Why the 2025 Bronco Sport is Your Best Investment for Maritime Off-Road Adventures

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport brings together compact size, trail-ready capability, and everyday practicality in a package that fits life in Nova Scotia. This isn't a vehicle trying to be the biggest or most powerful—it's designed to handle the roads you actually drive, from foggy mornings in the Valley to weekend trails at Kejimkujik or the backroads around Cape Chisholm.

Standard all-wheel drive and a 106.7-inch wheelbase give the Bronco Sport the agility to navigate tight forest trails and the stability to handle highway driving. The 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine delivers 180 horsepower, which is enough for daily errands and light off-roading without unnecessary bulk. Add in G.O.A.T. Modes (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) and you have a vehicle that adapts to whatever Nova Scotia throws at it.

Performance Built for Nova Scotia Roads

The 2025 Bronco Sport comes standard with a 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine that produces 180 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque. This three-cylinder turbocharged engine is smaller than you might expect, but it's designed for efficiency and responsiveness rather than raw power. It handles highway merges, passing slower traffic, and steep grades without drama.

What makes the Bronco Sport stand out is how it delivers that power. The engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that shifts smoothly and keeps the engine in the right rev range. Turbo lag is minimal—step on the gas and the power comes in immediately, which matters when you're navigating tight trails or pulling onto a busy highway.

Fuel economy sits at 9.3 L/100 km in the city and 7.9 L/100 km on the highway, which is competitive for a compact SUV with standard all-wheel drive. The auto start-stop system shuts off the engine at red lights and stop signs to save fuel, though you can disable it if you prefer.

G.O.A.T. Modes: Drive Smarter, Not Harder

The Bronco Sport includes five drive modes that adjust throttle response, transmission behavior, and traction control to suit different conditions. You select the mode using a dial on the centre console, and the system does the rest.

• Normal Mode: For everyday driving around Kentville, New Minas, or the 101. This is the default setting for dry pavement and light loads.
• Eco Mode: Optimizes fuel economy by softening throttle response and shifting earlier. Use this for highway cruising or when you want to stretch your range.
• Sport Mode: Increases throttle sensitivity and holds gears longer for more responsive driving. Good for mountain roads or when you want a more engaging drive.
• Slippery Mode: Designed for wet or icy roads. It reduces throttle sensitivity and adjusts traction control to help prevent wheel spin. This mode is useful for foggy mornings, rain-slicked highways, or the first snow of the season.
• Off-Road Mode: Adjusts the all-wheel-drive system to send more power to the rear wheels and allows more wheel slip before traction control intervenes. Use this for gravel roads, muddy trails, or sand.

The Badlands trim adds two additional modes—Rock Crawl and Rally—for more technical terrain. Most drivers will spend their time in Normal and Slippery modes, but having the flexibility to switch based on conditions gives you confidence no matter where you're headed.

Standard All-Wheel Drive

Every Bronco Sport comes with all-wheel drive as standard equipment. The system is rear-biased, meaning it sends more power to the rear wheels than typical front-biased AWD systems. This improves traction on loose surfaces and gives the Bronco Sport better handling in snow or mud.

The AWD system works automatically—you don't need to press a button or shift into four-wheel drive. Sensors monitor wheel speed, steering angle, and throttle position to determine how much power to send to each wheel. If the front wheels start to slip, the system instantly transfers power to the rear. This happens seamlessly and without driver input.

Ground clearance sits at 216 mm (8.5 inches), which is higher than most compact SUVs. That extra height helps you clear rocks, roots, and ruts on trails while also improving visibility on the highway. Approach and departure angles are generous enough to handle steep inclines and descents without scraping the bumpers.

Compact Size, Big Capability

The 106.7-inch wheelbase keeps the Bronco Sport nimble in tight spaces. It's easy to park in town, simple to maneuver on narrow trails, and small enough to fit in a standard garage. The overall length is 4,386 mm (172.7 inches), which makes it shorter than a mid-size SUV but longer than a subcompact crossover.

