image: Ford
Last week, part of the Bronco Nation team went out to California to test two of Ford’s enthusiast-focused vehicles: the 2025 Bronco Sport and Maverick. The vehicles are built on the same unibody platform, but one focuses on rock crawling and the other on carving up the road. Both are loads of fun.
I especially enjoyed the Maverick Lobo’s lowered ride height and tuned steering –– unlike the segment I have the most experience in, my assorted modified Jeeps, cornering didn’t make me feel like toppling over was possible, a welcome change. And forget Bronco model year changes like rear HVAC or digital clusters as my personal trade-in drivers: The Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which take the learning curve out of connecting a trailer, may be that technology that gets me to upgrade out of my 2021 Badlands, if Ford ever brings it over to the Built Wild lineup.
Despite all that good stuff, my major excitement was for the other set of vehicles media guests got to drive on-road and off through the streets of San Diego and out to the desert lands of Borrego Springs: the 2025 Bronco Sport Outer Banks and Badlands with Sasquatch Package, and the Big Bend with Black Diamond Package.
images: Ford
Act Like a Bronco
Rewind to September 2021, and I’m behind the wheel of a new Bronco Sport Badlands, borrowed from Ford, heading from Michigan to Colorado to “prove” its worth off-road. Granted, Ford had already done this (see: Sport durability testing in Moab, for one), but the consensus was, and still seems to be for some, that the Sport isn’t impressive and worthy of the Bronco title. The Bronco Nation team was going to demonstrate otherwise, but for the first few miles off the pavement, even I was unsure of the stock tires’ durability and clearance height. Spoiler: I was wrong, and the Sport tagged merrily along behind Broncos with front and rear lockers on 33s and 37s, issue-free other than some underbody scrapes.
Read: Bronco Sport Badlands Does Colorado - You Should Too
Sleeper No More: Packages Give Sport a Visible Off-Road Boost
Jump back to 2025, and with the new Sasquatch Package and Black Diamond Package upgrades, Ford’s solved one key issue: the Bronco Sport looks tougher, helping people more easily recognize that the smaller horse shares the same DNA as the big Bronco. The brush guard, recovery points, hitch, and fender tiedowns indicate this is a vehicle you can take further — and get back from — with no problem.
Not only do both packages make the Sport appear buff, but they also truly enhance the capability of the vehicle and the enjoyment you can get from owning one. Every time I get to off-road a Sport, I find myself grinning at the sheer fun of navigating this smaller SUV over obstacles and into beautiful land.
On this most recent trip, Ford gave us ample time and opportunities to try out the 1.5L and 2.0L Broncos and both packages. We started with two hours of on-road drive time to get to four hours of off-road testing in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area, prime places for any Bronco owner and outdoor fan to check out.
From scenic primitive roads and technical spots to an autocross course, the Sports ate and asked for more. Here’s what makes them great.
Tech for the Trail (and the Commute)
images: Ford
Capability is critical, but if your SUV is going to spend Monday through Friday in traffic, you want comfort and ease of use too. Ford’s thought of that, and the motor company has loaded every 2025 Bronco Sport with a large 13.2-inch center display running SYNC 4 and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
In front of the driver, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster provides clean, easy-to-read info and Bronco Raptor-inspired animations that come to life when you switch G.O.A.T. Modes. There’s even a new "Bring Your Own Device" tray on the dash with USB-C ports and Bronco Bolts so you can mount your gadgets securely.
Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ is standard, with advanced safety features like adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, lane centering, and automatic emergency braking.
Built Wild Style Meets Everyday Versatility
images: Ford
Whether you’re considering dabbling in off-roading or want a more fuel-efficient, easier-to-park, and quieter alternative to the Bronco, there’s a Sport that’ll match your life from the workweek to weekend plans.
For 2025, the Bronco Sport packages amplify the trims’ versatility and lean into letting you make your Sport your own with new modular steel front and rear bumpers, fender tiedowns, and a growing list of Ford accessories that will fit. Want a brush bar? Wiring for lights? Need recovery points? It’s all built in, and ready for you to customize.
