2021 Ford Bronco vs 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The 2021 Ford Bronco was a much-anticipated revival of a classic, drawing inspiration from its 1966 predecessor. Ford's designers embraced "Retrofuturism," blending the Bronco's iconic design with modern technology and materials. The result was a rugged, adventure-ready SUV with a distinctive single-piece grille, round headlights, and bold B-R-O-N-C-O lettering. The Bronco's body featured flat sides with fender flares and came with either 32-inch or 35-inch tires, depending on the package. Available in two-door and four-door configurations, the Bronco offered a choice between a black soft-top or a modular removable hardtop, with a palette of eleven vibrant paint colors. Inside, the Bronco combined retro styling with modern technology, featuring a color touchscreen and a digitized instrument cluster. The interior was designed for durability, with reinforced metal and rubber-lined grab handles, and stretchy mesh door pockets for practicality.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, on the other hand, borrowed styling cues from the Tacoma pickup, giving it a rugged appearance with a trapezoidal grille and upright fascia. However, its design introduced some softness with a character line that swooped over the rear wheel arch, creating a somewhat disjointed look. The interior was asymmetrical, with a metallic styling element breaking up the dash and providing storage space. The infotainment touchscreen was positioned high on the dash for easy visibility. The Highlander Hybrid Bronze Edition featured light grey fabric seat upholstery with a triangle motif, which was not well-received due to its tendency to attract dirt. Other trims offered more conventional materials, with genuine leather available only on the top trims. The third row was less accommodating, with limited headroom and legroom, making it suitable for occasional use by children.

The 2021 Ford Bronco offered two engine options: a standard 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four-cylinder engine producing 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, and an optional 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged engine with 310 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The 2.3-liter engine came with a seven-speed manual transmission, while the 2.7-liter engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. All Bronco models featured standard four-wheel drive, making them well-suited for off-road adventures. During test drives in challenging weather conditions, the Bronco demonstrated its off-road prowess, handling mud, slick rocks, and treacherous trails with ease. The 35-inch tires from the Sasquatch package provided excellent traction, although they produced a noisy ride on pavement. The Bronco's power and transmission were well-matched, delivering smooth performance on the streets and impressive capability off-road.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine producing 243 horsepower, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It came with standard front-wheel drive, with an optional all-wheel-drive system that used a supplemental electric motor for the rear axle. The Highlander Hybrid's acceleration was quick but tepid, with the gasoline engine providing adequate power after the initial electric boost. The CVT contributed to a droning engine sound, especially when climbing hills. The braking system was smooth, with regenerative braking seamlessly transitioning to physical brakes. The Highlander Hybrid offered a soft ride quality, with a suspension that effectively smoothed over road imperfections. While not sporty, it provided a comfortable and quiet ride, making it a suitable choice for family travel.

The 2021 Ford Bronco excelled in modularity, with removable doors and fenders designed for easy repair and replacement. The doors came with protective storage bags and integrated grip handles, and the electrical connections were simple to disconnect. The Bronco's cargo hold had space for storing the doors, and the vehicle featured standard under-chassis protection with optional skid plates. The hood's trail sights doubled as tie-down points for roof-mounted cargo. Inside, the Bronco's controls were thoughtfully designed for off-road use, with easily accessible buttons for suspension settings and auxiliary equipment connections.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid offered well-cushioned front seats with ample adjustments, although the driver's door armrest was awkwardly positioned. The interior provided plenty of storage options, including trays, shelves, and large door pockets. The second-row seats were spacious, with sliding and reclining capabilities, and offered built-in window shades and charging ports. The third row was less accommodating, with limited headroom and legroom, making it suitable for occasional use by children. The Highlander Hybrid's cargo space was small behind the third row but expanded significantly with the seats folded down.

The 2021 Ford Bronco featured the SYNC 4 infotainment system with enhanced voice recognition. It came with an 8-inch standard touchscreen, upgradeable to a 12-inch screen with the High Package. The Lux Package added a 10-speaker B&O sound system, navigation, and a wireless charging pad. The Bronco's G.O.A.T. system offered up to seven drive modes for various terrains. The Sasquatch Package included Bilstein shock absorbers for enhanced off-road capability.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid came with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, with a 12.3-inch screen available on top trims. The system was responsive, with logical menus and physical shortcut buttons. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard, along with a wireless charging pad on XLE trims and above. Limited and Platinum trims offered navigation and an 11-speaker JBL audio system.

The 2021 Ford Bronco offered a range of safety features, with more options available on higher trims. The Base model included airbags, while the Mid Package added features like pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The High Package added a 360-degree camera and forward-sensing system. The Bronco's side curtain airbags were designed to deploy appropriately in off-road situations. Crash-test ratings were not available from NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The Platinum trim offered a surround-view camera system and adaptive headlights. The safety systems generally performed well, although some features required fine-tuning.