Among the competition in various car segments, none is likely more intense than the small sport utility vehicle market. The Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 and others combine for more than one million sales annually.

The Ford Bronco Sport, resurrected in 2021 with its bigger sibling after a 25-year absence, fits into the mix as the most off-road-oriented of the bunch. It’s a popular niche with a caveat. The Sport lacks on-road sensibility. Take it on a camping trip? Great. Take it on a long-haul highway trip? Not great. It’s clunky, loud and uncomfortable.

Offered in cleverly named trims Big Bend, Heritage, Free Wheeling, Outer Banks and Badlands, the Bronco Sport has two engine choices. All trims but the Badlands come standard with a turbocharged 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque. The Badlands has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, 245 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines feature an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive is standard.

The three-cylinder Bronco Sport is rated at 25 miles per gallon in city driving, 28 mpg on the highway. The four-cylinder variant achieves 21 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway.

Acceleration is adequate, 0-to-60 miles in 8.6 seconds via the standard engine, 7.2 seconds in the more powerful offering. The base price is $33,730, pushed to $37,695 as reviewed.

The Free Wheeling trim has arguably the most unique exterior color palate among mainstream vehicles. It’s a retro look with bright red, orange and yellow graphics on the sides and hood. It’s also equipped with 17-inch black wheels with red pockets, five-color seat inserts with multicolor stitching, red accents on the dash and doors and a uniquely designed badge on the center console.

Every Bronco Sport is equipped with an 8.0-inch touchscreen that supports Ford’s Sync 3 software and has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. SiriusXM satellite radio and a Bang and Olufsen audio system are upgrades. The infotainment interface is operable via touch-sensitive controls and voice commands. But it can also be operated with hard buttons as well as a volume and tuning knob. The rest of the interior is dominated by plastic of moderate quality. It gives the Bronco a utilitarian feel.

An acquired taste is required to appreciate the paint color coordination popular in the Bronco 50 years ago. You’ll never have difficulty finding the SUV in a parking lot unless there’s an unusual situation with two of the extroverted trims in close range. It’s also likely the vehicle will constantly receive comments, a good or bad thing depending upon the owner’s preferences.

Every Bronco Sport also comes with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced safety features. The package includes forward collision mitigation. It warns a driver of an impending collision and applies the brakes. Lane-keeping assistance corrects drifting back to the proper lane. Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning prompts an alert if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing. Automatic high beams are part of the safety features.

The Bronco Sport is best served by its off-road persona. Upright seating provided good overall vision. Legroom and headroom are generous. Two mountain bikes can transported in part because of the SUV’s raised rear roofline. The towing capacity is only 2,000 pounds. Seating is rated for five, with three adult occupants in the second row a snug gathering.

Since its return, the Ford Bronco has been an unqualified success. It doesn’t fare well against its rivals as a daily commuter or family hauler. Off-road, it’s the top choice in the segment. Buy it and get away as soon as possible, preferably nowhere near the highway.