Ford Bronco Sport: Which Should You Buy, 2021 or 2022?

Most significant changes: There are no significant changes for 2022, a year that follows the Bronco Sport’s debut as a 2021 model. Minor updates include three new paint colors and some reshuffled options packages.

Pricing: Price increases are modest, at less than $400 for all but the top trim level. The base 2022 Bronco Sport starts at $28,910 — up $200 from 2021. The Bronco Sport’s four trim levels top out with the Badlands model, which starts at $35,585 — up $730 from 2021. All prices include a $1,495 destination charge.

On sale: Now

Which Should You Buy, 2021 or 2022? With only slight increases in price for most trim levels, you might as well go for a 2022 Bronco Sport. But with new vehicles currently in tight supply, you’ll likely be getting essentially the same vehicle if you can only find a 2021. As of late December 2021, about a third of the new Bronco Sports listed for sale on Cars.com are 2021 models.

The Bronco Sport compact SUV was all-new for 2021, and it continues into its sophomore year with no substantial changes. 

Related: 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Review: Who Ordered the Budget Land Rover?

The Sport shares some underpinnings with the latest generation of Ford’s Escape SUV, but upgrades like standard all-wheel drive add genuine off-road capability for adventurous getaways. In contrast to the Escape’s city-friendly styling and interior, the Bronco Sport has a rugged-looking interior and upright, squared-off styling that borrows macho elements from the full-size Bronco SUV; some onlookers might also see hints of Land Rover influence.

The 2022 model year brings some renaming of existing options packages, and the Bronco Sport’s optional power moonroof is available only as part of the SUV’s Convenience, Tech and Premium Packages. There also are three new paint colors — Bronze Smoke Metallic, Hot Pepper Red Tinted Clearcoat and Velocity Blue Metallic — while two 2021 colors are dropped.

The Bronco offers four carryover trim levels (the debut year also offered a one-off First Edition model). The trims include a well-equipped base model and a Big Bend trim with more convenience features and available options. Both value-oriented models include standard AWD, an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, and a basic suite of active safety technology.

Topping the line in price are two versions with differing personalities. The Outer Banks is more civilized, with leather upholstery, fancier wheels and upscale features. The Badlands is the bad boy, with more power, an off-road-tuned suspension, more aggressive tires, skid plates, a 180-degree front camera, its own cloth upholstery with improved cleanability and more-capable AWD with additional off-road drive modes.

Powertrains

Powertrains for 2021 carry over unchanged. All trim levels except the Badlands have a 181-horsepower, turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission, plus standard AWD and five electronic drive modes. The Badlands has a standard 250-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and eight-speed automatic, upgraded AWD and seven drive modes.

Safety

Unchanged from 2021, all Bronco Sports have Ford’s Co-Pilot360 bundle of active safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, automatic high beams and a blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert. Optional on all but the base model is upgraded Co-Pilot360 Assist Plus for $895, which adds adaptive cruise control with hands-on lane-centering and evasive steering assist, along with an onboard navigation system with speed sign recognition and satellite radio.

Pricing

Here is the Bronco Sport’s 2022 pricing, including increases from 2021. The totals include a required $1,495 destination charge, which remains unchanged.

• Base: $28,910 (up $200)
• Big Bend: $30,475 (up $260)
• Outer Banks: $34,725 (up $370)
• Badlands: $35,585 (up $730)

More From Cars.com:

• 2021 Ford Bronco Sport: When You Want a Bronco but an Escape Makes More Sense
• 2021 Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport First Impressions: More Capable Than Expected?
• 2021 Ford Bronco 2-Door and 4-Door: Jeep Has Some Homework to Do
• 9 Ways the 2021 Ford Bronco is Not a Jeep Wrangler
• Research Bronco Sport years and models

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