Look at ’em. That fun couple loading up the kayaks after a day of rafting. The family that took their Ford Bronco Sport camping in some far-off spot where no light pollution obscures the view of the stars. They look like they’re having fun.
These don’t have to be adventures only “they” have. You can do it too, and the Ford Bronco Sport is a highly capable compact SUV that can easily get you there.
If you don’t know enough about driving off-road, the idea of venturing off into the woods or the desert may be a little intimidating. However, Ford has a program that can help. The company’s Bronco Off-Roadeo is an off-road adventure experience available to select Bronco and Bronco Sport owners. There will soon also be a Bronco Raptor experience, too. The Off-Roadeo is included with the purchase of most new Bronco and Bronco Sport models; the vehicle owner is responsible for travel and hotel.
Bronco Sport Off-Roadeo
The Off-Roadeo has four locations: Moab, Utah; Gilford, New Hampshire; Horseshoe Bay, Texas; and Mt. Potosi, Nevada. And there are Bronco Sport-specific drives at the first three locations.
When the event launched for the Bronco Sport, the Off-Roadeo was available to people who bought the 2021 First Edition and 2021-2022 Badlands. If you buy any trim level of the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport this year, you can participate. This daylong event will give you guidelines on what to take with you and hands-on experience in their Bronco Sport Badlands models.
We went out to the Moab, Utah, location of the Off-Roadeo, to enjoy a day in the life of a Bronco Sport customer. We went through the experience of how Ford shows drivers what a Bronco Sport is truly capable of off-road. Trust us; it can do a lot more than you think.
On the Road…
After an overview of what to do to be a responsible off-roader – they are enthusiastic supporters of the Tread Lightly! program – it was time to hit the road. Getting into a silver Badlands trim level, the tires slightly aired down, and we drove on paved roads toward the trails. On the highway, the Bronco Sport was surprisingly quiet inside, comfortable, and pretty quick. The road’s long, gentle curves took the seven Bronco Sports through a canyon with some of the most stunning scenery in America. Red clay buttes towered over scrub against a vibrant blue sky dotted with puffy clouds. At times, the road followed the briskly flowing Colorado River.
The Badlands uses the Bronco Sport’s 2.0-liter, 250-horsepower turbo-4 backed by an 8-speed automatic transmission. It also has a twin-clutch all-wheel-drive (AWD) system with a differential lock, which isn’t available on Ford’s other compact SUV (the Escape). And until the addition of the Heritage Limited this year, it wasn’t available on any other Bronco Sport trim.
While we’re at it, let’s get this out of the way now: While there are some shared elements of the Bronco Sport and Escape, they are very different vehicles. The Bronco Sport has a wider track, more ground clearance, and a shorter wheelbase and length, making for a tidier off-road vehicle. Yet it’s taller, so cargo space is comparable. Those key differences, plus the Bronco Sport’s G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Terrain) modes, are why a Bronco Sport can thrive off-road and the Escape…well… can’t. And, of course, the vehicles look totally different and serve different purposes. The very well-equipped Badlands trim level (starting at $38,090) is the best example of how different the Bronco Sport is.
…and Off
Every vehicle had a walkie-talkie in it, and as we headed toward the dirt, the trail guides made recommendations on what to bring along for an off-road trip. Hopefully, a Bronco Sport owner will have a codriver with them because the notes about food, water, and recovery equipment were sage advice worth noting. Our trail guides were great communicators. They were expert-level, enthusiastic off-roaders with a deep respect for nature. You can’t ask for more than that in someone teaching off-road first-timers.
After trying out the Normal, Eco, and Sport G.O.A.T. modes on the road, it was time to test out the others. We started on Owl Draw Road, operating in Sand mode until we reached more technical sections. Our caravan traveled on a wide range of trails throughout the day. Because this is a pre-charted route meant to teach drivers about off-road skills, the guides could let our group know in advance when we would need to change modes. With a turn of the dial, we reconfigured the Bronco Sport for the different terrain.
This SUV was an absolute blast on loose dirt and sand. Easy to control and confident at speed – we didn’t try anything crazy – and keeping momentum while staying on course was easy. As we continued on, we encountered a rutted-out stretch. Following the trail leader’s guidance, we all turned the dial to Mud/Ruts and kept the tires out of the ruts.
The Bronco Sport has an off-road camera that shows you on the multimedia screen what’s ahead on the trail. While we would’ve liked to have a zoom option, this camera came in especially handy when driving up and over a steep hill.
On-the-Trail Training
Fun fact about the Bronco Sport: if you want to get a good idea of where the front tires are, use the Bronco Sport’s hood as a guide. The hump on either side is a good reference point for each tire. That came in especially handy when the goal was to place the front driver’s side wheel on a rock to get past an obstacle. It was also useful when straddling a rut or a low shrub in the middle of the trail.
The trail guides served as spotters on the most technical parts of the drive. These were the sections where the Bronco Sport lifted a wheel, or we had to get past a boulder by taking one very specific line. Needless to say, Rock Crawl mode and the differential lock came in very handy. The trail guides taught braking techniques for descending steep hills. They showed us how Trail Control works. We went through extremely loose dirt with the help of TRED recovery boards.
While there are no restrooms on the trail, we did have a pleasant lunch break. The vistas we saw included the La Sal Mountains, as well as the back of Arches National Park. These are not views you can enjoy from regular roads. And the views were breathtaking.
Throughout the day until nearly 6 p.m., we put the Badlands through its paces over more than 30 miles of off-road trails, continuing to test the Bronco Sport on various surfaces. The most we had to do to prep the Ford was to turn a dial and sometimes push a button. We went back to the main Off-Roadeo building with a new appreciation for the Bronco Sport and the realization that this model is so very different from its Escape cousin.
Get Out There!
Not only does the Off-Roadeo show what the Bronco Sport can do, it gives drivers a sense of confidence about what they can do, and it also offers smart guidelines to keep everyone safe. You can visit the official website if you’re curious about the Off-Roadeo and are a qualifying owner. There’s a $50 reservation fee. The program hints that it may expand beyond the Bronco and Bronco Sport community, but as of now, no specifics lurk on the Off-Roadeo website.
If you decide to participate in the Off-Roadeo, the next time you wonder what it would be like to go on that outdoor adventure, you’ll have helpful training to get you on your way.
