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2025 Car Mileage with the Best Gas MileageHead-to-Head: Ford Bronco vs Toyota 4Runner
Ford Bronco vs Toyota 4Runner: we put two rugged SUVs in a head-to-head battle. With decades of history between them, which will stand the test of time?
Two Real Off-Road SUVs Square Off
In a market flooded by SUVs it’s important to distinguish between those that are simply people movers and those that can move in any condition. Two off-road capable SUVs that stand out amongst the rest are the 2023 Ford Bronco and the 2023 Toyota 4Runner.
First brought to market 50 years ago and pulled in 1966, the Bronco is back with retro styling and modern amenities. Despite production problems when the Bronco was first making its comeback in 2022, this second run for the nostalgic Ford SUV has been a success.
But is the 2023 Bronco a match for 40 straight years of refining and perfecting the Toyota 4Runner? Today we’ll unpack all these rugged SUVs have to offer and see which one comes out on top.
Ford Bronco vs Toyota 4Runner Specs
The Ford Bronco is available in three different engine options including a 300 horsepower 2.3-liter four-cylinder, a 330 horsepower V6, and another version of that same V6 that gets 400 horsepower (only available in the Raptor).
The four-cylinder is equipped with either a 10-speed automatic transmission or a seven-speed manual, while the V6 is only available with a 10-speed automatic. Every Bronco is four-wheel-drive.
The Bronco gets an estimated 20 mpg in the city and 21 on the highway when equipped with the 2.3-liter four-cylinder and 19 mpg in the city and 20 on the highway with the V6. The Bronco’s most powerful trim, the Raptor, gets 15 mpg in the city and 16 mpg on the highway.
The 2023 Toyota 4Runner keeps it simple with one available engine: a 270 horsepower 4.0-liter V6 that’s paired with a five-speed automatic transmission.
The SR5, Trail Special Edition, SR5 Premium, TRD Sport and Limited trims are available with four-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, while the other models have standard four-wheel drive.
Every 4Runner model gets an estimated 16 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway.
Driving and Performance
The four-cylinder Bronco offers a fun, spirited drive, and for an off-roader, it is impressively refined on the pavement. It handles corners with ease and has precise steering with excellent feedback. It does have quite a bit of brake dive thanks to its large tires and soft suspension, but where it really excels is off the pavement.
With seven different G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Terrain) modes, electronic locking differentials, Trail Control, Trail Turn Assist, a transfer case, bash plates, and Bilstein dampers, there is no trail too big or too rough for the Bronco. The Bronco has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.
The Toyota 4Runner isn’t as nimble and quick as the Bronco, but despite its boxy, truck-based build it too can take turns with ease. Its soft suspension absorbs all types of terrain, but its lightly weighted steering, while ok on the trails, lacks the precision you’d want for smooth roads.
The engine and transmission are smooth, lending to a pleasant ride on the pavement. When the road ends and the trail begins the 4Runner is equally capable with selectable terrain modes, a locking rear differential, low-speed crawl control, and a multi-view terrain camera—all reasons to include it on our Most Reliable SUVs and Trucks for Overlanding. The 4Runner outdoes the Bronco in towing with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.
Comfort and Interior
The Ford Bronco is available with two or four doors, removable body panels, and soft-tops or hard tops. These customizations make for a fun but noisy ride. The seats are comfortable and supportive and four-door models have a third middle seat in the rear which offers slightly more legroom. Either way, both models can easily accommodate adults in the second row.
Four door models have fifty percent more cargo space than two door models maxing out with 22.4 cu-ft with all seats in place and 52.3 cu-ft with the second row of seats folded down. While materials are quality, you’ll find the interior of the Bronco to lean toward practicality rather than luxury.
There are some nice touches including a rack atop the dashboard to mount smartphones and GoPros, wing mirrors that are mounted on the base of the windshield so that they are useable even when the doors are removed, and a storage area for those doors on the four-door model.
You won’t find anything fancy or luxurious about the interior of the Toyota 4Runner either. The cabin is generously portioned and has seating for five passengers with an optional third row on some trims that increases the capacity to seven.
Adults can sit comfortably in the second row, but the third row is best suited for kids. You’ll get 47.2 cu-ft of cargo space with the seats in place, and 52.3 cu-ft with the second row of seats folded down. The 4Runner’s boxy design provides additional cargo space, but pair that with its truck-like design and you’ve got a pretty noisy and bouncy ride. Positioned high, the 4Runner has great visibility, but entering, exiting, and loading cargo can be a little difficult.
Trims and Features
The 2023 Ford Bronco comes in ten trim options: Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Heritage Edition, Badlands, Everglades, Wildtrak, Heritage Limited Edition, and Raptor.
