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In the never-ending series of cool vehicles we don’t get in Australia, say hello to the Ford Bronco Sport Sasquatch edition.
Built on the same platform as the Ford Escape mid-size SUV and the Maverick ute, the Sasquatch Edition gives the Bronco Sport a host of off-road kit that is typically reserved for the larger and more rugged Bronco.
Offered in the Outer Banks and Badlands trims, the Sasquatch kit includes chunky 29-inch all-terrain tyres from Goodyear, steel bumpers with front and rear recovery hooks, a nudge bar, as well as better Bilstein rear dampers on the Badlands variant.
The Bronco Sport comes standard with all-wheel drive and styling that mirrors the Bronco’s retro design.
The Outer Banks model is offered with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, capable of producing 138kW/257Nm, while the Badlands model boasts a punchier 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine that makes 177kW/375Nm.
It has a towing capacity of 1200kg, while the three-pot’s stands at one tonne.
The top-spec Badlands trim comes with a 1.0-inch lift over the Outer Banks trim, a torque-vectoring rear differential, underbody bash plates and added suspension bits.
Another Badlands exclusive is the rally drive mode that holds gears for longer and sharpens the vehicle’s steering response.
Both vehicles come standard with Ford's Off-Road mode and Trail One-Pedal Drive that lets drivers stop and go using only the accelerator.
Perhaps one of the coolest features that comes standard on both trims is the in-built straps and mounted tie-down points that provide an easier way to secure roof cargo. If only we got that here.
Inside, the Bronco Sport gets two twin 12.3-inch infotainment and digital driver’s display screens, both allow over-the-air updates with Ford’s Sync 3 software and come standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Ford branding is non-existent, there's just the classic Bronco stallion emblazoned on the steering wheel and a 'Bronco' moniker embossed on the vehicle's dashboard to remind you where you are.
In the US, the Outer Banks starts at US$41,000 ($60,472), while the Badlands is available for US$45,000 ($66,372).
Unfortunately, Ford has no plans to introduce the Bronco Sport into the Australian market, even though it no longer sells a compact SUV here. Even with production of the Bronco Sport commencing in China, an Australian release looks unlikely.
The closest we get is the Everest, which shares the same Aussie-developed platform as the Ranger ute and full-sized Bronco.
