Compare the2022 Toyota Rav4VS 2022 Ford Bronco Sport

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Rav4 (except LE/XLE) offers optional Parking Assist with Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Rav4 Limited/TRD Off-Road offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera 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.

Both the Rav4 and the Bronco Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 is safer than the Ford Bronco Sport:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 is safer than the Ford Bronco Sport:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Rav4 is 1.5% to 1.9% less likely to roll over than the Bronco Sport.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 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 Rav4’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.

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 Rav4’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (203 vs. 181) than the Bronco Sport’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Rav4 is faster than the Ford Bronco Sport turbo 3 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 gets better mileage than the Bronco Sport:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Rav4 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Bronco Sport Badlands requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Rav4 stops much shorter than the Bronco Sport:

The Rav4 XLE Premium/Adventure/Limited’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Bronco Sport’s optional 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Rav4 XLE Premium/Adventure/Limited has standard 19-inch wheels. The Bronco Sport’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Rav4 Adventure handles at .84 G’s, while the Bronco Sport Outer Banks pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Rav4 Adventure executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Bronco Sport Outer Banks (27.5 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 LE/XLE’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Bronco Sport’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 LE/XLE has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Bronco Sport Base/Big Bend (8.4 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the Rav4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Rav4 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 Rav4 Limited 4WD is quieter than the Bronco Sport Badlands (66 vs. 69 dB).

The Rav4 has .5 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Bronco Sport.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4’s rear seats recline. The Bronco Sport’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Bronco Sport with its rear seat up (37.6 vs. 32.5 cubic feet). The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Bronco Sport with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 65.2 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Rav4 (except LE) offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or, optionally on the Rav4 Limited, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

The Rav4’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Bronco Sport’s (1500 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Ford Bronco Sport is only 2200 pounds. The Rav4 4WD offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Rav4, using the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the Bronco Sport.

When two different drivers share the Rav4 Limited, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Rav4’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.

The Rav4 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

Consumer Reports rated the Rav4’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Bronco Sport’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Both the Rav4 and the Bronco Sport offer available heated front seats. The Rav4 Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Bronco Sport.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Rav4 (except LE/XLE/Adventure) 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 Rav4 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Rav4 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Rav4 will cost $435 less than the Bronco Sport over a five-year period.

The Rav4 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Rav4 will retain 55.58% to 57.76% of its original price after five years, while the Bronco Sport only retains 45.57% to 47.3%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Rav4 will be $5510 to $8301 less than for the Ford Bronco Sport.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Rav4 and the Ford Bronco Sport, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Ford Bronco Sport by over five to one during the 2021 model year.