Is the Ford Bronco Sport Free Wheeling a Good SUV? 3 Pros, 3 Cons
Key points:
- Cars.com editors liked the Ford Bronco Sport Free Wheeling’s boxy profile, dual-access liftgate and ride quality.
- However, the 2024 model’s Free Wheeling trim had outdated tech, as well as a basic interior and an underwhelming powertrain.
The Ford Bronco Sport launched for the 2021 model year, offering compact SUV buyers a boxier and more rugged-looking alternative to more carlike competitors (including Ford’s own Escape). Inspired by the original Bronco of the 1960s, it also brought more than a little retro style. For 2024, Ford cranked up the retro factor with the addition of a new Free Wheeling trim, a throwback to a similar option and graphics package offered in the 1970s; it added multicolor bold stripes, matching 17-inch wheels and other distinctive bits.
Related: 2024 Ford Bronco Sport Free Wheeling Review: An Acquired Taste
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Shop the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport near you
Because the Free Wheeling trim is limited to cosmetics, with no changes to the powertrain or mechanicals other than those wheels, its driving experience is pretty much like that of most Bronco Sports. Overall changes to the Bronco Sport for 2025 include an infotainment update and other improvements, some of which address our concerns with the 2024 model covered here.
Cars.com Road Test Editor Brian Normile spent some time behind the wheel of a 2024 Bronco Sport in the Free Wheeling trim to see what’s new and how it compares with the last Bronco Sport we tested. Tap the link above for the details in his expert review; for a quicker look, read on for three things we like about the Ford Bronco Sport Free Wheeling and three we don’t.
What Do We Like About the Ford Bronco Sport Free Wheeling?
1. The Beauty of a Box
The Bronco Sport’s interior room is decent upfront, with an open and airy feel aided by a rotary shifter mounted low and out of the way. The SUV’s upright shape and large glass area make for good visibility all around, and the boxy profile helps make for decent cargo room. There’s plenty of head and shoulder room in both rows, too, but rear legroom is not as generous as upfront.
2. Trick Liftgate
A feature we’re happy to see is the Bronco Sport’s dual-access liftgate, which gives the option of either lifting it in one piece like a conventional hatch or opening just the window for smaller items — which is also handy for carrying longer items without having to drive with the full hatch open. While a little thing, the liftgate adds a measure of convenience that will likely be appreciated by the outdoorsy crowd Ford is targeting with the Bronco Sport.
3. Ride and Handling
The Bronco Sport’s more trucklike vibe extends to its driving experience, which is fine as long as you’re not expecting the more agile feel of a typical car-based SUV. The SUV’s steering provides decent feedback, and ride quality is good overall. However, it feels as if the Bronco Sport has a higher center of gravity, which makes it less at home on twisty roads when pushed.
Read More About the Ford Bronco Sport:
- 2025 Ford Bronco Sport Sasquatch Review: Mythically Capable
- How Much Is the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport?
- 2024 Ford Bronco Sport Embraces Free Wheeling Spirit
- Six Models Earn Top Crash-Test Accolades From IIHS
- Research the Ford Bronco Sport
What Do We Dislike About the Ford Bronco Sport Free Wheeling?
1. Retro Tech
Unfortunately, the retro vibe carried over to the 2024 Bronco Sport’s infotainment system. Rather than having the latest version of Ford’s Sync, our test vehicle was stuck with Sync 3. While simple enough to use, the system is several generations behind the latest version, leaving it with a dated look and feel. However, the good news is that the Bronco Sport retains physical controls for radio tuning and volume. (Ford addressed this by giving the Bronco Sport an infotainment update for 2025.)
2. Basic Interior
The cabin has a businesslike (if basic) look and feel, with cloth seats and a lot of hard plastic surfaces. Design details and material choices add visual appeal, and the Free Wheeling trim livens things up with red stitching and bold use of color to match the exterior graphics. It helps, but the overall look is still more functional than upscale.
3. Poky Powertrain
Our test vehicle had the 181-horsepower, turbocharged three-cylinder engine that powers all 2024 Bronco Sport trims except the Badlands. While performance and response are lively enough for around-town driving, our test vehicle tended to run out of steam at higher speeds, without a lot in reserve for highway merging and passing. Fuel economy is another issue, as the engine was EPA-rated at an unimpressive 25/29/26 mpg city/highway/combined for 2024. (It’s rated at 25/30/27 mpg for all but the Sasquatch trim for 2025.)
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