Inside, you’ll find new design elements that bring in more Bronco DNA, like replaceable grab handles and additional Bronco Bolts for mounting your devices or gear. Auxiliary switches are standard on all Sasquatch models and the Black Diamond Package too, making it less difficult to add pod lights or air compressors.
Tame the Wild with the Sasquatch Package
images: Ford
As with Bronco, the Sport Sasquatch Package gives owners the complete capability straight from the factory.
Badlands Sasquatch is king, with the highest level of suspension as well as the most G.O.A.T. Modes and armor, but Outer Banks Sasquatch isn’t messing around either. It too shares the twin-clutch rear drive unit, locking rear differential, 29" Goodyear Territory A/T tires, and steel front and rear bumpers ready for accessories. And if you want to rock crawl without left-foot braking and focus on steering, Trail One-Pedal Drive and Trail Control give you more control with less effort on both trims. The available 360-degree camera serves as extra eyes, seeing what you can’t when your Sport’s nose is pointing skyward or helping to spot your tires over obstacles.
Rally Mode, new for Badlands and Sasquatch Badlands, sharpens up throttle response, holds gears longer, and makes high-speed trail driving more fun and composed.
And with towing capacity up to 2,700 lbs. on 2.0L models, you’re ready to haul bikes, kayaks, or a lightweight trailer to your next basecamp.
Capability Across the Lineup — and a Package for Every Kind of Driver
images: Ford
While Sasquatch is the headliner, Ford didn’t forget about drivers who want an entry-level option that still delivers when the pavement ends. The Black Diamond Off-Road Package adds skid plates, steel bumpers, recovery points, and ups the trail cred of the Big Bend trim without jumping to the full Sasquatch setup.
You will feel the difference in suspension –– Big Bend with Black Diamond has the HOSS (High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension) 1.0, while Outer Banks Sasquatch has HOSS 2.0. Neither are a bad ride by any means, but you'll know you're on washboards with 1.0. Badlands Sasquatch jumps up to HOSS 3.0 with the Bilstein rear shocks with position-sensitive damping and piggyback reservoirs, and that's where everything bumpy really smooths out.
However, even with the Big Bend's lower ride height and lack of twin-clutch RDU, the Sport still tackled the obstacles with ease.
Through the end of June 2025, Ford is offering a $750 discount on the Black Diamond Package, so if you're considering a Big Bend, you've got even more incentive to add on the package.
Read: Shocks to the System: Understanding Bronco’s Four Levels of HOSS Performance
Off-Road Muscle, Daily Drive Comfort
Bronco Nation has covered both packages in detail, and you can read more about the various additions in these articles, including Melissa Clark’s brutal Rebelle Rally test:
- More 'Bronco' for 2025: Sasquatch Takes Sport to Another Level
- The Touchscreen in the 2025 Bronco Sport: Is Bigger, Better?
- What’s the Difference | Bronco Sport Black Diamond Package vs. Sasquatch
- 2,800 Mile Test Drive in a Bronco Sport Sasquatch
- Bronco Sport Sasquatch Auxiliary Switches| How To Use
It’s safe to say we’re fans of the add-ons, and we’ll keep sharing tips to help you get the most out of them!
A Fun, Functional SUV for Real Life and Real Adventure
The Bronco Sport continues to be one of our favorite platforms for people who want it all: off-road capability, trail-tested toughness, daily drivability, and good looks. The 2025 upgrades only deepen that appeal — adding even more value, more fun, and more ways to make the SUV your own.
For All Bronco Owners:
Do you have the Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and Pro Trailer Backup Assist on one of your Ford vehicles? How do you like it?
Have you off-roaded at Ocotillo Wells or visited Anza-Borrego? Tell us about it!
image: Ford
Heads up: Ford flew us out to California and housed/fed us, but all opinions are my own.
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