The Base trim includes cloth upholstery, carpeted flooring, manually adjustable front seats, 16-inch steel wheels, tow hooks, LED headlights, a push-button start, an 8-inch infotainment system, a digital instrument panel, seven speakers, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a terrain-management system with five drive modes.
Standard safety equipment includes hill start assist, hill descent control, trail turn assist, and automatic emergency braking. Optional packages are available on most trims that include additional convenience and safety features.
The Big Bend adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel, tinted rear windows, LED fog lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, 32-inch all-terrain tires, a unique grille, a console-mounted passenger-side grab handle, and terrain management with six modes.
The Black Diamond adds vinyl upholstery, rubber flooring, seven terrain modes, skid plates, rock rails, heavy-duty bumpers, 17-inch black-painted steel wheels, and prewired auxiliary switches.
The Outer Banks gets heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, remote start, 18-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, upgraded LED headlights, sidestep rails, body-colored fender flares, mirrors, and door handles, ambient interior lighting, voice recognition, parking sensors, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring.
The Heritage Edition trim gets a white grille, a white roof, and special graphics, as well as plaid upholstery, sidestep rails, and skid plates.
The Badlands trim adds 33-inch all-terrain tires, a unique Badlands-only suspension setup, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect.
The Everglades trim gets vinyl upholstery, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a heavy-duty front bumper, an air snorkel, a 12-inch infotainment system, a Warn winch, 17-inch bead lock capable wheels, 35-inch mud-terrain tires, a lifted suspension, and modified fender flares.
The Wildtrak trim adds the V6, seven terrain modes, Fox shocks with internal bypass dampers, prewired auxiliary switches, and most of the off-road equipment from the Everglades trim.
The Heritage Limited Edition trim is built off the Badlands but adds the V6, a combination of both vinyl and leather upholstery, metal badging, unique exterior graphics, a heated steering wheel, integrated navigation, a 20-speaker B&O sound system, adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a wireless charging pad.
The range-topping Raptor trim is only available as a four-door and gets a 418 hp V6, 17-inch wheels, 37-inch all-terrain tires, Fox shock absorbers, an active exhaust, paddle shifters, and unique exterior trim bits.
The 2023 Toyota 4Runner is available in nine trim options: SR5, Trail Special Edition, TRD Sport, SR5 Premium, TRD Off Road, TRD Off Road Premium, 40th Anniversary Special Edition, Limited, and TRD Pro.
The SR5 trim comes standard with cloth upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, reclining second-row seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, proximity keyless entry, LED headlights and taillights, roof rails, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Amazon Alexa, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, voice recognition, Bluetooth, satellite radio, USB ports, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and an eight-speaker stereo.
Standard driver-assistance features include lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a rearview camera, and automatic high-beam headlights.
The Trail Special Edition trim adds dark-painted exterior trim and wheels, a Yakima roof rack, a portable beverage cooler, and a sliding rear cargo deck with underfloor storage.
The TRD sport gets synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power-adjustable passenger seat, and an upgraded suspension.
The SR5 premium trim adds synthetic leather upholstery, a four-way power-adjustable passenger seat, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, navigation, keyless ignition and entry, and a universal garage door opener.
The TRD Off Road trim is identical to the SR5 but adds HD radio, a locking rear differential, multi-terrain modes, and crawl control.
The TRD Off Road Premium trim gets the same upgrades as the SR5 Premium and adds the features of the TRD Off Road.
The 40th Anniversary Special Edition trim comes in white, black, or red paint with tri-colored graphics on the sides and grille and bronze 17-inch wheels. The floormats and front headrests feature 40th anniversary badges and the leatherette seats and shift knob have bronze stitching.
The Limited trim adds leather upholstery, driver’s seat memory settings, ventilated front seats, a sunroof, a 15-speaker JBL stereo, chrome exterior accents, a surround-view parking camera system, front and rear parking sensors, dual zone automatic climate control, and an integrated navigation system.
The TRD Pro trim has the TRD Off Road Premium’s standard features and adds a sunroof, JBL sound system and a navigation system. It also has a TRD roof rack, TRD wheels with all-terrain tires, TRD springs, an off-road focused suspension with Fox dampers, and a special front skid plate.
The Verdict
We have to say, choosing between the Ford Bronco and Toyota 4Runner isn’t an easy thing to do. With base model MSRPs starting at around $36K for the Bronco and $39K for the 4Runner, the effect on the wallet isn’t really a deciding factor. Both SUVs are just as capable off road with more than enough all-terrain options to choose from. While neither is very fuel efficient the Bronco eeks out slightly ahead of the 4Runner. Again, not a deal breaker.
While we wish the Bronco had more standard safety features, we do like the wide range of options and customization that it offers. The ability to convert to an open-air SUV with stowable doors is a game changer for us. Add in more thrilling and powerful engine options and we’re Team Bronco all the way.
