually dig the Bronco Sport out of the sand. We probably shouldn’t have been ripping donuts on a wet rainy beach; but ultimately it was a pretty epic time – most vehicles would have gotten stuck long before we did.
GAS MILEAGE
There have been mixed reviews online about the Bronco Sport’s fuel efficiency with a 1.5L 3 cylinder engine. I am here to say that we had a rather positive experience with gas mileage on our road trip. Driving through the backcountry with little traffic or along the coastlines in Eco Mode provided for optimal fuel performance as we clocked in around 30 mpg. We even switched over to Sport Mode every now and then without sacrificing any fuel efficiency, so it seemed.
110V POWER OUTLETS / CARGO STORAGE
I decided to put these two sections together because they went hand in hand on this trip. The multiple 3 prong 110V outlets (or the 12v power outlets depending on your Bronco Sport Model) could come in handy for a variety of reasons based on the person utilizing the vehicle. Personally, I was shooting various commercial spots with my run and gun camera package which included a Sony A7iii mirrorless camera, Macbook Pro for footage review / storage, and a DJI Mavic Air 2 drone. The drone being the beefiest in power needs, I was able to set up a base for my video equipment in the spacious back trunk with outlets to charge gear. It was like a mobile office and perfect since we were camping for multiple days. Although our model did not come with the 110V 3 prong outlets like the Badlands model does, I was able to plug an adapter into the 12V outlet that worked well for my needs. I would pay more money to have that feature, without a doubt. The all weather floor mats also provided a durable, slip free area that complimented my mobile office well. This allowed me to leave certain gear charging without worry about them sliding when driving (of course, not when your ripping donuts getting stuck on wet beaches).
I couldn’t conclude this section without highlighting the ease of throwing all our gear into the front seats, putting the back down, and transforming the Bronco into our sleeping quarters for multiple nights.
SHAPE AND LOOK
The overall look and shape of the Bronco Sport was very sharp and turned lots of heads. We had the Rapid Red Big Bend and the shade of color was muted enough to not stand out like a cherry colored sports car, but prominent enough to be the baddest whip at the campground. I’ve never driven a car that stopped people in their tracks to come talk my ear off like the Bronco Sport. I couldn’t count the number of times someone would approach me to ask about the engine, drive feel, gas mileage, new tech, or my favorite; when someone would tell a story about having an original Bronco when they were younger. Our Rapid Red 2021 Bronco Sport seemed to be a timemachine for a lot of people, it brought back memories when they were running wild ripping donuts in a Bronco themselves. They installed this sense of nostalgia. Made us feel that these moments of getting stuck on a beach and driving lost through the backcountry under western moonlight were worth living. That we would look back on these times and feel proud of how we got to our destination, even if the road was rocky.
These are just a few takeaways from my experience driving the new Bronco Sport, Big Bend Edition. There are plenty more specs and features that make these vehicles special, and each model of the 5 trims are slightly different; but at a glance these really stood out to me. I’m looking forward to learning more about this lineup of vehicles and fully diving into their capabilities. The legacy of the Bronco lives on, and I myself will be a part of that legacy when opportunity strikes to park one in my driveway.
Nick Schultz
Creative Specialist
Mark Williams Auto Group
Beechmont Ford – Mt.Orab CDJR – Mt. Orab Ford
“Onward weary traveler, continue to climb those tall mountains. As the path forward seems rough, the journey is worth traveling”
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