This size strikes a balance. It's not so small that you feel cramped inside, but it's not so large that you're fighting for parking spots or squeezing through narrow trail sections. The turning radius is tight enough to make three-point turns on forest roads without needing acres of space.

Despite the compact footprint, the Bronco Sport seats five adults comfortably. The rear seats have enough legroom for passengers over six feet tall, and headroom is generous thanks to the upright roofline. The boxy shape might not win design awards, but it maximizes interior space.

Cargo Space That Works

The Bronco Sport's upright design translates to usable cargo space. Behind the rear seats, you get 909 litres of storage—enough for camping gear, groceries, sports equipment, or a week's worth of luggage. Fold the rear seats flat and capacity expands to 1,479 litres, which is enough to carry mountain bikes, kayaks (disassembled), or a full load of building materials.

The cargo floor is flat when the seats are folded, making it easy to slide in longer items. Rear seat backs fold in a 60/40 split, so you can carry passengers and cargo at the same time if needed. The liftgate opens wide and includes adjustable LED floodlights that illuminate the cargo area when you're loading or unloading in the dark.

The interior includes practical storage solutions: door pockets large enough for water bottles, a centre console bin with enough room for a tablet, and a rubberized tray up front for phones and keys. There are six USB-C ports scattered throughout the cabin—two up front, two by the gear shifter, and two in the second row—so everyone can keep their devices charged.

Technology That Makes Sense

The 2025 Bronco Sport includes a 13.2-inch touchscreen with SYNC 4, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The screen is responsive and the menus are easy to navigate, even while wearing gloves. Physical buttons for climate control and volume make it easy to adjust settings without diving into submenus.

Ford Co-Pilot360 comes standard and includes:

• Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking: Scans the road ahead and can apply the brakes if a collision is imminent.
• Lane-Keeping System: Alerts you if you drift out of your lane and can gently steer you back if needed.
• BLIS (Blind Spot Information System): Warns you when vehicles are in your blind spots and includes Cross-Traffic Alert for backing out of parking spaces.
• Auto High Beams: Automatically switch between high and low beams based on oncoming traffic.
• Rear-View Camera: Standard on all models, with guidelines to help you navigate tight spaces.

The available 360-degree camera system gives you a bird's-eye view of the vehicle, making it easier to park in tight spots or navigate around obstacles on trails. This feature includes Trail View, which is activated in Off-Road mode and shows you the front wheels with overlays indicating width. It helps you place the tires precisely when navigating narrow trails or avoiding obstacles.

Built for Maritime Conditions

Nova Scotia weather is unpredictable. Fog rolls in without warning, rain turns gravel roads into mud pits, and winter brings ice, snow, and slush. The Bronco Sport's Slippery mode adjusts throttle response and traction control to handle wet or icy conditions, reducing the risk of wheel spin when accelerating from a stop.

The standard AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control monitors the vehicle's motion and can apply brakes to individual wheels if it detects loss of traction or the potential for a rollover. This system works in the background and activates automatically when needed—you don't need to do anything.

Trailer Sway Control is also included and works with the stability system to detect and correct trailer sway before it becomes a problem. If you're towing a small utility trailer or a camper and hit a gust of wind, the system applies brakes and adjusts power to keep everything stable.

The available Class II Trailer Tow Package gives the Bronco Sport a maximum towing capacity of 998 kg (2,200 lbs) on Big Bend and Outer Banks models, or 1,225 kg (2,700 lbs) on the Badlands. That's enough for a small camper, a pair of ATVs, or a utility trailer loaded with camping gear.

Key Takeaways

Learn More at Valley Ford

The 2025 Bronco Sport balances everyday practicality with trail-ready capability in a compact package. Visit our team at Valley Ford in Kentville to explore the Bronco Sport, see how the G.O.A.T. Modes work, and find out if this is the right vehicle for your Nova Scotia adventures.