Ford ups Bronco Sport's off-road chops with steel bumpers, Sasquatch package

MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Ford Motor Co. is beefing up the Bronco Sport with more off-road muscle for the 2025 model year, adding steel bumpers, a new grille design and a Sasquatch package that includes larger tires and suspension upgrades.

Since its introduction in 2020, the Bronco Sport has carved a niche in the crowded compact crossover segment, with U.S. sales rising 28 percent last year. It is expected to take on a more important role within Ford's lineup as the company prepares to discontinue the similarly sized Escape while further leaning into the Bronco Sport's rugged reputation.

The freshened model, expected to arrive at dealership showrooms in November, comes with a larger, 13.2-inch center screen and a 12.3-inch digital cluster inspired by the Bronco Raptor. Beyond the new Sasquatch package, the Bronco Sport is borrowing features from the bigger Bronco including a one-pedal drive mode for off-roading and a device tray on the dashboard that lets customers add accessories such as GoPro cameras.

"We really wanted to close the capability gap between Bronco and Bronco Sport," lead designer Dan Kangas told reporters at a briefing here. "This update was not simply styling or a visual refresh. We brought actual functionality and new features."

That starts at the front, where Ford added steel bumpers that can be customized with brush bars or dune flags. It also strengthened the steel underbody skid plates.

Designers said it was important to give the vehicle steel accents that can withstand rocks, branches and other obstacles on trails.

"There's no faux in Bronco," Kangas said.

On some models, Ford added integrated tie-downs that pop in and out of the front fenders.

Ford cites customer demand for the upgrades. Officials say Bronco Sport owners camp, fish or hunt twice as often as others in the segment and go off-roading three times as much. The top two non-Ford vehicles traded in for the Bronco Sport are full-size pickups.

The biggest capability upgrade comes in the Sasquatch package offered on the Badlands and Outer Banks trims. The package includes special shocks, a twin-clutch rear-drive unit and locking rear differential, and 29-inch tires. A special Rally drive mode for off-roading holds gears longer, sharpens the throttle response and increases feedback through the steering.

The interiors of the Sasquatch package or Black Diamond trim have an available grab handle as well as auxiliary switches.

Ford said the Sasquatch package will be available in early 2025.

The Bronco Sport's two engine options, a standard 1.5-liter EcoBoost and optional 2-liter EcoBoost, carry over to the 2025 model year.

Ford did not specify pricing beyond saying the 2025 model would start at $29,995 — $200 more than the current model — plus shipping.