The Baby Bronco Grows Up: 2025 Ford Bronco Sport First Drive

It was time for the Ford Bronco Sport to be upgraded—four years is typical—so Ford’s designers and engineers decided to focus on tech and capability without a huge change to the iconic exterior. The 2025 model does have new bumpers and can accommodate more accessories. Another addition for 2025 is that Ford Co-Pilot 360 is now standard; previously this was a $995 option. This includes blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, pre-collision automatic emergency braking, rear view camera with parking sensors and evasive steering assist.

Also new for 2025 is a great new place to learn to drive the Ford Bronco Sport: A Bronco Off-Roadeo in Knoxville, TN. Ford’s fifth location will include a base camp and riding trails across this 1,000 acre property just a half hour from the Knoxville airport. And the best part? Every Bronco buyer gets a day at Bronco Off-Roadeo driving Ford’s Broncos and learning everything from how to drive a trail to how to use all the SUV’s equipment and accessories.

Video: Our tour of the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The Sasquatch package has been a huge hit in the Ford Bronco. This addition adds off-road capability to the Bronco with larger all-terrain wheels, Bilstein shock absorbers, higher ground clearance and an off-road tuned suspension. Ford takes all this a step further in the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport with 29″ Goodyear-all terrain tires, four skid plates to protect the underbody and key components, four recovery hooks, an additional half inch of ground clearance, a lockable rear differential and the addition of Rally mode for trail riding at higher speeds.

Sasquatch will only be available on the Badlands and Outer Banks trims of the Bronco Sport, and while Ford hasn’t announced pricing yet, it’s estimated that this package will cost an additional $2,500- $3,500, depending on the model.

When you cross a particularly tough obstacle at the Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo they give you a sticker. This is the one I earned at the under-construction Knoxville Off-Roadeo in the Bronco Sport, which we put it to the test trying out some of the early off-road trails.

We followed a short trail filled with hills, tight turns, muddy passages and gravel. There were a couple of particularly hairy hills that sent the Bronco Sport up on two wheels and then, as I kept lightly on the accelerator, sent it bouncing in the opposite direction. Once you do this, it becomes fun. The first time, though, it’s scary, though thrilling. And good to know that the Bronco Sport is built for it; it can take the stress, the bounce (or suspension travel) and won’t flip over.

Those scrapes on the underside of the Ford Bronco Sport—when the Sasquatch package is added, of course—are what you expect to see after driving on a trail. These new skid plates are designed to take the impact, to get scraped and dirty, and keep things like the gas tank and oil pan from sustaining damage. Here you can see the scrapes, which are worn like a badge of honor.

We love that the Bronco Sport, like the Bronco, has G.O.A.T. Modes: Goes Over Any Type of Terrain. The system combines full time 4WD, traction control, locking rear differential, Trail Control and Trail One-Pedal driving—toggle the button on the upper left of the GOAT modes dial for this—for even more capability. New for 2025 is Rally Mode, which delivers 4WD for higher speed off-roading, such as driving a gravel road or dirt road at 30 to 40 MPH.

Also new is Trail control, which is sort of like low-speed cruise control; set it at the speed you want, say 4 MPH, and simply pay attention to steering. Override by tapping the accelerator, just like cruise control. One-pedal driving allows you to modulate your speed just using the accelerator, which is also a really great way to have control on the trail.

When Ford first introduced the Bronco and Bronco Sport, they also introduced a line of accessories designed to go with each model. What surprised them, however, were the number of Bronco Sport owners who accessorize their models; almost all say they want to add accessories and buyers of all Bronco models spend an average of $1,700 on accessories.

So, Ford added more ways to accessorize. This metal tie-down is embedded into the side panels on the Bronco Sport so that up to 150 lbs. of gear (or a tent!) can be tied to the roof.

Also new for 2025 are Bronco Bolts, a feature brought over from the Ford Bronco. These bolts, the silver bolts on the skid plate above, are stamped with the Bronco name and are simply place-holders for pre-drilled holes that allow owners to attach an accessory: Add flags, light bars, a winch and more via these bolts. They are added to front and rear bumpers and there are Bronco Bolts on the dashboard behind the multimedia screen to add even more equipment.

Many off-roaders and enthusiasts know the pain of adding equipment to an SUV: where to put it, and where to put the controls? Often the dashboard becomes a mish-mash of panels, controls and wires that not only look odd, but might shake free on the trail.

As a solution, Ford added a panel of AUX switches to the Bronco Sport; they are wired into the car’s power system so accessories can easily be connected under the hood and controlled with the AUX toggles. So considerate!

When you’re out on the trail (or when you’re sitting in the parking lot waiting for hockey practice to finish) it’s great to have a household outlet to blow up an air mattress (or charge your laptop), right? So, Ford added a household outlet in the rear seat so it’s accessible to everyone, front and rear.

Also new for 2025 is a 13″ multimedia screen with SYNC 4 capability and a Bronco Raptor-inspired 12″ driver display with multiple function that can be customized. Just tap the menu button on the steering wheel and pick your view.

The steering wheel and center console look pretty much the same with great features including phone storage with an optional wireless phone charger, USB ports and cup holders.

The Badlands model we toured featured this sporty yellow-accented interior. It was trimmed in leatherette, microsuede and yellow contrast stitching, and on the sides of the front seats, which have phone pockets attached, there are embossed “Bronco” icons. It’s these simple details that remind you every day you’re living the the Bronco life.

This is probably one reason so many buyers were drawn to the Ford Bronco Sport: Rear opening glass is a camper’s must. You can pack your cooler right near the window and still easily grab things from it while not disturbing other things in the space. And, thankfully, it remains for the 2025 model.

What’s new is this bumper, here seen with the steel skid plate and recovery points in the Sasquatch package. The D-shaped recovery points, which are attached to the Bronco Sport’s frame, tuck into the bumper when they aren’t in use.

This detail isn’t new but it’s great: Ford designed a camping shelf system for the Bronco that divides the cargo space, folds into a table and has multiple functions, even pulling out a bit so its easier to reach. It’s nice to be able to set up things on the space and still leave other things stored underneath.

The Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo driving school has been a huge hit. There are four locations: Austin, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Moab, UT and Gilford, NH. Soon, Knoxville, TN, which opens in October, 2024 will join the calendar. The Tennessee location, which is in the Appalachian Mountains, offers all season off-roading and is open to both Bronco owners and non-owners, and will operate out of this base camp, which was still under construction when we saw it but is moving quickly toward completion.

Bronco buyers get a complimentary day of Off-Roadeo instruction with the purchase of a Bronco, but anyone can sign up for the experience. There, you’ll not just learn how to drive off-road trails, but what all the Bronco’s systems do, how different accessories are used and general off-road safety and responsibility. It’s a really great way to start your off-road journey.

It’s so nice to see the Ford Bronco Sport grow up. To be able to do more, to go more places, to deliver as much capability as its larger, pricier sibling, but in a smaller, not as pricey package. And it was a thrill to see it in person and to know that you don’t have to be the podium-conquering pro, like the drivers who won the Rebelle Rally in a Bronco Sport; you can just equip it right, spend a day at the Off-Roadeo and then, head off on your own off-road adventure.