Compare the2023 Ford BroncoVS 2023 Toyota Tacoma

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Bronco have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Toyota Tacoma doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Bronco has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Full-time four-wheel drive is optional on the Bronco. Full-time four-wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the Tacoma. Four-wheel drive of any type costs extra on the Tacoma.

Both the Bronco and the Tacoma have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

Warranty

There are over 2 times as many Ford dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Bronco’s warranty.

Reliability

The Bronco has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Bronco has a standard 800-amp battery. The Tacoma’s 582-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

Engine

The Bronco has more powerful engines than the Tacoma:

	Horsepower	Torque
Bronco 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder	300 HP	325 lbs.-ft.
Bronco 2.7 turbo V6	330 HP	415 lbs.-ft.
Bronco Raptor 3.0 turbo V6	418 HP	440 lbs.-ft.
Tacoma 2.7 DOHC 4-cylinder	159 HP	180 lbs.-ft.
Tacoma 3.5 DOHC V6	278 HP	265 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the Ford Bronco turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Toyota Tacoma V6 (manual transmissions tested):

	Bronco	Tacoma
Zero to 60 MPH	7 sec	7.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15.5 sec	15.8 sec

As tested in Car and Driver the Ford Bronco is faster than the Toyota Tacoma V6 (automatics tested):

	Bronco turbo 4 cyl.	Bronco turbo V6	Tacoma
Zero to 30 MPH	2.1 sec	2.2 sec	3.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.5 sec	6.3 sec	8.1 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.6 sec	3.4 sec	4.1 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4.6 sec	4.4 sec	4.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	15 sec	16.2 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Bronco’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Tacoma doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Bronco has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is available on the Ford Bronco, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Tacoma.

A standard “hill holder” feature keeps the Ford Bronco with manual transmission from rolling backwards on a steep slope. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a hill holder feature.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Bronco	Bronco Raptor	Tacoma	Tacoma 4x4
Front Rotors	12.2 inches	13.8 inches	10.75 inches	12.48 inches
Rear Rotors	12.1 inches	13.2 inches	10” drums	10” drums

The Bronco’s standard brakes have 1% more swept area (the area covered by the brake pads) than the Tacoma (247.46 vs. 244.5 square inches), so the Bronco has more braking power available. The Bronco Raptor’s brakes have 17% more swept area (the area covered by the brake pads) than the Tacoma 4x4 (286.88 vs. 244.5 square inches), so the Bronco Raptor has more braking power available.

The Ford Bronco has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the Tacoma. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The Bronco stops shorter than the Tacoma:

	Bronco	Tacoma
70 to 0 MPH	189 feet	195 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	132 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Bronco has larger standard tires than the Tacoma (255/70R16 vs. 245/75R16). The Bronco Raptor’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Tacoma (37 x 12.5R17 vs. 265/65R17).

Suspension and Handling

The Bronco Badlands has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects 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 Tacoma doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the Bronco uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Tacoma, which uses leaf springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The Bronco offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Tacoma’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Bronco’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Tacoma doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Bronco is 5 inches wider in the front and 5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Tacoma.

The Bronco Outer Banks 4-Door handles at .72 G’s, while the Tacoma Short Bed SR5 Double Cab pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Bronco 2-Door handles at .71 G’s, while the Tacoma Short Bed TRD Off-Road Double Cab 4x4 pulls only .64 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Bronco Outer Banks 4-Door executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Tacoma Short Bed SR5 Double Cab (28.7 seconds @ .57 average G’s vs. 29.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Bronco 2-Door’s turning circle is 5.1 feet tighter than the Tacoma Access Cab’s (35.5 feet vs. 40.6 feet). The Bronco 4-Door Sasquatch’s turning circle is 4.2 feet tighter than the Tacoma Long Bed Double Cab’s (39.9 feet vs. 44.1 feet).

Chassis

The Bronco 2-Door is 3 feet, 2.6 inches shorter than the Tacoma Access Cab, making the Bronco easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Bronco uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Tacoma doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Bronco 2-Door is quieter than the Tacoma Short Bed TRD Off-Road Double Cab 4x4 (39 vs. 42 dB).

Passenger Space

The Bronco 2-Door has 1.3 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 4.9 inches more rear headroom and 11.1 inches more rear legroom than the Tacoma Access Cab.

The Bronco 4-Door has 3.6 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more rear headroom and 3.7 inches more rear legroom than the Tacoma Double Cab.

Cargo Capacity

The Bronco 2-Door has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Tacoma Double Cab with its long-bed bodystyle (52.3 vs. 42.6 cubic feet).

The Bronco 4-Door has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Tacoma Double Cab with its short-bed bodystyle (38.3 vs. 34.8 cubic feet). The Bronco 4-Door has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Tacoma with its long-bed bodystyle (77.6 vs. 42.6 cubic feet).

The Bronco 4-Door’s optional sliding cargo floor makes loading and unloading cargo easier and safer. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a sliding load floor.

Towing

The Bronco can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Bronco can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Tacoma can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Trailer Sway Control is standard on all models of the Bronco, using the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. Only the Tacoma V6 offers a trailer sway program.

Ergonomics

The Bronco (except Base/Manual) offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Bronco’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Tacoma does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Bronco’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Tacoma has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The power windows standard on both the Bronco and the Tacoma have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Bronco is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Tacoma prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Bronco’s front power windows 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 Tacoma’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. The Tacoma TRD/Limited’s rear windows don’t close automatically.

On a hot day the Bronco’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Tacoma can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Bronco’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Tacoma doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Bronco’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Tacoma’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Bronco has a standard rear wiper. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Bronco’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Tacoma’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Bronco has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Tacoma only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

On extremely cold winter days, the Bronco Outer Banks/Badlands/Wildtrak/Raptor’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Recommendations

The Bronco was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2022. The Tacoma has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.