Hey all, need some quick advice! This forum has been super helpful, so I thought I’d ask one last question before I make my choice tomorrow. I’m stuck between two cars: the Bronco Sport Big Bend 2024 or a Subaru Crosstrek Sport/Premium 2024.
I want to know… is the Bronco Sport a solid everyday ride? It’s going to be my only car for daily commuting (20 miles each way), road trips, and even a big move from Texas to California. Plus, there’s the everyday grind of SoCal driving once I settle down. Do you think it can last 5+ years if I keep up with regular maintenance? I’m planning to get an extended warranty too.
I’ve had my 23 OBX for a year now, no issues at all. It’s been great as a daily driver and even helped with a cross-country move. Haven’t tried the Subaru, so can’t say much about that.
I’ve got a 2022 Big Bend I bought new for daily use. Almost two years in, 59,000 miles, no major problems. Only needed new tires at 40k miles, and yeah, the rear brakes do make noise when reversing in the rain or cold.
If you’re comparing side by side, I’d say the Crosstrek is better overall. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Big Bend—it’s a cool ride, handles off-road well, and I’ve used it a lot for outdoor trips. But my Crosstrek was smoother, had better gas mileage, and didn’t give me issues with things like CarPlay (which my Bronco does constantly).
For freeway driving and SoCal traffic, the Crosstrek has better acceleration unless you keep the Bronco in Sport Mode. I live in a small town and don’t deal with heavy traffic, so it’s fine for me, but it might not be ideal in a busy city.
If you’re into Subarus, I’d say check out the Wilderness edition too. My old Crosstrek was reliable and needed almost no maintenance. As for the Bronco, I’ve had to replace all four tires early on, had brake noise issues, and even got a cracked windshield in the first six months.
For the price range you’re looking at, if the Subaru is around $30k-$33k, I’d lean toward that. We have a fully loaded Sport and love it, but on paper, Subaru offers more for less.
Just bought a 2024 Bronco Sport Big Bend today with the convenience package and theft protection. It had 4,800 miles on it (used as a loaner before going back on sale). Listed at 29k but got it for 23k. So far, based on my research, it’s looking like a good commuter car.
Not sure what you were trying to say, but I had the same dilemma a while back. Ended up going with the Bronco Sport because I found it more comfortable during the test drive.
Bought a 2021 Badlands on 12/31/20, so it’s been about 3.5 years now. Have put 35k miles on it and used it for everything—moving across states, weekend trips, and daily commuting. The only issue I had was the paint peeling off the cruise control button, which Ford replaced. Otherwise, no problems. Replaced the tires around 30k miles.
The Badlands trim has a bigger engine and more off-road capability than the Big Bend, so keep that in mind.
Had a 2022 Subaru Crosstrek Limited before switching to a 2024 Bronco Sport Big Bend. Both are great cars, but I personally prefer the interior and style of the Bronco. Subaru had a bit more power, but I’m happy with my choice.
I own the exact model you’re considering, got it late 2023. Love it so far—it’s my first ‘nice’ car after years of driving an old Ford Focus. Use it for daily commutes and light off-roading. No issues yet, and it feels great in Sport Mode.
Since the Bronco Sport hasn’t been out for 5 years yet, it’s a bit early to judge long-term reliability. That said, I’ve been really happy with mine—it feels intuitive and performs well. Plus, I prefer the boxy design.
Been using my 23 Badlands for 6 months now as my only car, no problems so far. It handles daily driving well, and my kids love it. Also taken it on a few rough trails and it did fine.
Bought a new Bronco Sport, but it’s been a headache. Under 50k miles, and I’ve already had issues with the water pump and alternator. The dealer wanted $1500 just to fix the alternator. Not happy at all.
Use mine for both daily commutes and weekend adventures. Good mileage, plenty of space for trips, and it’s easier to spot in a parking lot compared to Subarus (which are everywhere here).