The Escape SUV is selling like hotcakes.
A Ford dealer sold a Bronco Sport demo vehicle to a customer in error. This was quickly resolved by allowing the customer to keep the unit and not returning it.
It appears that this won’t be the case again, as the Blue Oval apparently changed its rules for selling Ford Bronco Sport demonstration units. This information was obtained by CarsDirect from a letter that was sent to dealers last Wednesday.
Ford offers a “Mannequin Program” that requires dealers to keep their demo units in service for at least four months (or 4,000 miles) before they can sell them.
Ford has now changed its rules to allow demo units to be sold immediately without incurring crossover fees. The letter states that the decision was made based on customer feedback and dealer input, in order to allow dealers to sell end-users instantly.
The Bronco Sport is a hot product, despite the modest price rise at the end of 2020. Bronco Sport units have been marked up by Ford dealers as high as $10,000. This indicates that the nameplate is in demand.
The brand’s flagship SUV, the Ford Bronco, has been a huge success. However the Escape-based crossover is also very popular. It’s cheaper and offers respectable off-road capabilities as shown in several Bronco Sport reviews.
A little caution is advised. CarsDirect has reported that the Bronco Sport is more affordable than the Bronco Sport, despite the significant price differences. The Bronco has a higher residual value which results in better leasing deals. Buyers should be aware that dealer markups can cause problems so it is better to shop around for the best deal.