2024 Ford Bronco vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a range of options from all-gas to hybrid-powered models. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 5,115 millimetres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, it was larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride, providing a spacious interior. Its ground clearance of 20.3 centimetres made it suitable for dirt roads, though it wasn't designed for serious off-roading. The Grand Highlander's styling was inspired by rugged vehicles, featuring a blockier design with a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights reminiscent of the 4Runner. Available in three trims—XLE, Limited, and Platinum—it offered a range of interior features, including Softex synthetic leather and real leather options, heated and ventilated seats, and ample storage space.

The 2024 Ford Bronco embraced a retro design, drawing inspiration from the 1960s. The two-door model captured the retro aesthetic more successfully than the four-door, with the Sasquatch Package enhancing its rugged appearance. This package included a suspension lift, 35-inch mud-terrain tires, and other off-roading features, giving the Bronco a wide stance and purposeful look. The Bronco offered nine versions, including the Raptor performance model, with prices ranging from $52,060 to $116,570 in Canada. Our test vehicle, a four-door Big Bend trim with the Sasquatch Package, featured marine-grade upholstery, an 8-inch digital display, and a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Bronco's interior was comfortable, with effective square side mirrors and a nearly vertical windshield. However, the spare tire on the tailgate obstructed rear visibility.

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. For those prioritizing fuel efficiency, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. At the top of the range, the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max powertrain boasted 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All powertrains came with all-wheel drive in Canada. While not a sports car, the Hybrid Max provided impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander excelled in road manners, though its size made it less maneuverable in tight spaces. The brakes were solid, and the 2.4-litre turbocharged engine offered adequate power. Three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—were available, with additional off-road modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend featured a standard turbocharged 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. It offered a seven-speed manual transmission with a low first gear for rock crawling or a 10-speed automatic transmission. The optional 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6 engine delivered 330 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, while the Raptor's exclusive 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 produced 418 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque. The Bronco's part-time four-wheel-drive 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 capability. The Bronco's fuel efficiency was a concern, with the Big Bend Sasquatch averaging 13.9 L/100 km during testing. On winding roads, the Bronco's tires felt squishy, and wind noise was noticeable on the highway. However, it excelled in off-road conditions and offered a fun driving experience.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its primary rivals, measuring over 5 metres in length with a 2,950 mm wheelbase. This extra length translated to increased storage space, with a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres. Behind the second-row seats, it offered 1,640 litres, and with all three rows up, there were 583 litres available. The Grand Highlander provided ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row, making it comfortable for passengers, even in the third row.

The 2024 Ford Bronco, particularly the Big Bend Sasquatch, required some effort to get in and out of due to its lifted stance. However, once inside, it was comfortable in both two-door and four-door body styles. The four-door model offered more room than a Jeep Wrangler, with no rollbar obstructing rear-seat passengers. The Bronco's marine-grade vinyl upholstery trapped moisture, but cloth seats were available in the Heritage Edition. The two-door model had a standard hardtop with removable roof panels, while the four-door offered a fabric soft top with an optional hardtop. Interior storage was good, with MOLLE panels for customization. The Bronco's cargo space varied, with the two-door offering 634 litres and the four-door providing up to 2,350 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a visually stunning interface. An intelligent assistant was available via a connected-services subscription, responding to voice commands for tasks like adjusting the temperature. The subscription also included cloud-based navigation and live agent assistance. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Grand Highlander Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo, providing good sound quality. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were available, though subscription options required careful consideration.

The 2024 Ford Bronco featured a 12-inch touchscreen Sync 4 infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect services, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. Higher trims included a connected navigation system and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. However, the Sync 4 technology had issues, with Apple CarPlay connections dropping and voice recognition being inconsistent. The Bronco Trail App provided access to maps and information for trails across North America. The 8-inch digital instrumentation panel had a short learning curve, but the steering wheel controls could be distracting.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it came with an impressive suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as standard. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 included features like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Platinum grade offered traffic jam assist and a head-up display. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend included standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, and a backup camera. The Mid Package added Ford Co-Pilot360 technologies, including lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera system were available as options. The IIHS rated the Bronco four-door favourably, except for its headlight performance. The NHTSA's ratings were incomplete, but the Bronco four-door earned a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating.