Many people in Martinsville, Danville, Rocky Mount, and Greensboro will have fond feelings toward the past, and that’s why retro chic is a thing. However, while retro style may be popular, so are modern convenience, comfort, and technology. There are several new vehicles on the market with a touch of retro styling, but it’s hard to think of any that blend it with modern convenience as well as the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport.
If you’re going to push retro chic with a product, you may as well go all-in, which is exactly what Ford is doing with the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport. While every version of the Bronco Sport employs retro styling with vehicle technology that’s entirely contemporary, two new models for the 2023 model year take it a little further. The two models in question are the Bronco Sport Heritage and Bronco Sport Heritage Limited, with the latter limited to a production run of just 1,966 units.
The Heritage model features a white roof, a white grille stamped with red Bronco lettering, and white 17-inch aluminum wheels, and you can have it in your choice from seven colors, including a new Robin’s Egg Blue. The Heritage Limited has a different grille, 29-inch all-terrain tires, leather seats, and white door inserts. The 2023 lineup starts with the entry-level Bronco Sport Base and goes to Big Bend, Heritage, Outer Banks, Badlands, and Heritage Limited.
Two engines are available for the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport, and the introduction of the Heritage Limited trim level expands the availability of the more powerful of the two available units. Most Bronco Sport models get powered by a 1.5-liter turbo-three that develops 181 horsepower and 190 lb.-ft. of torque. The turbo-three sends its power to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering an outstanding balance of performance and economy that most shoppers will be more than happy with.
The alternative is a 2.0-liter turbo-four that used to be exclusive to the Badlands trim level but is also now found under the hood of the Heritage Limited model. The turbo-four is a significant step up with its 245 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque, which goes to all four wheels through that eight-speed auto.
Some similar vehicles you can shop the Bronco Sport against don’t always have the most impressive safety credentials. However, Ford’s compact crossover bucks that trend with some of the finest safety credentials it could have. The outward vision is excellent, the standard active safety equipment is abundant, and the crash test scores are imperious. The NHTSA gives the Bronco Sport a five-star rating for overall safety, and the IIHS gives all trim levels its coveted Top Safety Pick+ designation.
Every model comes with standard active lane control, blind-spot monitors, automatic high beams, and automatic emergency braking. At the same time, optional extras include parking sensors and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go.
A 2023 Ford Bronco Sport boasts rugged retro styling, clever interior packaging, and genuinely impressive off-road capability, and it also represents good value for money. Check it out for yourself with a test drive from Nelson Ford at 201 East Commonwealth Boulevard, Martinsville, VA, or call us at (276) 638-2331 for more information and book an appointment for a time that fits your schedule.