2024 Ford Bronco Sport

Volume trims for 2024 (Big Bend, Heritage, the new Free Wheeling special edition, and Outer Banks) all run the 181 hp 1.5L EcoBoost turbo-three; only Badlands steps up to the 250 hp 2.0L four.

Standard 1.5L EcoBoost produces 190 lb-ft; the Badlands-only 2.0L EcoBoost delivers 277 lb-ft.

Car and Driver instrumented an Outer Banks 1.5L at 8.2 s and a Badlands 2.0L at 5.9 s; the powertrains and curb weights are unchanged for 2024, so these figures carry over from the same generation's testing.

The 1.5L turbo-three is adequate but reviewers note some coarseness and turbo lag under hard acceleration; the optional 2.0L four is notably smoother and stronger but confined to Badlands.

The 8-speed automatic (shared across both engines) shifts smoothly and decisively for the segment, without the droning or hunting typical of CVT-equipped rivals.

Ford's 2024 towing guide rates the standard 1.5L Bronco Sport at 2,000 lbs max tow; the 2.0L Badlands raises that to 2,200 lbs when properly equipped.

4x4 is standard across every 2024 Bronco Sport trim (not optional or limited to top trims), with selectable G.O.A.T. Modes terrain management; Badlands adds a twin-clutch rear drive unit for torque vectoring.

Badlands trim brings a standard off-road-tuned suspension (uniquely tuned struts with hydraulic rebound stops, softer springs/anti-roll bars), 4 skid plates, and 8.8 in ground clearance with A/T tires — solid off-road credibility for the segment. The Sasquatch package (bigger tires, extra clearance) was not introduced until the 2025 model year, so 2024 lacks that top-end off-road option.

Only two gasoline engine choices (1.5L and 2.0L EcoBoost, both paired to the same 8-speed auto) with no hybrid, PHEV, or EV variant — a narrower lineup than segment rivals now offering electrified options.

The volume 1.5L EcoBoost AWD trims carried a 26 MPG combined EPA rating for the 2024 model year, unchanged from prior first-generation Bronco Sport model years; the 2.0L EcoBoost on Badlands/Wildtrak trades economy for capability.

City rating for the standard 1.5L EcoBoost AWD powertrain used on Big Bend, Heritage, and Outer Banks trims for 2024.

Highway rating for the standard 1.5L EcoBoost AWD powertrain used on Big Bend, Heritage, and Outer Banks trims for 2024.

Computed from Ford's published 16.1-gallon fuel tank capacity (standard across the 2024 lineup) against the EPA combined rating for the volume 1.5L EcoBoost AWD trim.

Estimated using the standard EPA annual-cost formula (15,000 mi/yr at ~$3.30/gal regular) applied to the 26 MPG combined rating for the volume 1.5L EcoBoost AWD trim; not independently verified against a live fueleconomy.gov listing this session due to search quota limits.

All 2024 Bronco Sport trims, including both EcoBoost engines, run on regular 87-octane fuel with no premium recommendation or E85/diesel complexity.

NHTSA rated the 2024 Bronco Sport 5 stars overall, with 5/5 frontal, 5/5 side, and 4/5 rollover.

IIHS rated the 2024 Bronco Sport Good on small-overlap front, moderate-overlap front, and headlights, but only Acceptable on the updated side test, which kept it off the Top Safety Pick list despite mostly Good results.

Ford Co-Pilot360 is standard on every 2024 Bronco Sport trim, bundling AEB (Pre-Collision Assist), Lane-Keeping System, BLIS with cross-traffic alert, auto high-beams, and a rear camera; adaptive cruise control requires the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ upgrade, keeping the suite just short of top-tier.

IIHS rates the 2024 Bronco Sport's daytime pedestrian front crash prevention Superior for both the standard and optional systems, but the vehicle-to-vehicle system tracks toward Acceptable for this generation, a mixed result overall.

BLIS with cross-traffic alert is standard on every 2024 trim, but it is an alert-only system with no active steering or braking intervention.

Lane-Keeping System (warning/keep-assist) is standard, but true lane centering only arrives bundled with the optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ adaptive cruise package, and reviewers don't single out the system for smoothness.

Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centering is available via the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package and functionally capable, but it is an optional add-on rather than standard, and no reviews call out the highway-assist integration as best-in-class.

