2024 Ford Bronco vs 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Ford Bronco embraced a retro design that harkened back to the 1960s, particularly in its two-door variant, which was more successful in capturing the nostalgic aesthetic than the four-door model. The Sasquatch Package, a notable upgrade, enhanced the Bronco's rugged appearance with a suspension lift and 35-inch mud-terrain tires, giving it a wide stance and a purposeful look. Without this package, the Bronco's standard tires appeared somewhat awkward, unable to fill the fender flares adequately. The Bronco offered nine trim levels, with the Big Bend as the standard trim, and a choice between two-door and four-door body styles, along with three turbocharged engines. Prices ranged from $52,060 to $93,220 for regular models, with the Raptor model priced at $116,570. The test vehicle, a four-door Big Bend in Hot Pepper Red, featured the Sasquatch Package and had a Canadian MSRP of $69,780. Inside, the Bronco's marine-grade upholstery was durable but not breathable, and the dashboard featured an 8-inch digital display and a 12-inch touchscreen, echoing the original Bronco's design.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, available in XRT, Luxury, and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, maintained its fifth-generation design without revisions. The SUV's boxy shape, long wheelbase, and pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps aligned with Hyundai's design language. While the front design was cohesive, the rear's proportions were less balanced, with taillights positioned lower than ideal. Each trim had distinct wheel sizes, with the XRT featuring off-road enhancements like chrome and black trim. Inside, the Santa Fe accommodated seven passengers, except for the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which offered captain's chairs in the second row. The interior boasted good fit and finish, though some squeaks were noted. The Santa Fe's HVAC controls included physical dials, but fan speed adjustments were less intuitive. Overall, the Santa Fe's design and interior features catered to a range of preferences, with a focus on practicality and comfort.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend was equipped with a standard 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, delivering 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. It offered a choice between a seven-speed manual transmission, ideal for rock crawling, and a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Bronco's towing capacity was 1,587 kilograms. An optional 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6 engine provided 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, requiring the automatic transmission. The Raptor model featured a 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 with 418 hp and 440 lb-ft, boasting a higher towing capacity of 2,040 kilograms. The Bronco's part-time 4WD system was standard, with an advanced system available as an upgrade. Off-roading technologies like Trail Control, Trail One-Pedal Drive, and Trail Turn Assist enhanced its capabilities. The test vehicle's base engine and automatic transmission offered good acceleration and clean shifts, though fuel efficiency was a concern, with an average of 13.9 L/100 km during testing. The Bronco excelled off-road, handling trails with ease, but its on-road performance was less refined, with noticeable wind and tire noise.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a standard 2.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard across the lineup. The Santa Fe Hybrid, a separate model, combined a 1.6-litre engine with an electric motor for 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, also with AWD. The Santa Fe demonstrated stability in corners, with firm brakes and responsive steering, though turbo lag was noticeable during acceleration. The gear selector, located on a stalk, required some adjustment. The XRT trim, with 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, improved off-road geometry but wasn't suited for rugged rock crawling. The Santa Fe's performance was adequate for its class, handling graded dirt roads and small obstacles well.

The 2024 Ford Bronco, particularly in the Big Bend Sasquatch configuration, required some effort to enter and exit due to its lifted stance and lack of running boards. Inside, the Bronco was comfortable, accommodating four adults in the two-door model and offering more space in the four-door variant. The absence of a rollbar in front of rear-seat passengers, unlike the Jeep Wrangler, improved comfort on trails. The marine-grade vinyl upholstery, while durable, trapped moisture, making cloth seats in the Heritage Edition a preferable option. The Bronco's roof and doors were removable, allowing for a customizable open-air experience. Cargo space was generous, with the two-door model offering 634 litres, expandable to 1,509 litres with seats folded. The four-door model provided 1,084 litres, increasing to 2,350 litres with the rear seats down.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT trim came well-equipped with heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a sunroof, and a 115-volt outlet. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added heated second-row seats, ventilated front seats, and a premium audio system. The Santa Fe excelled in interior space, offering the most third-row legroom in its class. The second-row seats featured adjustable cushion angles, and both the second and third rows could be folded for increased cargo capacity. With the third row folded, the Santa Fe provided 1,148 litres of space, expanding to 2,267 litres with the second row down. The rear opening was wider and taller, facilitating easy loading of large items. The Santa Fe's towing capacity varied by trim, with the XRT capable of towing 2,040 kilograms.

The 2024 Ford Bronco featured a 12-inch touchscreen with the Sync 4 infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect, SiriusXM 360L, and a seven-speaker stereo. Higher trims included navigation and a Bang & Olufsen sound system. The Sync 4 system experienced connectivity issues with Apple CarPlay and inconsistent voice recognition. The Bronco Trail App provided access to trail maps and information. The 8-inch digital instrumentation panel required some acclimation, and steering wheel controls were somewhat distracting.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and a digital gauge cluster, with navigation available on higher trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad. The digital key feature allowed unlocking and starting the car via smartphone or Apple Watch. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included a digital rearview mirror and a head-up display. Bluelink app connectivity provided remote access to climate control and vehicle monitoring, with over-the-air updates ensuring up-to-date software.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend came with standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and a backup camera. The Mid Package added Ford Co-Pilot360 technologies, including lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera were optional. The Bronco received favourable crash test ratings from the IIHS, except for its headlight performance, and a four-star frontal-impact rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe included a comprehensive suite of safety features, such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and forward collision avoidance assist. Highway Drive Assist, available on higher trims, combined adaptive cruise control and lane following assist. The top trims offered blind spot avoidance and Blind View Monitor. The Santa Fe received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating from the IIHS, with "Acceptable" scores for headlights and LATCH.