Follow us today...
When Ford dropped the new Sasquatch edition of the Bronco Sport Badlands and Outer Banks trims, I was expecting it to be off the leash. Crazy big tires, more power, more rear-biased power distribution, perhaps a lift kit to take the Bronco Sport to 10 inches of minimum ground clearance. Serious stuff, for serious off-road enthusiasts. What Ford actually delivered was a bit less power, a tire that is 0.1” smaller in diameter than what it had previously offered, and a price increase over the prior top trim configuration of $3K.
I wasn’t happy with what Ford said it had done. On paper. Being the skeptic I am, I kept an eye out for the Bronco Sport Badlands trim on my local dealer’s lot. When one appeared, I drove over expecting to validate my disappointment.
Seeing the Sasquatch In Person and Reflecting On the Bronco Sport
Truth be told, I think the Bronco Sport Badlands has ample power. Would I pay a lot more for a bit more power and torque? Probably not. I have a mental block of paying more than $50K for a compact SUV, and anything beyond that is only interesting to me as a tester, not a buyer. So, I’m cool with the same powertrains, even if they have particle filters in some markets that steal a handful of horsepower.
I also don’t personally want a lift kit. 8.8 inches off the ground - minimum - is fine by me. I don’t really get lift kits. The Badlands is already lifted compared to almost every other compact SUV. So, where does the lifting end, and why? 10 inches? 12 Inches? More? How much? Two feet? Let’s be real. If this thing is going to handle safely on the road, it has to have a center of gravity that won’t allow it to barrel roll if you swerve around a pothole. So, although I expected a lift kit, I’m cool with the Saquatch having about 8.7 inches of - minimum - ground clearance.
Bronco Sport Badlands Sasquatch Tires
As with the lift kit, I really don't want bigger tires than the 29.1-inch 235/65/17 Falken WildPeak A/T3W tires I already have on my Badlands. In fact, I LOVE these tires more and more with each passing mile. They are the best all-around crossover SUV tires I’ve owned or tested, so I don’t know why bigger would help me. I am off-pavement weekly, and I drive this car in snow six months of the year. My needs are real, not imaginary, so big fat mud slingers would only be worse for me personally.
My Impressions After Seeing the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands Sasquatch
The Bash Bar - In pictures and on video, the Sasquatch’s front bash bar looked bigger than in person. Standing in front of it, I loved it and wished I could add one to my Badlands right now. Ford, please take my money, please take my Ford Pass points! The bash bar won me over instantly, but then I banged it with a closed fist. Beefy. Solid. And removable with a few bolts, by all appearances. What would I bash with this bar? I have no clue, but I’ll find something! A man with a hammer is never short of nails.
The Tires - About half of the total content I create is around tires. I do testing, reviews, and commentary on tires all day long most days. Suffice it to say I have a bit of a tire fetish. At one point, I owned 23 tires for three SUVs. My count is down a bit now, but I still have to walk around tires in the garage, and my shed smells like fresh rubber permanently.
One glance at the new 29-inch Goodyear Territory RT All-Terrain tires Ford switched the top trim of the Bronco Sport over to won my heart. Now, this is a qualified love afair, mind you. I have not driven on them yet. By all appearances, they seem to offer a lot of what the Falken WildPeaks did, but with more sipes. Since I drive my Bronco Sport on some pretty gnarly snow days and down some crazy icy hills, I’ll take all the sipes I can get. The more the better. I’ll live with the tread squirm quite happily.
Then I saw the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol on the side of the tire. Now we’re talking! Severe snow duty tires from the factory? Heck yeah. I’m all about severe snow days in the Bronco Sport.
The sidewall tread is downright vertical on these tires. I like a rugged sidewall on an SUV. If you’re not scuffing up the sides of your tires, you should be in a crossover like the Escape (not that there’s anything wrong with that). On many occasions, my Badlands’ tires have been mud-coated to the rims. A bit more tread on the sides can only be helpful.
Torque News is fortunate to have the support of the team at Goodyear. We reached out for a comment on the Wrangler Territory R/T's selection by Ford, and Chris Magana, VP NA Consumer Sales for Goodyear, offered this statement:
“Goodyear is proud to be selected as the exclusive OE tire supplier for the high-profile Sasquatch Package, which is an expanded offering on the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport. Key to this business nomination was the Goodyear Wrangler Territory RT’s aggressive off-road performance and on-road handling, which aligns with the DNA of the Bronco Sport (innovative GOAT Modes - Goes Over Any Terrain). The Goodyear Wrangler Territory RT’s rugged styling includes deep-treaded sidewalls, enhancing traction in mud and snow. This nomination underscores Goodyear’s leadership in off-road innovation and design.”
Bumpers and Recovery Hooks - I’ve been stuck and needed extraction in a Bronco Sport Badlands, and the front recovery hooks, along with the rear hitch, are very practical. YOU may never need help, but if you’re using these vehicles right, you may end up helping someone else. My Badlands has connection points on its trailer hitch, but the two dedicated hooks on the Sasquatch are better positioned. I lifted the hooks on the Sasquatch, and they are damped, so they won’t rattle as you drive. Smart. Finally, the bumpers are made of real metal with a tough-looking powder coating. Way better than plastic.
In the End, It Was the Price That Sealed the Deal For Me
My ‘23 Bronco Sport Badlands with its Premium Package, Hitch Package, and Falken Tire Upgrade had an MSRP including Destination and Delivery of $45,015. This 2025 Sasquatch with all the same stuff mine has, plus the goodies I just described, was priced at $47,000 even. Would I throw down $2K more for the bash bar and bumpers? But wait, there’s more!