Ford's BlueCruise hands-free system is not offered on the Bronco Sport for 2024, unlike several other Ford/Lincoln models.

IIHS rates the 2024 Bronco Sport's headlights Good, its top tier, supporting a strong score for everyday nighttime visibility.

The boxy body and upright windshield give good forward sightlines and headroom, but thick C/D-pillars leave rear-quarter visibility only average per reviewers.

IIHS rates LATCH ease-of-use Acceptable for the 2024 Bronco Sport — lower anchors sit too deep in the seat bight and the tether anchor can be confused with other hardware — a workable but not effortless setup that fits two car seats across but not three.

The 2024 Bronco Sport is a strict 5-seater across every trim (Big Bend, Heritage, Free Wheeling, Outer Banks, Badlands) — no third-row option, unlike some subcompact-adjacent crossover rivals.

The boxy, upright greenhouse — unchanged for 2024 — gives the Bronco Sport class-leading front headroom on non-moonroof trims; the optional moonroof cuts it to 39.1 in.

Front legroom is mid-pack for the subcompact SUV segment and unchanged from prior model years.

The boxy body-on-crossover shape gives the Bronco Sport unusually generous rear headroom, unaffected by the optional moonroof, topping the segment's normalization band.

Rear legroom is average for the subcompact SUV class — adequate for adults on shorter trips but bested by longer-wheelbase rivals like the VW Taos.

The 2024 Bronco Sport is a strict two-row, 5-seat SUV — no third-row seat is offered on any trim, which places it in the low band per the item's guidance for two-row SUVs.

Behind-second-row cargo volume trails the subcompact SUV segment despite the boxy shape, and drops further on 2.0L Badlands trim due to the full-size spare and different suspension hardware.

Max cargo with seats folded is below the SUV normalization band's midpoint, reflecting the model's subcompact footprint.

Standout for the segment: oversized center console bin, available MOLLE panels on door trim (Badlands), rubberized flooring and seatbacks for easy cleanup, and an available cargo-area 400W power outlet — unchanged 2024 feature set.

Seats are decently supportive but Consumer Reports flags the driver's seat as short on adjustments, and Edmunds notes a lack of lateral support that lets shoulders jostle on rough roads — adequate rather than exceptional for long trips.

Consumer Reports calls the ride firm, and the off-road-tuned Badlands suspension gives a bumpy ride over varied road surfaces; Cars.com notes a higher center of gravity that hurts composure when pushed.

Reviewers consistently flag above-average wind and road noise at highway speed, worsened by boxy aerodynamics and available all-terrain tires — a known segment weakness carried into the 2024 model year unchanged.

Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are available from Outer Banks trim up, and dual-zone climate is optional on higher trims, but the base Big Bend trim is comfort-feature-sparse and no ventilated seats or rear climate are offered on any 2024 trim.

2024 Big Bend base trim starts at $29,795 including destination, an affordable entry point for the subcompact SUV segment.

Outer Banks is the volume mid-trim balancing comfort/tech upgrades over Big Bend; 2024 trim range runs $29,795 (Big Bend) to $38,390 (Badlands), with Heritage ($32,365) and Free Wheeling ($32,395) slotting between.

CarEdge projects maintenance alone at ~$2,957 over 5 years; blended with typical low-mileage repair costs for the segment, total lands well below the SUV band midpoint.

CarEdge projects a typically-equipped Bronco Sport ($37,414 new) retains ~42.6% of value after 5 years ($15,920 residual); a second CarEdge estimate shows ~40.8% retained, placing resale toward the weak end of the SUV band despite the model's off-road cachet.

Ford's standard 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty sits at the low end of the mainstream segment, well behind Hyundai/Kia's 5-year coverage.

5-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage is standard Ford issue and the shortest in-segment relative to rivals with 7-10 year powertrain warranties.

No factory-included scheduled maintenance plan, but the standing FordPass Rewards new-purchase bonus (42,000 points, ~$210 value, in effect since April 2019) plus Ford's bundled complimentary roadside assistance offer a modest offset.

$33,935 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (42% retained, or about $14,253) leaves about $19,682 in depreciation. Add the projected $4,150 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $23,832 in total.

