My Thoughts Exactly: 2024 Ford Bronco Sport Free Wheeling

It is 1977. Disco was heating up the dance floor. Saturday Night Fever was the movie to watch – if not for John Travolta and The Bee Gees. The surf was up, while Leif Garrett and Farah Fawcett-Majors became everyone’s pin-up.

Oh, yeah, and, I was in seventh grade. 

Ford wanted something to bring more vibe to their lineup. They created a line of special edition models with a five-stripe motif across their exteriors and interiors. That began in 1977 and ran until 1981. Free Wheeling special editions were available on the F-100, F-150, Econoline van, full-sized Bronco (the second-generation model built on the F-Series frame), and the Pinto. 

No matter wat color you got it in, the five stripe decal and interior insert – ranging from dark red to yellow – gave each Free Wheeling model a look that beckoned consumers to take them to the beach. 

It looks like that it is making a comeback for 2024. This time, it’s the compact Bronco Sport SUV. 

That is one thing about the Ford Bronco Sport. They seem to think that this is the vehicle that attracts younger folks looking for an accessible and affordable vehicle. It is also a play on brand equity, since the Bronco Sport seems to be canvas for anything retro, cool, and worth selling.

There is nothing wrong with that. If it sells, great! 

How does a Bronco Sport become a Free Wheeling model? It starts with the five-color dark red-to-yellow tone side decal – known as “sunset” – that takes over both the side profile and hood. Up front is a gray grille with white lettering on top of a red trim. On the liftgate the white-on-red lettering is placed on a light gray insert. To top it all off, Ford slaps on a set of 17-inch aluminum wheels with Race Red inserts. 

Inside of the Bronco Sport Free Wheeling are black cloth seats with the five-stripe trim on the seatbacks and contrasting stitching. Race Red trim appears on several points on the instrument cluster and door cards. 

Everything else is a 2024 Bronco Sport. The basic shape and interior have not changed since its debut in 2020 for the 2021 model year. There is no need to recall the details on the exterior and interior. You simply know what it is by now. 

However, this is the first Bronco Sport I have worked with that is powered by the standard 181-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder engine. This motor puts down 190 pound-feet of torque. It is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission and an advanced four-wheel-drive system.

So you know, this is the only driveline available for the Free Wheeling model. Certainly, the turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine has more than enough power to propel the Bronco Sport. The three-cylinder was fine. It went about its way just fine. On some passing maneuvers, there were some brief hesitation from the engine. It returned an average of 27.5 MPG on our care. 

Overall, the driving experience matched those of previous turns in the Bronco Sport. You can live with its ambition to be like its bigger brother. I appreciate how the Bronco Sport performed – including an extended test on the highway. It did the tasks I asked it to just fine. 

One test it actually passed was how well it drew attention from onlookers. You cannot be ignored when you have a graphics and appearance package such as the Free Wheeling. 

Prior to this, previous Bronco Sport models only got curious looks, followed by some feedback to the affect that it is not like its bigger sibling. Somehow, this tester got plenty of positive feedback for its looks. One asked whether this was a custom decal job. Others just thought it was “cool.”

To get into this cool ride, there are five 2024 Ford Bronco Sport models to choose from – the Free Wheeling model is one of them. Pricing starts at $29,795. This Free Wheeling tester came with a sticker price of $37,695. 

At first, I was a bit skeptical about the Free Wheeling package. However, if you look at Ford’s history and how they are positioning the Bronco Sport as a canvas for special and retro versions to help bump sales of their smaller SUV, then you’ll understand why they went back to 1977 for inspiration on this one. 

The question I would bring up is whether there is equity in producing retro versions of current models. Ford has no qualms doing this – they’ve done it twice for the Bronco Sport and once for the full-sized Bronco. They both provide the canvas to do these special versions. That you cannot deny.

However, if you want something more than just a Bronco Sport – this is one idea. If it came with the larger EcoBoost engine, then it would be even more enjoyable of a flashback to junior high. 

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by the Ford Motor Company

All photos by Randy Stern