Compare the2022 Toyota 4RunnerVS 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The Toyota 4Runner has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The 4Runner has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The 4Runner (except Trail Edition) offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Bronco Sport only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The 4Runner’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 4Runner and the Bronco Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Toyota 4Runner weighs 667 to 1338 pounds more than the Ford Bronco Sport. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the 4Runner for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Bronco Sport.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the 4Runner’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Bronco Sport’s camshafts. If the Bronco Sport’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the 4Runner’s reliability 51 points higher than the Bronco Sport.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 14th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 22nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Ford is ranked 22nd.

The 4Runner’s 4.0 DOHC V6 produces 89 more horsepower (270 vs. 181) and 88 lbs.-ft. more torque (278 vs. 190) than the Bronco Sport’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder. The 4Runner’s 4.0 DOHC V6 produces 20 more horsepower (270 vs. 250) and 1 lbs.-ft. more torque (278 vs. 277) than the Bronco Sport Badlands/First Edition’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota 4Runner is faster than the Ford Bronco Sport turbo 3 cyl.:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota 4Runner uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Bronco Sport Badlands/First Edition requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The 4Runner has 7.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Bronco Sport (23 vs. 15.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the 4Runner’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Bronco Sport:

The 4Runner’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Bronco Sport are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the 4Runner has larger standard tires than the Bronco Sport (245/60R20 vs. 225/65R17). The 4Runner’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Bronco Sport (265/70R17 vs. 235/65R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 4Runner Limited/TRD Sport has standard 20-inch wheels. The Bronco Sport’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Toyota 4Runner’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Ford Bronco Sport only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The 4Runner TRD Off-Road offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 4Runner’s wheelbase is 4.7 inches longer than on the Bronco Sport (109.8 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

The 4Runner’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53.6% to 46.4%) than the Bronco Sport’s (57.7% to 42.3%). This gives the 4Runner more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the 4Runner has a 1.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Bronco Sport Base/Big Bend (9.6 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the 4Runner to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The 4Runner’s minimum ground clearance is .8 inch higher than on the Bronco Sport (9.6 vs. 8.8 inches).

For excellent aerodynamics, the 4Runner has standard flush composite headlights. The Bronco Sport has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the 4Runner TRD Off-Road is quieter than the Bronco Sport Badlands (67 vs. 69 dB).

The 4Runner offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Bronco Sport can only carry 5.

The 4Runner has 22.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Bronco Sport (128 vs. 105.7).

The 4Runner has 1.3 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear hip room and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Bronco Sport.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the 4Runner’s middle row seats recline. The Bronco Sport’s rear seats don’t recline.

The 4Runner’s cargo area provides more volume than the Bronco Sport.

The 4Runner 5-Passenger’s optional sliding cargo floor is capable of supporting 440 pounds, to make loading and unloading cargo easier and safer. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a sliding load floor.

The 4Runner’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Bronco Sport’s (5000 vs. 2000 pounds).

The engine in the 4Runner is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Bronco Sport. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

When different drivers share the 4Runner Limited, the memory seats make it convenient. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer memory seats.

The 4Runner’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Bronco Sport’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

If the windows are left open on the 4Runner the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Bronco Sport can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the 4Runner’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Bronco Sport’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The 4Runner’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Bronco Sport Big Bend/Outer Banks/Badlands/First Edition.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the 4Runner Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The 4Runner is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The TRD Pro was selected by Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine as their 2015 4x4 of the Year. The Bronco Sport has never been chosen.