I’d Take the Bigger Screen
For 2025, Ford changed up the infotainment setup. The screen is now bigger, you don't need an aftermarket dongle for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the HVAC controls are now on the screen. I like all of that except the HVAC control being on the screen. I’d take it over my existing setup for sure.
For comparison, Acton Ford had parked a Badlands without the Sasquatch package next to the one with it. Its MSPR is $43,965, including the Badlands Tech Package. So, it’s an easy $3K difference to upgrade to the Sasquatch. Worth it for me. You will have to judge for yourself if that fits your budget and lifestyle.
Summary - Sasquatch For the Win - Assuming It Drives As You’d Expect
I have not yet fully tested the Sasquatch, and you never really know until you try a vehicle how it will feel. However, I trust Goodyear to make a great tire, and the rest of the vehicle’s key moving parts are basically unchanged since 2021. Based on a trip to my local dealer who helpfully parked a non-Sasquatch Badlands next to the Sasquatch, it is easy to see the upgrades and benefits of the package. Be sure not to miss this new edition when you shop for your Bronco Sport.
John Goreham is a credentialed New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on Linkedin and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. Please note that stories carrying John's by-line are never AI-generated, but he does employ grammar and punctuation software when proofreading and he also uses image generation tools.
Follow us today...
Comments
Bro, I've never looked at a…
Permalink
Bro, I've never looked at a Bronco Sport and thought about its off road credentials. It just looks like a sad econobox trying to cash in on the now dead hype of the Bronco. The Bronco II was a worthy stable mate to the original Bronco. Cheap, capable, and dangerous as hell if you had a roll over or fender bender. Real men strapped themselves into the cheapest grade of steel in a top heavy short wheelbase death machine to save a couple of bucks on initial cost and fuel. This is the small Bronco the universe screams for! Instead we get an Escort with some plastic crap bolted to it and a cash grab name. I bet the frame on the Bronco Sport doesn't even rust if you dive through fog the way a cheap Bronco should.
LOL. Great overview, Bob.
Permalink
In reply to Bro, I've never looked at a… by Bob (not verified)
LOL. Great overview, Bob.
People add lift kits because…
Permalink
People add lift kits because some places require 10" of clearance to use the trails or the parks even some BLM lands that have open and public camping. A 1.5" lift overcomes those entry requirements by reaching 10".
I never knew that. Thank you…
Permalink
In reply to People add lift kits because… by Shawn B (not verified)
I never knew that. Thank you, Shawn B!
Bigger Screen. I rented a 25…
Permalink
Bigger Screen.
I rented a 25 for a week from LV to Moab, so attend the Bronco Off-Rodeo.
I own a 24 Bandlands and we drove 24 Badlands at the Off-Rodeo.
Some screen observations. Street Vehicles and Warm Weather States, larger screen is fine.
Off- Roading and Colder Climate States, the larger screen WITH LOSS OF HVAC, will be a tougher sell.
- The larger screen moves the right "hand warmer vent" from the 2-OClock position (good for standard) to the 5-oClock positions and trying to warm your hands with underhook steering is not great.
- The touchscreen having HVAC controls, while wearing gloves in winter means a much more challenging time with those micro adjustments you have to do in cold weather climates.
- Touch vs Dial/Button. Even at Off Rodea, I had to have my co-pilot managing the HVAC. I could not momentarily remove my hand from the wheel and sight unseen push the fan up/down or the temp up/down with a quick turn of a dial while keeping my eyes on the terrain. The temp differences in a full day of driving up and down the desert and canyons had us working our temp controls. it was not a set and forget.
- Minor, but real. Loss of the storage cubbie under the smaller screen was impactful. No more lip balm, hand sanitizer, etc. right conveniently there to be reached instinctively. Now it had to go lower spot where your phone might already be or in the arm rest.
Lots of little inconveniences add up and the benefits of a larger horizonal screen just were not there for me. It did not show further ahead on the map, as the height was not much more than the 24 screen once you take away horizontal screen space for the HVAC, Top Bar temp and things, etc. The right side benefit of audio display does not mean much, as I usually just tune in to one station or a YT playlist. All and all, I did't find the bigger screen all that much of a sales point for a 25. Even perhaps a bit of a step back in cockpit control management,
Thank you for this excellent…
Permalink
In reply to Bigger Screen. I rented a 25… by Shawn B (not verified)
Thank you for this excellent and very detailed observation of the new, larger infotainment system, Shawn B. I'm with you. I'd like to have the larger screen, but still have the HVAC controls divorced from the screen and be physical controls (buttons and knobs). I think your overview would be the basis for a great Torque News story in itself. We appreciate the time you took to post this.
If Torque News is serious…
Permalink
If Torque News is serious about credibility, they need to vet their contributors better. This article reads like it was written by someone with no grasp of off-road culture or basic technical understanding—especially when dismissing the importance of ground clearance. That’s not an opinion; it’s a fundamental concept in off-road capability. The tone swings between clueless and condescending, which is impressive in all the wrong ways.
And let’s talk about the visuals—using photos of the Bronco Sport instead of the actual Bronco? That’s either careless or deliberately misleading. Either way, it discredits the entire piece. If you want to write about off-road rigs, at least know what you’re looking at
Sorry you didn't like the…
Permalink
In reply to If Torque News is serious… by Kodiak Cunningham (not verified)
Sorry you didn't like the story, Kodiak. For the record, this story does not involve the Bronco in any way. From title to bio, this story refers to the Bronco Sport Badlands Sasquatch, a different vehicle, which comes with segment-leading ground clearance right from the factory. The Bronco Sport outsells the Bronco, and we cover the model here comprehensively.