2026 Ford Bronco Sport

Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2026 models.

Ford Bronco Sport
Pictured: 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend, front 3.15.21. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Body styles
SUV 1.5l, SUV 2.0l
Engines
1.5L 3-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Drivetrain
Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
MPG (best)
27 combined · 25 city / 30 hwy
Length
172.8 in
Curb weight
3,457–3,713 lb
NHTSA rating
Not rated
Recalls
6 campaigns

Pros & cons

What's good

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Watch out for

  • "Do not drive" recallCheck that the recall repair was done before buying or driving.

Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 26 similar 2026 models — not a review. How we calculate this →

Overview

The 2026 Ford Bronco Sport is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (1.5L 3-cyl turbo and 2.0L 4-cyl turbo) and part-time 4-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive.

It measures about 173 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 105-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,457 lb (SUV 1.5l).

EPA rates its most efficient version at 27 MPG combined (25 city / 30 highway), 4% better than the 2026 small SUV average of 25.9 MPG, for an estimated $2,500 a year in fuel.

It has 6 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.

What changed for 2026

No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2025 Bronco Sport — a carry-over year in the data.

Compared with 2025; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2025 Bronco Sport →

Trims, performance & features

Engine–1.5L 3-cyl
Engine–2.0L turbo 4-cyl
DriveAWD/4WD

Trims

Big BendBadlandsOuter Banks

Safety & driver-assist features

Automatic emergency brakingStandard
Pedestrian emergency brakingStandard
Blind-spot monitoringStandard
Rear cross-traffic alertStandard
Rear automatic brakingStandard
Lane departure warningStandard
Lane keeping assistStandard
Parking assistStandard
Backup cameraStandard
Automatic high beamsStandard
Keyless startStandard
LED headlightsYes

Built in: Hermosillo, Sonora

NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 3 2026 Bronco Sport configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →

Dimensions & weight

BodyLengthWidthHeightWheelbaseTrack F / RCurb weightWeight F/R
SUV 1.5l172.8 in74.4 in71.3 in105.1 in63.4 / 63 in3,457 lb57/43
SUV 2.0l172.8 in74.4 in71.3 in105.1 in63.4 / 63 in3,713 lb57/43

Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.

Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →

Engines, MPG & running costs

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCity / Hwy / Combvs. classFuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Bronco Sport 4WD1.5L 3-cyl turboAutomatic 8-spdPart-time 4-Wheel Drive25 / 30 / 27+4%$2,500324
Bronco Sport Sasquatch 4WD1.5L 3-cyl turboAutomatic 8-spd4-Wheel Drive23 / 26 / 24-7%$2,800370
Bronco Sport 4WD2.0L 4-cyl turboAutomatic (S8)4-Wheel Drive21 / 27 / 23-11%$2,900386
5/10EPA fuel economy score (best version)
5/10EPA greenhouse gas score
Spend $500Fuel over 5 years vs. average new car
25.9 MPG2026 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD average

EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2026 EPA class average. How we calculate this →

Safety ratings & technology

NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport.

Similar 2026 small SUVs

ModelBest MPG / rangeNHTSA overallRecalls
2026 Ford Bronco Sport (this car)27 MPGNot rated6
2026 Toyota RAV443 MPGNot rated2
2026 Ford Bronco20 MPGNot rated9
2026 Hyundai Tucson38 MPGNot rated6
2026 Kia Seltos29 MPGNot rated0
2026 Toyota Corolla Cross42 MPGNot rated1
2026 Ford Escape40 MPGNot rated3

Recalls (6)

Safety advisory: 1 recall for this model year carries a "Do Not Drive" or "Park Outside" warning. Check your VIN now.
Structure › Body · Aug 25, 2026

NHTSA campaign 26V550000 · 23 vehicles

Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Maverick, F-150, and Bronco Sport vehicles. Certain vehicle joints may be improperly tightened. This can lead to detached parts, unsecured cargo, degraded crash protection, electrical system failure, or a loss of vehicle stability.
Risk
Improperly tightened vehicle joints may lead to a loss of vehicle control, electrical failure, or detached parts, increasing the risk of a crash or fire.
Fix
Dealers will inspect and tighten the vehicle joints or repair and replace the joint retention mechanisms as necessary, free of charge. Owner notifications letters were mailed October 19, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S60. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 26, 2026.
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical · Aug 25, 2026

NHTSA campaign 26V548000 · 10,001 vehicles

Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles. The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power.
Risk
An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix
Dealers will inspect the engine pistons and replace the engine long block, if necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 3, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S61. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 28, 2026.
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint · May 27, 2026 Do not drive

NHTSA campaign 26V340000 · 4,653 vehicles

Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Bronco Sport and 2022-2026 Maverick vehicles. The front lower control arm ball joints may have been incorrectly installed or incorrectly repaired at the vehicle assembly plant, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the front wheel knuckle.
Risk
A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and repair the front lower control arm ball joints as necessary, free of charge.Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S36. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 29, 2026.
Electrical System · Apr 14, 2026

NHTSA campaign 26V239000 · 55 vehicles

Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Maverick and 2026 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L MPC engine and an engine block heater. The engine block heater may overheat when the vehicle is parked with the block heater plugged in.
Risk
An overheated engine block heater can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, and inspect and replace the electrical cord if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have an alternative option to replace the engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Owner notification letters were mailed June 10, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V343. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S52. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 14, 2026.
Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger · Mar 31, 2026

NHTSA campaign 26V201000 · 3,170 vehicles

Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Bronco Sport and Maverick vehicles. The Occupant Classification Sensor (OCS) unit may fail to correctly detect the presence of an adult or child in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk
Failure to correctly detect a passenger may result in the air bag not deploying as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix
Dealers will replace the passenger seat occupant classification sensor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C19. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 2, 2026.
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel · Nov 14, 2025

NHTSA campaign 25V788000 · 229,609 vehicles

Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Bronco and Bronco Sport vehicles. The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may fail at startup.
Risk
An instrument panel display that does not show critical information, such as warning lights or vehicle speed, increases the risk of a crash.
Fix
The instrument panel cluster software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC3.
Check your VIN for open recalls at NHTSA ↗

Not every 2026 Ford Bronco Sport is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.

Owner-reported problems

8Complaints to NHTSA since 2015
1Involved a crash
0Involved a fire
2Injuries reported
Unknown Or Other5
Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control1
Electrical System1
Engine1
Power Train1
Wheels1
Engine And Engine Cooling1
Air Bags1
Complaints received per month (last 24 months with reports)
26/05: 126/06: 126/08: 226/09: 326/10: 126/0526/0626/0826/0926/10max 3

Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.

Other Bronco Sport years

Compare all years →
YearMPG (best)LengthOverallRecallsComplaints
2025 Bronco Sport27172.8 inNot rated740
2024 Bronco Sport26172.8 in★★★★★8115
2023 Bronco Sport26172.8 in★★★★★14162
2022 Bronco Sport26172.8 in★★★★★15370
2021 Bronco Sport26172.8 in★★★★★16709

Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Ford. How we calculate this →