The Ford Bronco Sport is the compact SUV Ford is now pointing buyers toward. Production of the Ford Escape ended in December 2025, and Ford has no direct replacement planned. This post sets out what the 2026 Bronco Sport offers, using only published figures from Ford of Canada, Natural Resources Canada and Canadian automotive media, so you can judge whether it fits your own driving in Vernon and the North Okanagan.
In 2025, Canadians bought a record 31,586 Broncos and Bronco Sports combined.
What happened to the Ford Escape
Ford confirmed the end of the Escape at its 11 August 2025 press conference introducing the new Ford Universal EV Platform, as reported by The Car Guide. Its Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky is being retooled to build electric vehicles, starting with a midsize pickup in 2027.
According to The Car Guide’s 17 December 2025 report, that day was the final day of Escape production, ending a run that began with the 2001 model. The same report notes that Ford built enough Escapes to sustain sales well into 2026, and that Ford has no plans for a direct replacement. Ford itself referred to “the planned phase-out of the Ford Escape” in its second-quarter 2026 U.S. sales report.
The Car Guide reported that Ford will redirect Escape customers to the Bronco Sport, “which offers a similar size and the same gasoline engines”, or to the Maverick pickup. The Escape was a strong seller to the end: Ford of Canada reported Escape sales up 6.32% in 2025.
The 2026 Bronco Sport lineup
Ford of Canada lists four 2026 Bronco Sport trims: Big Bend, Heritage, Outer Banks and Badlands. Every one comes with standard 4×4 and Ford’s HOSS (High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension).
- Big Bend uses the 1.5L EcoBoost engine and lists a 13.2″ Centrestack touchscreen with wireless smartphone integration among its key features. A new Bronze Package, with 17-inch painted wheels and Sinister Bronze lettering on the grille and liftgate, is available on Big Bend for 2026 (Ford of Canada).
- Heritage adds an Oxford White-painted roof, Heritage fender badges and plaid-insert cloth seating.
- Outer Banks adds premium-trimmed heated front seats and steering wheel, a Shadow Black-painted roof and 18″ aluminum wheels.
- Badlands moves up to the 2.0L EcoBoost, an Advanced 4×4 system with a twin-clutch rear drive unit, 7 G.O.A.T. Modes, HOSS System 2.0 and steel-plated front bumper and underbody protection.
Ford of Canada also lists Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ as standard, with BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert, Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control.
| 2026 Bronco Sport | Big Bend, Heritage, Outer Banks | Badlands |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5L EcoBoost | 2.0L EcoBoost |
| 4×4 system | Standard 4×4 | Advanced 4×4, twin-clutch rear drive unit |
| G.O.A.T. Modes | 5 | 7 |
| Towing | 2,200 lb | 2,700 lb |
| Ground clearance | 7.8 in | 8.1 in |
4×4 and G.O.A.T. Modes for Okanagan roads
G.O.A.T. stands for “Goes Over Any Type of Terrain”. These are drive modes that adjust the vehicle for the surface underfoot. According to ford.ca, the Big Bend, Heritage and Outer Banks come with 5 G.O.A.T. Modes, and the Badlands has 7. The 2.0L Badlands also sits higher, at 8.1 in of ground clearance against 7.8 in for the other trims.
Towing is rated at 2,200 lb for the 1.5L trims and 2,700 lb for the Badlands.
Fuel economy, by the numbers
Natural Resources Canada’s 2026 Fuel Consumption Guide classes the Bronco Sport as a small SUV and rates the 1.5L 4WD at 9.3 L/100 km city, 7.8 highway and 8.6 combined. Its yearly fuel cost estimates assume 20,000 km a year and regular gasoline at $1.50 a litre.
| 2026 model (NRCan) | City / Hwy | Combined | Est. fuel / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronco Sport 4WD, 1.5L | 9.3 / 7.8 | 8.6 L/100 km | $2,580 |
| Bronco Sport Sasquatch, 1.5L | 10.2 / 9.0 | 9.7 L/100 km | $2,910 |
| Bronco Sport 4WD, 2.0L | 11.2 / 8.7 | 10.1 L/100 km | $3,030 |
| Maverick Hybrid FWD, 2.5L | 5.6 / 6.8 | 6.2 L/100 km | $1,860 |
Both Bronco Sport engines are gasoline EcoBoost engines. If fuel cost is your top priority and you do not need an SUV body, the Maverick Hybrid is rated at 6.2 L/100 km combined. Our post on why the Ford Maverick has become so popular covers it in detail.