The 2024 Bronco Sport sits in the mid-point of the nameplate's climb from a rocky 2021 launch to a recommended 2025 refresh: Consumer Reports still rated it below average and did not recommend it for 2024, while J.D. Power's model-level quality score was more favorable, producing mixed signals across sources.

2024 was a weak year for Ford-brand quality specifically: the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study for that model year showed a marked miss versus the industry average, and Ford's multi-year dependability standing (3-year-old vehicles) has been bottom-third among mainstream brands for several consecutive study years.

The 2024 model year is directly named in this generation's most serious recall — a fire-risk fuel-injector campaign — and is also within the VIN range of a later steering-safety "do not drive" recall tied to front lower control arm ball joints, giving it a heavier-than-typical recall load for a subcompact SUV.

The 1.5L EcoBoost three-cylinder standard on 2024 Big Bend/Heritage/Free Wheeling trims avoids the head-gasket failures of older EcoBoost designs, but this exact engine/injector combination is the subject of the 858,000-unit fire-risk recall, and owner forums report injector, cooling-system, and carbon-buildup complaints for the generation.

2024 predates the 2025 refresh's added soft-touch dash and door-panel surfaces, so the cabin carries over the original 2021-generation mix of durable, rugged-oriented materials (rubberized surfaces, exposed fasteners on base trims) with hard plastics in most touch points — competitive for the price but plainer than what arrives the following year.

2024 was specifically a poor initial-quality year for Ford: the model year's J.D. Power Initial Quality Study score came in well below the industry average, though no distinct pattern of rattles, squeaks, or panel misalignment was reported for the Bronco Sport itself beyond the brand-wide quality miss.

Ford operates one of the largest dealer and service networks in the US, giving Bronco Sport owners broad nationwide access to service and parts.

As a high-volume nameplate sharing its platform and many components with the Escape, the 2024 Bronco Sport benefits from wide parts availability and a mature aftermarket, but brand-wide repair costs run above segment norms.

The 2024 Bronco Sport carries over the same 8-inch SYNC 3 touchscreen used since launch; Ford did not bring the larger 13.2-inch SYNC 4 unit to Bronco Sport until the 2025 model year.

SYNC 3 is straightforward to navigate with physical climate/volume knobs retained, but the small 8-inch display and dated graphics/response times feel behind rivals moving to bigger, faster SYNC 4-generation and Android-based systems.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every 2024 trim but wired-only — SYNC 3 does not support wireless phone projection on any Bronco Sport trim; wireless connectivity did not arrive until the 2025 SYNC 4 update.

SYNC 3's voice control handles basic commands but is not a natural-language assistant, and built-in Connected/SYNC navigation is a limited paid add-on that most owners bypass in favor of CarPlay/Android Auto maps.

Base 6-speaker audio is adequate; a 10-speaker, 560-watt Bang & Olufsen surround-sound system tuned for the Bronco Sport is standard on Heritage Limited and optional on Outer Banks/Badlands, giving upper trims a genuinely strong stereo.

The 2024 Bronco Sport keeps a mostly analog gauge cluster with a small central productivity/trip-computer screen rather than a configurable full-digital display; the jump to an 8-/12.3-inch full-digital cluster came later in the model's life.

SYNC 3 supports map and infotainment software updates via Wi-Fi/FordPass or USB, but the Bronco Sport does not receive whole-vehicle OTA updates on the scale of Ford's newer SYNC 4A-equipped models.

The FordPass app provides remote start, lock/unlock, vehicle locate, and fuel-level checks standard across all 2024 trims at no extra cost, though it lacks a digital-key feature.

USB-A and USB-C ports are provided for driver and front passenger (rear USB on later trims), with an available Qi wireless charging pad and optional 110V household outlet in addition to 12V power.

Ford dropped the factory SecuriCode keypad as a build option for 2024, pushing it to a $350 dealer-installed accessory, while proximity entry/push-button start remain bundled in the Tech Package rather than standard on volume trims.

A rear-view camera is standard across the lineup, with an available 360-degree camera/Trail View standard on Badlands and offered on Outer Banks via the Tech Package, plus rear parking sensors bundled in that same package.

No head-up display is offered on any 2024 Bronco Sport trim or option package.

