This Fun-Sized Bronco is Surprisingly Capable at Trail Duty
Matt Farah of the Smoking Tire YouTube channel can usually be seen carving canyons in full-on sports cars like the McLaren 765LT. However, in this video, he takes to the trails with co-host Zack Klapman and tests out the all-new Ford Bronco Sport Badlands.
Let’s make one thing clear. The Bronco Sport isn’t designed to tackle the Rubicon Trail. If you’re a hardcore off-roader, you’ll want to wait for the upsized Bronco SUV or perhaps even its Sasquatch Edition coming out later this year. But, if your weekend plans involve mountain biking, back roads, and car camping, the Bronco Sport may be just the ticket.
Bronco Sport Badlands Kit
Based on the Escape crossover platform, the Bronco Sport is offered in five trim levels starting with the Base model and ranging to the limited-availability First Edition. The Badlands package sits just below the First Edition and offers up an array of off-road options. A 2.0L EcoBoost engine putting out 250 horsepower and 277 lb.-ft. of torque is standard on the Badlands.
An 8-speed gearbox and advanced 4x4 system with differential locking ability are also standard equipment. Also with the Badlands, you get underbody skid plates, hydraulic bump stops, and one inch of additional ground clearance over the base model. The electronic terrain management system has seven G.O.A.T. “Go Over Any type of Terrain” modes.
Put To the Off-Road Test
The Smoking Tire crew visit the Pioneer Trail at Rowher Flats OHV Area in Southern California to test out the Bronco. Farah sets the terrain system for maximum traction. “This trail is hard … So, we’re in locked 4-wheel drive, locked rear differential … traction control off … We’re in rock-crawley goat mode,” he said.
Despite the lack of low-range gears as you would find in a Jeep Wrangler, the Bronco Sport scrambles uphill and plows through ruts while appearing relatively composed. After making it halfway up the hill, Klapman takes over driving duties and pilots the Bronco to the summit.
“This is really impressive. This thing is doing so well, I kind of want to choose the more difficult lines,” he said. “The combination of intelligent electronics, decent hardware, and the right dimensions, and you can go through rougher places than many would expect.”
Source: The Smoking Tire YouTube Channel