The Ford Bronco Sport is an appealing compact SUV for buyers who plan to use their vehicle to get to faraway places. With standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and good ground clearance, the Bronco Sport is more than capable of tackling the kind of rutted dirt roads that lead to the best camping spots, and if that’s not enough, several packages and trim levels are available to extend its off-road capabilities even further.
2026 Ford Bronco Sport Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport
A year after replacing the old 8-inch infotainment screen with a much-improved 13.2-inch unit and making a digital gauge cluster standard, Ford only made a few small updates for the 2026 model year. In addition to some equipment and packaging updates, a new Bronze Package (optional on Big Bend and Badlands Bronco Sport models) adds 17-inch bronze wheels and bronze-colored accents inside and out.
Design
With its upright stance and safari-style roof that steps up to create more interior space and headroom, the boxy 2026 Ford Bronco Sport looks unique in its segment, and its exterior detailing varies quite a bit by trim level. The base Big Bend model doesn’t look stripped down due to its 17-inch gray wheels and intricate front grille, while the Heritage edition is a throwback to the 1960s and 1970s with white exterior elements and plaid interior highlights. The Outer Banks model gains 18-inch machine-faced wheels and a blacked-out exterior look. At the top of the lineup is the Bronco Sport Badlands with metal bash plates and aggressive off-road tires.
Powertrain
The 2026 Ford Bronco Sport comes standard with a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine that produces 180 horsepower, while a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 250 hp is standard with the Badlands. Either way, an eight-speed automatic transmission sends power to all four wheels. In its most efficient form, the 2026 Bronco Sport is estimated to deliver 25 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg combined. Adding the Sasquatch off-road package to the Outer Banks model with the 1.5-liter engine lowers those figures to 23/26/24 mpg, while the Bronco Sport Badlands and its 2.0-liter engine deliver 21/27/23 mpg. Buyers interested in taking their Bronco Sport off the beaten path will appreciate that optional Sasquatch package, which, on Outer Banks models, adds an upgraded four-wheel-drive (4WD) system, Ford’s HOSS 2.0 suspension setup, and several small updates to improve its off-road capability. The Badlands’ Sasquatch package goes further, with a twin-clutch rear-drive unit and seven G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) modes for the ultimate in Bronco Sport capability.
Interior
There’s a good amount of headroom inside the Ford Bronco Sport due to its upright dimensions and high roofline, but rear legroom, while sufficient for a pair of adults, is tighter than some of its main competitors. The Bronco Sport’s tall cabin also makes it pretty easy to fit big, bulky items inside, including tall objects such as mountain bikes. Interior finishings vary by trim level, with cloth seats in the Big Bend, unique cloth seats with retro upholstery in the Heritage, heated faux-leather seating surfaces in the Outer Banks, and perforated ActiveX upholstery (a durable leatherette) in the Badlands. An optional Badlands Tech Package adds perforated leather-trimmed seats with Dove Gray inserts and Orchid Yellow accents and stitching.
Technology
All 2026 Ford Bronco Sport models share the same 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment screen running Ford’s Sync 4 software. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, as is a six-speaker stereo system. A 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system is optional on some models. An 8-inch digital instrument cluster display is included with Big Bend, Heritage, and Outer Banks models, while the Badlands gets a 12.3-inch unit. The optional Ford Connectivity Package, which requires a subscription or trial period, adds a wireless hotspot, Connected Navigation, a voice assistant, karaoke, and, while the vehicle is stationary, access to YouTube.
