Compare the2023 Toyota 4RunnerVS 2023 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 offers an optional Multi-Terrain/Panoramic 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.

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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available four-wheel drive.

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.

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 4Runner is safer than the Ford Bronco Sport:

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

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.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 4Runner first among midsize suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Bronco Sport was rated third in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

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 overall 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’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend 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 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The 4Runner has 7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Bronco Sport (23 vs. 16 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 has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Bronco Sport. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

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% to 43%). 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. 0 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.

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.

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.

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 4Runner will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the 4Runner will retain 62.96% to 69.47% of its original price after five years, while the Bronco Sport only retains 59.2% to 61.37%.

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.

The Toyota 4Runner outsold the Ford Bronco Sport by 24% during the 2022 model year.