For Lancaster drivers shopping for a compact SUV that can handle weekend adventures, the Ford Bronco Sport often goes head-to-head with the Jeep Compass, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4.

Compare their drivetrain options, horsepower, and ground clearance to see how they stack up:

The Bronco Sport puts 4x4 on every model, and the Badlands® tows up to 2,700 pounds. That may be enough to bring a small camper or a trailer of dirt bikes up to the coal country trails!

According to Ford, U.S. News & World Report recognized the Ford Bronco Sport Sasquatch as the Best Subcompact SUV for Off-Roading in its Best Adventure Vehicles awards. Editors based their off-road picks on ground clearance, approach and departure angles, skid plates, and all-terrain tires.*

Owners of recent Bronco Sport models often praise the styling, the comfortable seats, and how confident it feels on dirt roads and in snow. Many like the rubberized flooring and durable seats, which make sense if you bring a dog or muddy boots along. Others mention how easy it is to personalize.

Reading sits close to a lot of good backroads, from the switchbacks around Mount Penn to the gravel lanes near Blue Marsh Lake. The Bronco Sport's G.O.A.T. Modes® (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) adjust the SUV for whatever surface is under your tires. Big Bend®, Heritage, and Outer Banks® get five modes. Badlands® gets seven.

The Badlands® also adds metal bash plates, all-terrain tires, and Trail Control™ with Trail 1-Pedal Drive. Trail Control works like low-speed cruise control for rough ground, so you can focus on steering. The HOSS (High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension) system comes in three versions. Badlands® comes with HOSS 2.0, while the available Sasquatch® Badlands® Package upgrades it to HOSS 3.0.

For a driver heading to Rausch Creek Off-Road Park or a snowy trailhead in February, these features keep the Bronco Sport composed when the surface changes.

A weekend outside can mean a kayak run on the Susquehanna, bikes at Chickies Rock, or a dog that comes everywhere. With the rear seats up, the 1.5L models offer 32.5 cubic feet of cargo space. Fold the seats, and that grows to 65.2 cubic feet. On the 2.0L Badlands®, the numbers are 29.4 and 60.6 cubic feet, without the Sasquatch® Package.

Some other gear-friendly details make that space easier to use:

• Available MOLLE Strap System: lets you clip pouches and gear to the backs of the front seats on the Big Bend®.

• Available adjustable liftgate floodlight: lights up the cargo area when you unpack after dark at camp.

• Available Class II Trailer Tow Package: brings towing capacity to 2,200 pounds on 1.5L models. The Badlands® includes it as standard, with a 2,700-lb. rating.

Front passengers get 42.4 inches of legroom, and rear passengers get 36.9 inches, so friends ride comfortably to the trailhead. For a Lancaster driver who keeps the hiking pack packed, the Bronco Sport turns gear-hauling into a quick load-and-go.

Out near New Holland, PA, past farm lanes and covered bridges along Route 23, picking the right one comes down to how far off the pavement you plan to go. With four unique Bronco Sport trims to choose from, there's a version suited to different driving styles and priorities:

The 1.5L engine makes 200 lb-ft of torque, and the 2.0L makes 280 lb-ft, which you may notice on steep climbs. Appearance packages include the new Bronze Package on Big Bend® and Badlands® and the Black Appearance Package. The Sasquatch® Package adds more all-terrain capability to the Outer Banks® and Badlands®.