2025 Bronco Sport Sasquatch package brings big off-road capability to small SUVs
Mark Phelan- New Sasquatch package increases the off-road ability of Bronco Sport’s Badlands and Outer Banks trim levels.
- Interior changes include a big touch screen and a configurable instrument cluster with off-road gauges.
BORREGO SPRINGS, California — Ford’s growing Bronco off-road sub-brand just made life tougher for small SUVs with off-road aspirations. The new 2025 Bronco Sport compact SUV’s Sasquatch package raises the stakes, easily dispatching steep slopes, sharp rocks and soft, deep sand on a daunting off-road course in the parched desert east of San Diego.
It also performed ably on crowded California highways, winding roads and in a chill rain in a daylong drive into the wild and back to downtown San Diego.
Compact and midsize SUVs are among America’s most popular vehicles. Most will never go farther off road than carting beer to a rec league softball game, but some owners want more.
The new Sasquatch package aims to deliver that, as it does on the most capable versions of the larger Bronco SUV. A subtle line on the badges identifying trim lines denotes vehicles with the Sasquatch package. Flamboyant hood and rear fender decals are also available.
2025 Ford Bronco Sport trim levels and prices
- Big Bend: $28,495
- Heritage: $31,540
- Free Wheeling: $31,540
- Outer Banks: $33,390
- Badlands: $38,400
- Sasquatch package: Adds $3,535 to Outer Banks and $2,990 to Badlands
Source: Edmunds
Prices exclude new import tariffs and $1,595 destination charge.
What makes the Bronco Sport Sasquatch special?
The Sasquatch package is available on Outer Banks and Badlands trim levels of the 2025 Bronco Sport. It costs $3,535 on the 180-horsepower 1.5L Outer Banks, and $2,990 on the 250-hp 2.0L Badlands.
All Bronco Sport Sasquatches have all-wheel drive.
Competitors for the Bronco Sport Badlands Sasquatch
- Honda Passport TrailSport
- Jeep Compass Trailhawk
- Land Rover Evoque
- Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness
The less powerful Outer Banks Sasquatch has fewer direct competitors, because most compact SUVs make no pretense to off-road ability.
Both Sasquatches have a twin-clutch rear-drive unit that can handle 40% of total engine torque and shift all that to either rear wheel, a capability that came in handy when one wheel dangled in the air negotiating rocky desert trails.
2025 Bronco Sport Badlands Sasquatch features
- Steel skid plates for front, fuel tank and carbon canister
- Front brush guard
- Accessory-ready front and rear bumpers
- 29-inch Goodyear Territory all-terrain tires
- 17-inch black-painted aluminum wheels
- Four pre-wired accessory switches in headliner
- Four recovery loops
- 150-pound capacity tie-downs on front fenders
- Passenger grab handle on center console
- Twin-clutch rear-drive unit
- Locking rear differential
- 360-degree camera with wheel guidelines
- Electronic trail control
- One-pedal driving
- Normal, Eco, sport, slippery, off-road, rock crawl and rally drive modes
- 850-watt cooling fan
- Bilstein position-sensitive rear dampers with piggyback reservoirs
- Full-size spare
- 8.3 inches of front suspension travel
- 8.7 inches of front suspension travel
- Class II trailer tow package
- 2,700-pound towing capacity
2025 Bronco Sport Outer Banks Sasquatch features
- Steel skid plates for front, fuel tank and carbon canister
- Front brush guard
- Accessory-ready front and rear bumpers
- 29-inch Goodyear Territory all-terrain
- Four pre-wired accessory switches in headliner
- Four recovery loops
- 150-pound capacity tie-downs on front fenders
- Passenger grab handle on center console
- Twin-clutch rear-drive unit
- Locking rear differential
- 360-degree camera with wheel guidelines
- Electronic trail control
- One-pedal driving
- Normal, Eco, sport, slippery, off-road drive modes
- Full-size spare
- 7.7 inches of front suspension travel
- 8.1 inches of front suspension travel
- Class II trailer tow package
- 2,200-pound towing capacity
Driving impressions
I drove a Bronco Sport Badlands Sasquatch on desert roads, through deep, powdery sand and up and down steep, rutted slopes. It handled every challenge.
The rally mode was useful in fast off-roading, while trail control and one-pedal driving allocated torque and braking adroitly on rocks, ruts and inclines few other compact SUVs could manage.
Surround-view cameras with guidelines showing where the wheels were going provided big, clear views of the path ahead on the center touch screen.
The traction system was equally adept power-sliding around a slalom course on a flat, sandy plain.
The suspension absorbed punishing impacts climbing rocks and driving fast over washboard trails
A 1.5L Outer Banks Sasquatch acquitted itself well on the twisting mountain roads, flat desert routes and urban highways.
The interior features a big new 13.2-inch touch screen, configurable 12.3-inch instrument cluster that includes off-road gauges like an inclinometer, and a passenger grab-handle on the center console.
The only initially noticeable shortcoming is a lack of buttons and dials for climate controls. It’ll be difficult to use the row of small icons on the touch screen when the Sasquatch is bumping through the back country.
Why buy a 2025 Bronco Sport Sasquatch?
Real off-road capability is a rarity in the profusion of small SUVs. The Sasquatch package is the real deal, carrying the Bronco Sport through challenges far greater than most owners will ever face.It’s also comfortable and accommodating in the city, highway and neighborhood driving that is most owners' habitat, with niceties that include wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, heated and ventilated seats.
2026 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands Sasquatch at a glance
All-wheel drive five-seat compact SUV
On sale now
Price as tested: $44,630
Engine: 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder
Power: 250 hp; 280 pound-feet of torque
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
EPA estimated fuel economy: 21 mpg city/27 mpg highway/23 combined. Regular gasoline. $2,050 annual fuel cost
Wheelbase: 105 inches
Length: 175.1 inches
Width: 74.3 inches
Height: 72.1 inches
Ground clearance: 8.7 inches
Passenger volume: 102.3 cubic feet
Cargo volume: 29.4 cubic feet cubic feet behind second rows; 60.6 cubic feet behind front seats
Curb weight: 3,849 pounds
Towing capacity: 2,700 pounds
Assembled in Hermosillo, Mexico
Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.