Ep 35. Ford Bronco Sport

MotorWeek season 40 episode 35 features the eagerly anticipated review of the all-new Ford Bronco Sport. The episode is hosted by the veteran automotive journalist John H. Davis, and his team of experts, who are well-versed in evaluating the Car Of The Year contenders.

The episode starts with a brief history lesson about the iconic Bronco nameplate, which has been synonymous with ruggedness, toughness, and off-road capability for over five decades. The hosts then delve into the design and styling of the Bronco Sport, which shares some of its design cues with the larger, more capable Bronco.

The Bronco Sport is built on the same platform as the Ford Escape, but with a more sophisticated suspension setup and more ground clearance to tackle challenging off-road terrain. The hosts are impressed with the overall design of the Bronco Sport, which has a boxy, retro-inspired design language that harks back to the original Bronco.

The episode then moves onto the interior of the Bronco Sport, which is praised for its functional and ergonomic design, with plenty of storage options and clever features like the bottle opener mounted on the liftgate. The hosts note that the Bronco Sport comes with a number of advanced safety features like adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning as standard.

The next segment of the show covers the performance and driving dynamics of the Bronco Sport, which the hosts say is competent and refined on the road, with a smooth and quiet ride. The Bronco Sport comes with two engine options, a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine that produces 181 horsepower, and a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 245 horsepower.

The hosts are impressed with the off-road capabilities of the Bronco Sport, which is equipped with a number of features like four-wheel drive, a specialized terrain management system, and a robust chassis that can tackle rough terrain with ease. The hosts put the Bronco Sport through its paces on a challenging off-road course, and note that it performs admirably, with plenty of grip and control.

The final segment of the show covers the pricing and value proposition of the Bronco Sport, which is positioned below the larger Bronco and is aimed squarely at the compact SUV segment. The hosts note that the Bronco Sport is competitively priced, with a starting price of just under $30,000, and is well-equipped even in its base trim level.

Overall, the hosts are impressed with the all-new Ford Bronco Sport, which they say is a stylish, capable, and practical compact SUV that lives up to the Bronco nameplate's legacy. The compact SUV segment is highly competitive, with many worthy contenders, but the Bronco Sport stands out with its rugged, off-road capable persona, and versatile interior. The episode ends with the hosts giving their verdict on the Bronco Sport, and rating it on various parameters like design, performance, and value.