Watch The Ford Bronco Sport Conquer The Infamous Hell's Gate

Off-Road /13 Comments

Would you attempt this in a Jeep?

Most drivers will never take their crossover or SUV off the paved road, yet off-road enthusiasts often complain that modern vehicles aren't tough enough to suit their extreme needs. Well, those doubters are about to be silenced. As some shoppers wait for the full-size Bronco to arrive on the market, the2021 Ford Bronco Sportalready offers more capability than the average driver will ever tap into. The Bronco Sport'sG.O.A.T (Goes Over All-Terrain) Modesmight sound like a gimmick, but they really work.

To prove it, Formuladrift champion Vaughn Gittin Jr.and King of the Hammers champion Loren Healy took a virtually stock Bronco Sport up one of the world's most challenging off-road obstacles, Hell's Gate in Moab. Even for a dedicated off-roader like the Jeep Wrangler, Hell's Gate is treacherous.

https://www.instagram.com/p/COQ37rNBvSP/
Loren Healy / Instagram
Loren Healy / Instagram
Loren Healy / Instagram

Based on the video, the Bronco Sport shown here was pretty close to unmodified, though it is wearing some awesome Center Line wheels wrapped in Nitto Tire Ridge Grapplers. Aside from the simple wheel and tire swap, this Bronco Sport is the same as any you could buy from any local Ford dealership. This is the Badlands trim, meaning it offers an impressive 8.8 inches of ground clearance from the factory, necessary to challenging off-road bits like Hell's Gate.

We've tested the Bronco Sport off-road and came away impressed by its capability for such a small vehicle. Having a professional driver like Healy behind the wheel certainly helps, but getting two wheels off the air in this video demonstrates the Bronco Sport's off-road chops.

Loren Healy / Instagram
Loren Healy / Instagram

This is not the first time a stock vehicle has made it up Hell's Gate, as Gittin Jr. previously showed it was possible in theFord Bronco with stock suspension. The larger Bronco was clearly visible at the end of the video, proving its capability as well, though we expected this model to challenge the Wrangler for the title of world's best off-road machine. Seeing the Bronco Sport making it up the same obstacle is far more impressive.

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