First Drive: 2025 Ford Bronco Sport Sasquatch

Borrego Springs, California– “Drive fast enough and you’ll stay ahead of the dust cloud.” This instruction runs through my head as I tee up a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands Sasquatch at the starting gate of an autocross course in a desert near Borrego Springs, California. It’s drier than a Steve Wright punchline out here, and the wind is whipping across the parched landscape with great velocity.

Having been out in this spectacular desert region for a few hours, rock climbing and desert running this most off-road capable Bronco Sport yet, I’m already impregnated with fine sand. Everywhere. Even my teeth are permanently gritty.

So, what is a Bronco Sport Sasquatch? It’s a love letter to Bronco Sport customers who wanted ultimate off-road capability in Ford’s popular rough and tumble little SUV. You know, the “real” Bronco’s kid brother. Well, look out big Bronco, the Bronco Sport Sasquatch wants to rooster-tail some sand in your grill, and with its rear twin-clutch drive unit, it has the hardware to do just that.

The Bronco Sport gets a refresh for 2025 that includes a new 12.3-inch configurable digital gauge cluster and 13.2-inch central touchscreen rocking Ford’s newest SYNC 4 infotainment. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now wireless.

The marquee news is the Sasquatch Package that can be added to the 1.5L three-cylinder Outer Banks (($43,195 + $4995) or 2.0L four-cylinder Badlands ($48,995 + $4495), the latter getting the most boonie-bashing hardware. In the case of the 180 horsepower, 200 pound-feet Outer Banks, the Sasquatch package adds a twin-clutch rear-drive unit and locking rear differential, increased ride height, 29-inch 235/65/R17 Goodyear Territory All Terrain tires, new Off-Road mode, and more.

The 250 hp, 280 lb-ft Badlands Sasquatch really ups the game – ride height is increased further (up to 8.3 inches of front suspension travel and 8.7 inches of rear suspension travel) and is fitted with Bilstein rear shocks with position-sensitive damping and external reservoirs, replacing Bronco Sport Badlands’ standard monotube off-road dampers. The Bilsteins give a wider range of compression and rebound damping.

Select Off-Road mode or new Rally mode and a low angle front view appears on the central screen. Previously this Trail View was good for only up to 40 km/h (25 mph) – now it functions at high speeds to support Rally mode’s desert running capabilities. Also available is a Split View that displays the front tires using the cameras under the side-view mirrors. It works a treat when picking your way through rocky terrain. Standard front brush guard, steel skid plates, and modular, accessory-ready front and rear bumpers with steel bash plates protect your assets.

Earlier in the day, with the G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) dial turned to Rock Crawl, my green Badlands Sasquatch clamoured up a rocky ascent that might have a “real” Sasquatch scratching its hairy noggin and thinking twice. Using new-to-Bronco Sport One-Pedal Drive (from the big Bronco and Raptor families), we then chuddered down a narrow and rocky 20-degree descent. It automatically engages the brakes when lifting off the gas pedal, and with adjustable pre-set speeds, One-Pedal Drive also acts as an off-road cruise control of sorts.

With Rally Mode selected, the Sasquatch’s parameters get tuned for higher speeds and desert running. This mode holds gears longer for increased power on demand, sharpens throttle response, and increases feedback through the steering.

So here I am, sunburned and sand-encrusted, waiting to set the Bronco Sport Badlands Sasquatch loose on this rutted autocross course. G.O.A.T. dial spun to Rally, windows closed, sphincter clenched. Wham, and we’re off. The surface is really rutted, so I’m bucking like a… well, bronco, yet the little SUV is unphased, hammering through with controllable poise. It feels like my Sasquatch could do this all day. So could I. I can sense the rear clutch pack working, overdriving the rear wheels for some extra rotation while surely adding to the massive dust cloud that, thanks to the strong wind, will follow the Bronco and engulf it in the second half of the course if you don’t mercilessly hammer it coming out the technical middle section.

Gosh this is fun. I’m beating this specialized Bronco Sport like a government mule, and it takes it all in stride. Ford has transformed the Bronco Sport into a legitimately capable off-roader with the 2025 Badlands Sasquatch. And I can see out the windshield, which means I’ve left the dust… ahem, in my dust.