COMPACT Overlander
Motor Trend|September 2020
A LITTLE FORD YOU COULD REALLY ESCAPE IN
FRANK MARKUS
COMPACT Overlander

Every Jeep model carries a spark of the original flame kindled by the iconic WWII Willys original. This makes it way easier to sell Jeeps, even the ones that don’t still resemble the primordial jeep.

Ford (which incidentally built almost as many original jeeps for the war as Willys) wants in on that action. So it’s reviving its own nostalgic icon—the Bronco— and aiming it squarely at the Wrangler. But only one in four Jeeps sold in the U.S. is a Wrangler, and Ford needs its Bronco-mania to entice a wider audience. Behold the Escape-based Bronco Sport.

Escape Bones, Bronco Muscle

Yes, the Bronco Sport shares about 80 percent of its parts with the Escape, not the Bronco pater familias, but the sun never hits most of them. The two trucklets certainly look nothing alike. The 1.5-liter three-cylinder and 2.0-liter four-banger turbo engines and their power ratings carry over from Escape, though torque is downrated slightly for the Bronco Sport (2 and 5 lb-ft, respectively). The eight-speed automatic transmission carries over, too—with calibration changes—and there are two all-wheel-drive systems: the Escape’s and a torque-vectoring one for the Badlands trim level.

The suspension features unique control arms and knuckles that increase the suspension travel and broaden the front and rear track by 0.8 inches, bringing the tires right out even with the bodywork (rendering Bronco Sport unsalable in Europe). Unique springs and special 46mm-diameter monotube shocks greatly increase the oil capacity and hence the heat dissipation of these shocks when running fast over rough terrain.

This story is from the September 2020 edition of Motor Trend.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2020 edition of Motor Trend.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MOTOR TRENDView All
MOTORTREND SUV OF THE YEAR 2024 - CERTIFIED FRESH
Motor Trend

MOTORTREND SUV OF THE YEAR 2024 - CERTIFIED FRESH

THERE’S NO REST FOR SUV MAKERS IN THE INTENSE QUEST TO BE THE BEST

time-read
10+ mins  |
January 2024
THE CHEVROLET BLAZER EV IS THE 2024 SUV OF THE YEAR
Motor Trend

THE CHEVROLET BLAZER EV IS THE 2024 SUV OF THE YEAR

Once again, the bow-tie brand shows leadership in the electric vehicle space

time-read
9 mins  |
January 2024
AGENTS OF ZERO
Motor Trend

AGENTS OF ZERO

WE DID IT AGAIN: RUNNING OUR VW ID4 EV OUT OF ELECTRICITY, JUST TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS

time-read
7 mins  |
January 2024
THEY LISTENED
Motor Trend

THEY LISTENED

THE NEW TESLA MODEL 3 HIGHLAND FIXES NEARLY EVERYTHING WE HATED ABOUT THE OLD CAR

time-read
9 mins  |
January 2024
2023 Lexus RZ
Motor Trend

2023 Lexus RZ

Lexus says it will make only battery-powered vehicles by 2035, and the new RZ 450e is the brand’s first dedicated EV. This midsize crossover indicates Lexus’ future lineup will have luxurious appeal, but we find this first effort lacking in crucial areas.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 2024
2024 Land Rover Defender
Motor Trend

2024 Land Rover Defender

The Defender 130 is a tricky one to judge. On one hand, it potentially improves upon a design and package we previously lauded enough to crown as our 2021 SUV of the Year in the form of the standard Defender 110. The 130 is more than a foot longer than the 110 and has more room for people and stuff, stretching the existing design into a new body style. (The 130’s wheelbase remains unchanged.)

time-read
2 mins  |
January 2024
2024 Kia Seltos
Motor Trend

2024 Kia Seltos

If you’ve been a fan of Kia’s recent styling direction but don’t want to pay top dollar for it, the 2024 Kia Seltos is a great way to get a rolling piece of that design aesthetic at a reasonable price.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 2024
2023 Jeep Compass
Motor Trend

2023 Jeep Compass

When asked to identify an off-road vehicle, the average person will point to just about any Jeep.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 2024
2024 Hyundai Kona
Motor Trend

2024 Hyundai Kona

The Kona enters its second generation for 2024 with a new design language. It’s larger than the outgoing Kona, too, and its uncommonly ornate (for this class) and unmistakable design is something we’re already seeing in other upcoming Hyundai products. Having really liked the previous Kona, would our judges warm to this one?

time-read
2 mins  |
January 2024
2023 Ford Escape
Motor Trend

2023 Ford Escape

The Escape is one of those SUVs that hasn’t ranked at the top of its class for a long time, but every time we drive one, we’re pleasantly surprised. Although it perpetually feels a little outdated, there’s some inherent goodness baked into the Escape.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 2024