You always have to be prepared. On a warm spring day, I decided to drive to a remote cabin in Wisconsin. I was testing a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend, the version of the fun and sporty SUV that its meant for more seirous off-roading. When I saw it was warm, I mean it was almost 70 degrees, sunny, and there wasn’t any sign that the weather would change.
I pulled into a place called Nature’s Shores, which is a stunningly beautiful resort with a handful of rental cabins. I was here to test some gear and take photos. My first thought upon arriving was: I really want to start a fire. I grabbed some wood and cooked a few brats, then started my testing. I ventured out into the woods to test a handheld GPS and explore my surroundings. Turning a corner, I came face to face with a Fisher about the size of a small bear. We stared at each other, and only later did I realize it was out hunting in the evening hours.
I went back to my cabin at dusk and admired the Big Bend sitting in the driveway. As a passing thought, I envisioned how much fun it would be to drive through a little mud. It had not rained for a few days, and there wasn’t exactly any mud in the area.
The resort is incredible, a new favorite of mine. The cabins have a luxury feel with a full kitchen, a small gas stove, plenty of seating, and a large patio. The bathroom and shower reminded me of something you would find at the Four Seasons, not near a state forest in Wisconsin.
I retired to the main bedroom (there’s also a loft for the kids) and dozed off.
Testing the Big Bend in the snow
That morning, my wish was granted. I looked out and saw about four inches of snow that had come during the night, a thick dusting but still a major surprise. I immediately climbed into the Big Bend just to see how it would drive in the mushy, thick snow.
Fortunately, there were plenty of dirt roads—now caked with snow—to test out the driving dynamics. I twisted the G.O.A.T. dial (it stands for TK) and found one for snow. Amazingly, the Bronco hugged the road in a way that surprised me. No fishtailing at all, planted firmly in my lane, I punched the gas a few times just to see how the traction control worked and you can tell the tires were adjusting to keep me on the straight and narrow.
The best part was that none of this was expected. I was able to test snow mode for a couple of hours, heading to another remote park with something called the Million Dollar Bridge (I’d say it’s worth more like $50,000). I parked on a little side road with an embankment, curious if the Bronco would have any trouble when I was ready to go. Again, another surprise that the traction control kicked in again, this time preventing the tires from slipping at all.
I headed back to the resort and had no trouble on the paved roads, driving over ice and snow at normal posted speeds. I started to view the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend as a step up from other recent SUV tests, possibly aided by the massive winter tires installed on the Bronco as well. The snow—and the cabin—were both a surprise, but so was the impressive traction on slick roads.