2024 Toyota Grand Highlander vs 2023 Ford Bronco

The 2023 Ford Bronco was a standout with its retro-cool styling and modern engineering, offered in nine distinct trim levels. Its blocky, upright shape, wide horizontal grille, and big round headlights were unmistakable, even from afar. The Base trim had a primitive charm with steel wheels and minimal adornment, while the Raptor trim showcased its top-tier status with a wide stance, elevated height, and massive fender flares. The Heritage Edition trim added a nostalgic touch with a white grille, roof, and wheels, along with unique plaid seat upholstery. The interior continued the rugged theme with a broad dash, sealed switches, and waterproof marine-grade vinyl upholstery, making it easy to clean after off-road adventures. Despite some creaking over bumps, the Bronco was quieter than its Jeep Wrangler counterpart.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a true crossover built on the TNGA-K platform, sharing its underpinnings with the regular Highlander and other Toyota models. It was larger than its competitors, with a length of 5,115 millimetres and a 2,950 mm wheelbase, offering a spacious interior. The Grand Highlander's design was more conservative yet blockier than the smaller Highlander, drawing inspiration from rugged vehicles like the 4Runner. It was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with Softex synthetic leather on the XLE and real leather on the higher trims. The interior was comfortable, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row, making it a great choice for road trips.

The 2023 Ford Bronco offered three engine options, starting with a 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. It was available with a seven-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission. The optional 2.7-litre V6 engine increased power to 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, while the top-of-the-line Raptor featured a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 with 418 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. All Broncos came with a 4WD drivetrain and a two-speed transfer case. The Bronco's ride quality was bouncier than a typical family SUV, but it tracked straight on highways and was quieter than a Jeep Wrangler. Its high-riding dimensions required more care on curving roads, but it felt more confident than expected.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, starting with a 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid option developed 245 combined net horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain delivered 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All powertrains were sold with AWD in Canada. The Grand Highlander's size made it less maneuverable than the smaller Highlander, and its steering feel was somewhat numb. However, its brakes were solid, and acceleration was adequate. The Grand Highlander offered three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models.

The 2023 Ford Bronco's boxy shape provided ample interior space, with the four-door model offering easier access to the rear seats. The two-door Bronco had up to 634 litres of cargo space, while the four-door offered up to 1,008 litres. The rear seats didn't fold flat, creating a step-up that hindered sliding longer cargo. The Bronco's fenders and doors were easily removable, catering to hardcore off-roaders.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its rivals, with a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres. It offered 1,640 litres behind the second-row seats and 583 litres with all three rows up. The Grand Highlander was comfortable, with good visibility and ample space in every row, accommodating six-foot adults in the third row.

The 2023 Ford Bronco featured G.O.A.T. drive modes for off-road novices and seasoned off-roaders alike. Numerous camera views and the Trail Turn Assist feature enhanced its off-road capabilities. The Bronco's infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with an available 12-inch display for ease of use.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering an intelligent assistant and cloud-based navigation via a connected-services subscription. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Grand Highlander Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo.

The 2023 Ford Bronco received partial crash test results, with the four-door model earning four stars for frontal crash protection and three stars for rollover protection from the NHTSA. The IIHS awarded it a "Good" score in most crashworthiness tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and hill-start assist. Optional packages added features like blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested, but it came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Platinum grade offered additional features like traffic jam assist and a head-up display.