Staying connected on the road
Ford of Canada lists the Ford Connectivity Package on the 2026 Bronco Sport with one year included. According to Ford of Canada’s Connectivity Package page, its Wi-Fi hotspot lets you “connect up to 10 devices at a time, within a 15-metre radius of your Ford”, and activation is required. The package also includes connected navigation, a voice assistant and audio and video streaming; Ford notes that some features, such as video streaming, may only be available while the vehicle is parked.
The sales numbers
Ford of Canada’s 2025 sales highlights report that combined sales of the Bronco and Bronco Sport hit a record 31,586 units, up 9.55% year over year. In the U.S., Ford reported a record 280,500 Bronco family SUVs (Bronco plus Bronco Sport) in 2025, up 19.9%, and its first-half 2026 report noted Bronco Sport Big Bend sales up 9.5%.
For what changed in the previous model year, see our post on what’s new in the 2025 Bronco Sport.
Who the Ford Bronco Sport suits
- You are replacing an Escape and want a similar-size SUV
- You want 4×4 as standard, not an option
- Your trailer weighs under 2,200 lb (2,700 lb with Badlands)
- You drive gravel, snow or trail access roads
- Lowest fuel use matters more than an SUV body
- You want an open bed for bikes or yard supplies
- You want a hybrid powertrain
- You tow up to 4,000 lb (with the 4K Tow Package)
See a Bronco Sport in Vernon
Current Bronco Sports at Watkin Motors Ford are listed on our Bronco Sport inventory page, with up-to-date pricing on every vehicle page. If you are trading in an Escape or another vehicle, our guide to how trade-in value is set in B.C. explains the process. Our showroom is at 4602 27th Street, Vernon, where we have served drivers since 1915, and our hours and contact details are online.
Ford Bronco Sport questions
Is the Ford Escape discontinued?
Ford ended Escape production on 17 December 2025 at its Louisville Assembly Plant and has no direct replacement planned, according to The Car Guide. Ford plans to redirect buyers to the Bronco Sport, which has a similar size and the same gasoline engines.
Is the Ford Bronco Sport 4×4?
Yes. Every 2026 Bronco Sport trim has standard 4×4, and the Badlands adds an Advanced 4×4 system with a twin-clutch rear drive unit, according to Ford of Canada.
What fuel economy does the Ford Bronco Sport get?
Natural Resources Canada rates the 2026 Bronco Sport 4WD with the 1.5L engine at 8.6 L/100 km combined, and the 2.0L at 10.1, in its 2026 Fuel Consumption Guide.
How much can a Ford Bronco Sport tow?
2,200 lb for the Big Bend, Heritage and Outer Banks, and 2,700 lb for the Badlands, according to ford.ca.
How many Bronco Sports were sold in Canada in 2025?
Ford of Canada reports Bronco and Bronco Sport sales together: a record 31,586 in 2025, up 9.55%, in its 2025 sales highlights.
Browse every Bronco Sport on the lot at Watkin Motors Ford, with current pricing on each vehicle.
Where these details come from: Trims, 4×4, G.O.A.T. Modes, towing, ground clearance and features: ford.ca, 2026 Bronco Sport. Wi-Fi hotspot: ford.ca, Ford Connectivity Package. Fuel ratings and annual cost estimates (20,000 km/year, $1.50/L regular): Natural Resources Canada, 2026 Fuel Consumption Guide. Canadian sales: Ford of Canada, 2025 Sales Highlights. U.S. sales: Ford Motor Company, 2025 full-year U.S. sales and Q2 2026 U.S. sales. Escape production: The Car Guide (28 August and 17 December 2025). Last checked 1 October 2026.