2026 Ford Bronco Sport First Look: Less Equipment, Lower Prices

The Ford Bronco Sport is an appealing and highly competent compact SUV that offers pleasant driving dynamics and far more capability than one would expect off-road, especially in the Badlands trim level, which you might encounter crawling alongside its larger and completely different brother, the Ford Bronco.

Well, as is the case with the 2026 Bronco, changes have been made to the Bronco Sport. Continue reading to learn about those changes.

Alongside the first round of modifications made by Ford, there was a single new paint shade introduced, which is called Orange Fury Metallic Tri-Coat. It was soon joined by another color, which has been popular among the customers, Space White Metallic, which can be sometimes perceived as metallic-flaked, or silver-gray. On Outer Banks vehicles, Ford changed door handles into molded-in-color from body color as a standard option.

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Those who do not prefer the built-in tie-downs located at the front fenders, now have the ability to purchase this as an add-on, for a price of $495, along with Black Diamond Off-Road or Sasquatch packages. As a result, the cost of the former became $1,500, while Sasquatch costed $2,395 after this modification. However, a brush guard with a recovery hook was removed from the Sasquatch package, and it is now possible to order it for $395, in case if the owner purchased one of the above two packs.

Further interior modifications include the omission of both the wireless charger and universal garage door opener from all trim levels. So be ready to carry your chargers with you at all times. As far as 2026 models go, the Big Bend, Heritage, and Outer Banks trim lines will miss out on the standard 12.3-inch digital cluster display, which will now feature the smaller 8-inch model. If a customer wants the larger one, they can get it through the Sasquatch Outer Banks Package.

As for the Badlands trim and any Sasquatch package containing this trim, the front center console interior grab handle is missing in it. Moreover, rain-sensing wipers will no longer be standard for the outer banks trim lines. Finally, the liftgate-mounted adjustable flood lights present in the Big Bend are no longer standard; rather, they are moved to the Convenience package, alongside with an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and wrapped steering wheel for $1,800.

On the technical front, all 2026 Bronco Sport models are equipped with the 5G modem, and the new Connectivity Package from Ford is designed to leverage the advanced connectivity. It will be included at no additional cost for one year, although customers can also go for a seven-year connection at a one-time price of $745.

Ford will provide all trims with a free one-year subscription to the Ford Security package. The plan gives customers an opportunity to track their Bronco Sport using the FordPass app, which comes with functions like theft notifications, start inhibition, stolen vehicle assistance, and deductible refund. Customers have to pay $7.99 monthly or $79.95 annually to renew this service after one year.

When it comes to the Bronco Sport Badlands, the exceptionally capable compact SUV now costs $2,850 less. With an updated starting price of $39,260, the discount is achieved by removing several luxuries, including the heated steering wheel, six-way powered passenger seat, memory driver’s seat and side view mirrors, and remote start system. In order to get these features, buyers will have to pay $2,295 for the Badlands Tech Package. The ActiveX seating with perforations remains standard along with the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, eight-speed automatic gearbox, and twin-clutch rear axle.

An optional package for the 2026 Bronco Sport Badlands introduced at the end of last year includes the Bronze Appearance Package. This costs $1,500 but cannot be combined with the Sasquatch Badlands package ($2,395). This is a bit of a pity since bronzed colors work both on-road and off-road.

Base price of the Bronco Sport, called the Big Bend, is currently set at $33,840, an increase of $850 from last year. However, other variations such as Heritage (decreased by $600 to $35,390) and Outer Banks (decreased by $1,350 to $37,140) have become more affordable. Interestingly, Outer Banks comes with body-colored door handles. Free Wheeling variation has been discontinued.

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Another item worth mentioning here is the 400-Watt Pro Power Onboard inverter, an additional piece allowing you to power up devices using AC electricity. It is a relatively inexpensive feature, too, since it costs just $175. Plus, those who opt for the Sasquatch pack and do not mind the absence of sunglasses storage under the overhead console will have a chance to install auxiliary switches that allow activating different pieces of equipment that run on 12-volt batteries.

Speaking about options available on the basic Big Bend trim, fog lights are now no longer a part of the Convenience package. However, it is possible to equip the vehicle with a mini spare tire and steel wheels for $395. What’s more, all versions, except for the Heritage, can be additionally equipped with a $395 front brush guard; however, it will only be possible if you’ve chosen the Black Diamond Off-Road option for the Big Bend or the Sasquatch package for the Outer Banks and Badlands.