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In the words of Cosmo Kramer, giddy up.
The 2023 Ford Bronco Sport is a ride you won't soon to forget. I've done many test drives and have written many reviews over the past four years, and some cars are, unfortunately, forgettable. But I enjoyed my time with the Bronco Sport. It felt like a sporty, fun vehicle without the massive presence and bulky handling of other SUVs.
It's difficult to explain the feeling you get when you drive a certain car, however, I can point out some of my favorite features.
Quiet acceleration and smooth ride
With a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque, this ride handles well on the streets. Duncan Brady, writing for MotorTrend says, "The Bronco Sport isn't as compromised on the street as other off-roaders, either, with a taut but comfortable ride, playful handling, and responsive controls.
Though I didn't take it off-roading, I imagine it handles well with the high clearance and four-wheel drive. There are several different drive modes to help you drive safely:
- Normal
- Eco
- Sport
- Slippery
- Sand.
According to Ford Authority, the Sport mode "increases throttle response, provides a sportier exhaust sound and steering feel, and quickens shifting." This is going to be a much different driving experience compared to the Eco setting, which will scale all of these features back to get the best gas mileage.
Driving the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport around town was quiet. In fact, if I didn't have a podcast or song playing, it was almost too quiet. Accelerating quickly or climbing hills in Normal mode was a piece of cake, and the car didn't show any signs of overwork in those demanding moments.
I also noticed a difference in the ride experience after I got back into my sedan. The Bronco Sport is incredibly smooth and handles bumps in the road (and Utah construction zones) exceptionally well. As soon as I started driving my personal car, I missed the Bronco Sport.
Safety
If you're concerned about safety, rest assured you're covered in the 2023 Bronco Sport. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives this car five out of five stars — a coveted rating. Both front and side crash tests earned top marks for safety of passengers and driver.
Not only is the car itself considered safe, but it packs in lots of safety features. When I was driving on a relatively low-speed road, someone in front of me stopped abruptly. As I got closer to the car in front of me, my dash screen near the steering wheel started flashing red and an alarm sound started blaring.
Even though I had enough reaction time to stop, I appreciated the added security measures. Also standard in the Bronco Sport is automatic emergency braking in case you aren't able to react in time. To see a full list of all the security features, visit the Ford website.
Comfortable and thoughtful interior
The color and two-tone leather styling of the inside of the Outer Banks edition really blew me away. Opening up the door to the backseat reveals black and camel-colored seats with striped seatbacks. The different blend of textures also adds a warmer, more dynamic feel to the interior.
The backs of the front seats also have a zipper in the leather, so you can store valuables or even kids' toys out of sight.
Up front is spacious for both the driver and the passenger. The front seats are both bucket seats for added comfort. Plus there are eight cupholders in the car for all of your drinks!
The rear seats fold down flat and have rubber backing to prevent any scratching or stains. The entire cargo area, which is rather large, is covered in hard rubber/plastic to protect the interior from rough furniture or dusty camping gear.
Final thoughts
Brady for MotorTrend gives this car an overall 10/10 rating. I wholeheartedly agree. I thoroughly enjoyed driving the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport. All of the bells and whistles you want in a new car come standard and you get all of the sportiness of the Bronco without its larger, truck-like frame.
To test drive a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport, visit your local Ford dealer.