Class-topping 41.7 in of rear headroom and a standard 60/40 folding bench make loading kids and gear straightforward, but IIHS rates LATCH ease-of-use only Acceptable for 2024 — lower anchors sit too deep in the seat bight and the tether anchor is easily confused with other hardware — and reviewers flag a low seatbelt buckle that's hard for kids to reach unassisted.

Ford Co-Pilot360 (AEB with pedestrian detection, Lane-Keeping System, BLIS with cross-traffic alert, auto high-beams, rear camera) is standard on every 2024 trim including base Big Bend, and NHTSA rates the vehicle 5 stars overall, but IIHS's updated side-impact test came back only Acceptable (not Good), keeping it off the 2024 Top Safety Pick list despite Good ratings elsewhere.

32.5 cu ft of cargo behind the second row (29.4 cu ft on 2.0L Badlands) helps on family trips, but Consumer Reports calls the ride firm/bumpy and reviewers consistently flag above-average wind and road noise at highway speed, both of which erode multi-hour comfort for rear-seat passengers.

The standard 8-speed automatic shifts smoothly for the segment, but the 181 hp 1.5L EcoBoost three-cylinder used on volume trims is adequate rather than effortless, with reviewers noting coarseness and turbo lag under hard acceleration, and the firm off-road-capable suspension trades away some low-speed refinement.

EPA combined economy of 26 mpg on the volume 1.5L EcoBoost AWD trims (dropping to 23 mpg on 2.0L Badlands), with an estimated ~$1,900/yr fuel cost, trails most subcompact SUV rivals in the high-20s to low-30s combined and there is no hybrid option for 2024, though the 87-octane regular-fuel requirement helps offset per-fill-up cost.

A tight turning circle and compact 172.7 in overall length make the Bronco Sport easy to place in city driving and tight lots, with a standard rear camera aiding low-speed maneuvers, though the 74.3 in width without mirrors is on the wider side for the segment.

Maximum tow rating for 2024 tops out at 2,200 lbs on the 2.0L EcoBoost Badlands when properly equipped, with the standard 1.5L limited to 2,000 lbs — usable for light trailers and small toys but not a meaningful work hauler, and notably lower than the tow ratings Ford would offer on this nameplate in later model years.

2024 carries a heavier-than-typical recall load for a subcompact SUV, including a fire-risk fuel-injector campaign (NHTSA 25S76, ~858,000 2021-2024 Bronco Sport/Escape units) directly tied to the standard 1.5L EcoBoost, plus a later steering-related do-not-drive recall covering front lower control arm ball joints — a poor foundation for sustained hard-use work duty.

The washable, rubberized cargo floor, oversized console bin, and an available cargo-area 400W power outlet give the 2024 Bronco Sport a genuinely useful work/gear accessory set for a subcompact SUV, with Badlands adding available MOLLE-style door panels, though the richest upfit features are trim-gated rather than standard across the range.

Standard Co-Pilot360 driver-assist tech helps on the highway, but true adaptive cruise and lane centering require the optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package rather than coming standard, and reviewers consistently flag above-average wind/road noise plus a firm ride at speed, while combined range runs a modest ~419 mi on the volume 1.5L (~370 mi on the 2.0L Badlands).

Standard 4x4 on every trim with up to seven G.O.A.T. terrain modes, and Badlands adds a dedicated off-road suspension, four skid plates, a twin-clutch rear drive unit, and 8.8 in of ground clearance on all-terrain tires — a genuine adventure enabler for the segment, though the wider-tire Sasquatch package that pushes this further wasn't introduced until the 2025 model year.

65.2 cu ft of cargo volume with the rear seats folded flat (60.6 cu ft on Badlands), standard roof rails, and the washable rubberized cargo floor with tie-down provisions give solid gear-hauling flexibility, though the absolute cargo figures trail several subcompact SUV rivals rather than leading the class.

Composed, planted handling for a tall crossover with controlled body roll; secure and predictable through corners but not sporty. Comfort-tuned trims (Big Bend/Heritage/Free Wheeling/Outer Banks) corner tidily on street tires, while Badlands' firmer off-road-tuned suspension and A/T tires (no Sasquatch package for 2024) trade a little on-road polish for trail composure.

