2024 Bronco Sport — Free Wheeling returns as Base departs

This U.S.-market Bronco Sport page keeps the unibody crossover separate from the body-on-frame Bronco. Big Bend became the regular entry series after Base was removed, and Free Wheeling revived a late-1970s Ford appearance theme. Outer Banks, Badlands and Heritage continued; the 2023 Heritage Limited is not carried forward without evidence.

Why it matters

2024 reorganized the lower end of the range around Big Bend and turned Ford's 1970s Free Wheeling graphics into a modern Bronco Sport series.

What this page covers

Market: United States; Bronco Sport peer family, distinct from the 2024 body-on-frame Bronco.

Body styles: Five-door unibody compact crossover with standard 4x4

What changed for this year

Base trim removed: Secondary model-year histories identify 2024 as the year Base left the U.S. lineup, making Big Bend the regular entry point. A factory order guide remains the preferred final equipment authority. [1] [2]
Free Wheeling added: The Big Bend-based Free Wheeling edition added red, orange, yellow and silver graphics, a contrasting roof and coordinated interior accents inspired by Ford's late-1970s Free Wheeling packages. [2] [3] [4]

Models and trims

Five documented series: Big Bend, Free Wheeling, Heritage, Outer Banks and Badlands form the supported 2024 range. Heritage Limited is not assumed to continue beyond its documented 2023 offering. [1] [2] [3]

Engines and transmissions

1.5-liter EcoBoost group: Big Bend, Free Wheeling, Heritage and Outer Banks used the turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder with an eight-speed automatic and standard 4x4. [1] [2]
2.0-liter EcoBoost Badlands: Badlands retained the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, eight-speed automatic and upgraded rear-drive hardware. [1] [2]

Capability and specifications

2024 U.S. sales are disputed: Ford-based year-end reporting gives 124,701 U.S. sales, while GoodCarBadCar reports 138,150. The 13,449-unit difference is unresolved; both are calendar-year sales claims, not model-year production. [5] [6] [7]
No invented production total: No factory model-year build total was found. Sales registrations or deliveries must not be relabeled as production. [5] [6] [7]

Colors and interiors

Free Wheeling's graphics are the story: The edition used multi-color bodyside graphics and coordinated cabin accents. Exact paint, roof and upholstery combinations should be verified on the window sticker rather than inferred from stripes alone. [3] [4]

Options and packages

Free Wheeling is appearance-led: Free Wheeling sits on the Big Bend mechanical foundation; its period-inspired presentation does not add Badlands' 2.0-liter engine or upgraded rear-drive unit. [2] [3]

Safety and recalls

Check campaigns by VIN: A 2026-09-10 NHTSA API snapshot returned eight Ford-filed campaigns for a 2024 Bronco Sport query. Counts and applicability change, so use the live VIN lookup. [8]
Inspect the individual vehicle: Verify recall completion and inspect tires, brakes, steering, suspension, cooling, driveline behavior, cameras and driver-assistance warnings. [8]

Owner and buyer notes

Authenticate Free Wheeling: Use VIN, window sticker, equipment group, paint label, upholstery and original graphics details. Decals alone can be reproduced. [3] [4]
Do not use disputed sales as rarity proof: Neither annual sales total isolates Free Wheeling, trim, drivetrain or build configuration. Edition rarity requires a series-specific factory record. [5] [6] [7]

Stories from this year

A 1970s idea on a 2020s crossover: Ford's original Free Wheeling programs spread bold graphics across trucks and vans. The 2024 Bronco Sport revival reused that visual memory on a modern C2-based crossover rather than recreating an old Bronco mechanically. [3] [4] [9]
A discrepancy larger than a trim run: The two published sales totals differ by 13,449 units. Showing both prevents a third-party aggregate from silently overriding Ford-based year-end reporting. [5] [6] [7]

Sources and footnotes

Bracketed references beside a fact lead to the document that supports it.

Ford Bronco Sport overview Secondary chronology with cited references
Cars.com 2024 Bronco Sport Free Wheeling review Contemporary automotive review
Ford Bronco Sport Free Wheeling announcement Manufacturer regional announcement
Ford Authority 2024 Bronco Sport Free Wheeling coverage Contemporary automotive coverage
Ford Authority 2024 U.S. Ford sales results Ford-based year-end sales report
Best Selling Cars 2024 Ford U.S. sales by model Secondary Ford sales table
GoodCarBadCar Bronco Sport U.S. sales figures Third-party sales-data aggregator
NHTSA recalls-by-vehicle API Primary federal campaign database; VIN applicability varies
Ford 1978 Free Wheeling brochure Manufacturer archival sales literature

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