2023 Ford Bronco Sport

SUV · 1.5L EcoBoost I3 · AWD

78/100

AutoVault's overall score, weighted for what a suv is actually for — performance, technology, comfort, reliability, safety and value.

Specifications

Engine	1.5L EcoBoost I3
Horsepower	181 hp
Torque	190 lb-ft
0–60 mph	7.3 sec
Top speed	112 mph
Drivetrain	AWD
Seats	5
Combined MPG	26 mpg (25 city / 28 hwy)
Range	399 miles
MSRP	$30,800
Body style	SUV

The verdict

What's good

GOAT Modes (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) are usable off-road from the factory
Configurable cargo floor doubles as a hidden storage area under the trunk
Trail turn assist cuts effective turning radius for tight trail navigation
Standard AWD with rear brake vectoring outperforms most crossovers off pavement

What's not

Highway fuel economy trails class rivals notably
Three-cylinder engine sound can feel coarse under hard acceleration
Body roll in fast cornering is pronounced for a sport-branded nameplate
Higher beltline and thick pillars create real blind spots reversing

The engine

Dragon

1.5L Turbo I3

This little turbo triple punches above its size with roughly 181 hp and strong low-end torque, plus the characterful, slightly thrummy exhaust note unique to three-cylinder engines. It feels eager and torquey in stop-and-go driving rather than buzzy and strained.

Part of Ford's EcoBoost 'Dragon' family, the 1.5-liter three-cylinder is an enlarged relative of the 1.0-liter triple and was introduced around 2018. It powers the Bronco Sport and the Escape, among other global Fords.

It uses cylinder deactivation, shutting down one of its three cylinders under light load, an unusual feat for an engine that already has so few cylinders.
It features an exhaust manifold cast directly into the cylinder head to speed warm-up and improve efficiency.

See the rest in AutoVault

The six sub-scores behind the 78 — performance, tech, comfort, reliability, safety and value
Market value today and year-by-year value history
Studio photography — exterior, rear and interior
Side-by-side comparison with up to four cars

Open in AutoVault