Steering is accurate and reasonably weighted, giving a confident sense of control on winding roads and trails, but it communicates little genuine road feedback.

Firm, predictable brake pedal inspires trust in everyday driving on the volume street-tire trims (Big Bend, Heritage, Free Wheeling, Outer Banks). Badlands' off-road-biased A/T tires give up some stopping distance versus more street-focused rivals.

The volume-trim 1.5L EcoBoost three-cylinder (181 hp/190 lb-ft) shifts smoothly through its 8-speed automatic and has adequate everyday response, but Ford has a documented service bulletin for a boom/vibration condition tied to the engine's firing frequency and cylinder deactivation under light-to-moderate load. The optional 2.0L EcoBoost (Badlands, 250 hp/277 lb-ft) is markedly stronger and smoother.

Normal EcoBoost injector ticking is audible but inoffensive; the documented boom/vibration complaint at partial throttle on the base 1.5L three-cylinder is the main knock on refinement versus four-cylinder subcompact-SUV rivals.

Turning circle is unchanged across the 2021-2024 Bronco Sport generation, mid-pack for the subcompact SUV segment.

A high seating position and large windows give a commanding, easy-to-place view for city and trail driving alike, but the power seat lacks travel and thigh support for taller drivers, and light bolstering lets occupants slide around under cornering or off-road articulation.

Boxy Bronco styling and genuine trail capability — strong for a subcompact SUV, especially on Badlands with its standard off-road suspension and skid plates — give it more character and adventure appeal than appliance-like subcompact-crossover rivals, even though on-road dynamics are secure rather than thrilling. The 2024 lineup lacks the extra-capability Sasquatch package that arrives for 2025.

Every 2024 trim (Big Bend, Free Wheeling, Heritage, Outer Banks, Badlands) comes standard with 4WD, an 8-in SYNC 3 touchscreen, and the base Ford Co-Pilot360 suite (blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, pre-collision assist with AEB, lane-keeping, rear camera) — solid base content, but the larger 13.2-in screen, digital cluster, and full Co-Pilot360 Assist+ (adaptive cruise, evasive steer assist) are trim-gated extras rather than standard, unlike the post-refresh 2025-26 models.

Standard AWD and a competent driver-assist suite at a $29,795 base price is solid value, and Edmunds' expert testers scored the 2024 model a strong 7.6/10, but the segment has cheaper front-drive-standard rivals and reviewers still flag ride comfort and rear-seat space as letting the package down, keeping this fair-not-standout.

Five trims/editions span $29,795 (Big Bend) to roughly $38,390 (Badlands), and 2024 adds the heritage-inspired Free Wheeling special edition ($35,325) with 1970s-throwback graphics on a Big Bend base — a nice breadth-widening touch — but the lineup is still limited to two engine tiers (1.5L three-cylinder standard, 2.0L on Badlands) with no hybrid option.

Calendar 2024 was the Bronco Sport's best sales year to date at 138,150 units, a top-tier volume for the subcompact SUV segment, with Q1 and Q3 both showing year-over-year growth — a genuine high point rather than just a steady seller.

Ford is a mainstream brand, but the Bronco Sport rides the halo of the 6th-gen Bronco launch, and the new-for-2024 Free Wheeling heritage edition reinforces that lifestyle-brand tie-in, giving it a distinct image ahead of a generic crossover.

During its on-sale window, the 2024 Bronco Sport carried modest, regionally-variable manufacturer cash of roughly $500-$3,000 depending on trim, with larger $5,000 rebates only emerging in January 2025 as the model year was cleared out — meaningful but not aggressive discounting for most of the run.

2024 sits mid-cycle on the platform that launched for MY2021, ahead of the more substantial 2025 refresh (larger touchscreen, digital cluster, restyled fascias, Sasquatch package) — current and still competitive, with new special-edition trims keeping it fresh-feeling, but no major hardware or tech update this model year and a full redesign not expected until around 2030.

Edmunds' expert testers gave the 2024 model a strong 7.6/10, and it earned Good ratings in all six IIHS crashworthiness tests plus a 5-star NHTSA overall rating, but a Poor seat-belt-reminder score and Moderate LATCH-ease rating kept it off the 2024 IIHS Top Safety Pick list, and no major comparison-test wins or industry awards were found for the model year.