Test Drove a Bronco Sport

[EasternSierra]

People say this, and I've never understood it. It's an automatic transmission. Pull a lever, push a button, spin a dial--what's the diff? You put it into D and move on with your life.

I've driven the Bronco Sport so I can report on the actual experience. A chunky lever would have been more intuitive and more confidence inspiring for the shift lever. The shift dial is an easily turned small device that performs a critical function but with little feedback.

I'm a long-time photographer who's owned many cameras so I have plenty of experience with different UIs for hybrid electronic/mechanical items. Dials are great for many uses but not all.

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[V1Rotate]

Luckily we have choices in life. I purchased a 2021 Bronco Sport Big Bend as an interim vehicle until my ordered full size Bronco came in, which I thought would be 2 years. It worked well for me, I liked it and thought it was fun to drive. My full size order came in about 9 months later, at least a whole year earlier than I expected. I wanted to keep both, but at that time I couldn't afford it, so actually traded the Sport in for my full size. It served it's purpose and bridged a gap. Actually hated to see it go.

I think too much time is spent trying to compare things that were never meant to be compared. If they hadn’t slapped the branding on the sport but rather call it the “Escape Sport” then nobody here would likely have ever even know about it. However since it got called “Bronco” it gives some folks a hard time.. kinda like the 3rd and 4th doors to the “purists”.

 

[mcinfantry]

I drive an 2023 escape for work daily, i like it. I imagine a bronco sport would be even more enjoyable it has more miles on it than my 22 bronco….

 

[adam1991]

A lever would have been more intuitive and more confidence inspiring for the shift lever.

pray tell, what "confidence" do you need when making the ONE TIME switch from park to drive? While you're stopped and can look at it and put all of your attention to it if needed?

The shift dial is an easily turned small device that performs a critical function but with little feedback.

You drove it what...once? Anyone who drives a car regularly gets used to things like this quickly. This is why I put little to no credence in car reviews on items like this. The reviewer drives dozens of cars a week. The buyer buys once every several years. There's a big difference.

As for "critical function," what are the consequences of not making it into "drive" from "park"? Or the other way around? The consequences are that you have to adjust the rotation. Important function, sure; "critical"? No way. Brakes perform a critical function. Not this. (It's like the difference between involved and committed, as described by a ham and eggs breakfast.)

I'm a long-time photographer who's owned many cameras so I have plenty of experience with different UIs for hybrid electronic/mechanical items. Dials are great for many uses but not all.

I don't disagree, but there's a HUGE difference between "I use these controls constantly while using the tool" and "I use this dial once when I pick up the tool and then not again until I put down the tool".

Move to D. Drive to wherever you're going. Move to P.

Now, if you told me this was the "new interface for the manual transmission," sure that would be a bad idea. What, move a dial around from gear to gear and coordinate it with the clutch? The dial as a practical matter requires visual feedback--as does the silly screen controls, which need to go away. But my point is, with an auto trans you're switching it to "drive" ONCE--while you're stopped and can pay any amount of attention to the task. Same with switching it back to "park".

 

[lwilliams34]

I think too much time is spent trying to compare things that were never meant to be compared. If they hadn’t slapped the branding on the sport but rather call it the “Escape Sport” then nobody here would likely have ever even know about it. However since it got called “Bronco” it gives some folks a hard time.. kinda like the 3rd and 4th doors to the “purists”.

yeah, I loved the Ford Escape.. I have a Mazda Tribute that came off the same line. Great Car and drove like an old school SUV. It would have been nice to have them distinguish the Sport from the actual Bronco. I didn't start this thread to argue that, but to share my experience with test driving the Bronco Sport. I don't hate the car, in fact I was strongly considering it, but everything for me pointed to wanting the driving experience of the Bronco. Not sure why I didn't test drive a Sport right away.

 

[MNBigfoot]

I think we can all agree, whether auto or manual the shifter belongs on the column.

 

[MannyG20]

You act as if the dial thing does anything different than a shift lever.

They each do the same thing: tell the computer what the driver wants.

It's not as if that automatic trans shift lever is actually connected to any part of the transmission, and is therefore "superior" to the dial.

I think you have completely missed the point. There was never a mention of the shift lever being any different from the knob in terms of function. The issue for the OP is, to put it in modern terms, an issue of user interface. It is simply an entirely different way of changing drive modes and for some will take a bit of getting used to.

 

[dejones64]

I think we can all agree, whether auto or manual the shifter belongs on the column.

I remember those days, manual 3-speed on the column. But I do prefer my manual on the center console. Seems more natural to me.

 

[Gregus73]

I seriously considered a stripped Bronco Sport for my cabin. My budget was 27-28k and went with a new WRX instead.

 

[adam1991]

It would have been nice to have them distinguish the Sport from the actual Bronco.

Escape Bronco Edition?

 

[Ninjak]

I purchased a Bronco Sport HEL for my wife. It drives very nice, it's comfortable, (i'm 6'4 1/2) Has a rgreat sound to it, and is good on the gas. I have taking it off road and it was fine. Mind you, its not going to Moab but for some back trails and other things here in S.FL, there were no issues.

As for the dial, pffft does not bother me at all. Hell my GT500 has a dial too, along with paddle shifters, and coming from other manual vehicles, I know I could never outshift that setup in my GT500. Do I miss rowing gears, yes, sometimes, but then that performance slaps you in the face and you forget all about it. The only thing having a lever instead of a dial in an AUTOMATIC is for somewhere for you to put your hand on.

Oooo I think I am in a manual. STOP.

 

[JerryC]

Had a BS Badlands that I traded in for my 2dr. I hated to do that. It was great vehicle. Forget the Bronco nameplate and it is a great little vehicle. Lots of power, very good ergo's and much easier to drive than a Bronco. Lane centering is the bomb on long trips, and speed sign cruise control had saved me more than once in speed trap towns.

Super well sorted for ice and snow.

Only downside was 24mpg. But with 2.0 turbo it was hard not push the go pedal.

I keep trying to figure out how I fit another one into the budget. I haven't seen any fully loaded used Badlands Sports in my casual searches.

Regarding the dial shifter, our Ram truck had it up the dash where you could see it. That's much better than on the console, but muscle memory eventually kicks in. Not having the shifter opens up a lot usable space. If our Raptor had a dial it wouldn't bother me but that big macho stick does fit with personality of the Bronco better than a dial.

 

[adam1991]

coming from other manual vehicles, I know I could never outshift that setup in my GT500. Do I miss rowing gears, yes, sometimes, but then that performance slaps you in the face and you forget all about it.

This all the way. VW DSG. Porsche PDK. Dual clutch or GTFO. When people realized they couldn't beat the machine anymore, they switched to "oh, but it FEELS so much better, I'm so much more ENGAGED." Uh-huh.

 

[adam1991]

but muscle memory eventually kicks in.

of course it does!

Not having the shifter opens up a lot usable space.

Absolutely.

 

[Cux211]

I agree, I can't throw the Bronco around in town like I did my Mazda CS5, but it does surprisingly well on pavement especially since I got the Big Bend without all of the lift and heavy artillary.
As far as the transmission goes.. between that and my Mustang brothers complaining about the new 2024 model having ALL temp controls on the screen including the blower motor I think we've reached the point of diminishing returns.
Instead of the auto makers looking smarter they are just sliding down the hill in terms of good ole fashioned common sense.

Aeh that’s subjective, I throw my badlands sas around quite well in town but that’s compared to my f250 platinum tremor lol

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