Ford Bronco Sport vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport was a compact SUV that embraced rugged styling, setting itself apart from its sibling, the Ford Escape. It featured a rectangular grille with round headlights and "Bronco" lettering, reminiscent of the larger Bronco model. The Bronco Sport maintained a square silhouette with a long, flat hood and upright greenhouse, giving it a cute yet rugged appearance. For 2025, the styling remained largely unchanged, except for the introduction of off-road packages like the Black Diamond and Sasquatch, which added modular steel bumpers and underbody protection. The interior, while less distinctive, was functional, with new centre-console grab handles and auxiliary switches for off-road accessories.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, on the other hand, pursued a conservative design, drawing inspiration from the popular RAV4. It offered a spacious interior with seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The Platinum trim added a touch of luxury with leather and artificial suede upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, and a smart Portobello interior. However, the unlined storage areas contributed to noise and vibration. The Grand Highlander’s design emphasized practicality, with a focus on comfort and functionality, making it a family-friendly choice.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine options: a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The Bronco Sport excelled in off-road capabilities, featuring a dual-clutch rear-drive unit for torque vectoring, Trail Control for low-speed off-roading, and multiple drive modes, including Rally and Rock Crawl. The Sasquatch Package added off-road suspension, all-terrain tires, and steel underbody protection, enhancing its off-road prowess. Despite its off-road focus, the Bronco Sport remained composed and comfortable on highways.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max prioritized performance with a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, delivering 362 horsepower. It featured a traditional six-speed automatic transmission, avoiding the droning common in CVTs. While the Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration and towing capacity of up to 2,268 kilograms, it sacrificed some fuel efficiency, achieving 8.8 L/100 km combined. The ride quality was soft and isolating, but handling was secure only up to a point, with early tire scrub and nose push in curves. The Grand Highlander excelled in visibility, aided by front, rear, and top-down cameras, although the front camera's frequent screen takeover was a minor annoyance.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport provided ample headroom in both rows, surpassing competitors like the Jeep Compass Trailhawk and Subaru Forester Wilderness. It offered 920 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,846 litres with them folded, although higher trims had slightly reduced capacity. The Bronco Sport featured practical elements like generous cupholders, a wireless charging pad, and multiple USB ports. It could tow up to 1,225 kilograms with the turbo-four engine, offering more capability than some rivals.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid boasted comfortable seating across three rows, with a maximum cargo space of over 2,700 litres. The Platinum trim featured upscale materials, including leather and artificial suede upholstery. However, the unlined storage areas contributed to cabin noise. The Grand Highlander offered 586 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,761 litres with the second row folded. The second-row captain’s chairs provided flexibility, but the rear doors' sharp angles posed challenges in tight spaces.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport upgraded to the Ford Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring a 13.2-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, enhancing the user experience. The system included a 360-degree camera for off-road assistance, with split-screen functionality for obstacle detection. The graphics and animations were a significant improvement, although reliance on the touchscreen for climate control was a minor drawback.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. The system was user-friendly, though the inability to view multiple main-menu screens simultaneously was a limitation. The digital voice assistant responded accurately to commands, enhancing convenience. The Platinum trim included advanced features like a head-up display and a JBL premium audio system, delivering impressive sound quality.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side crash tests. The IIHS awarded it a "Good" score in the small overlap front test and a "Marginal" score in the updated moderate overlap front test. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Reverse automatic emergency braking and traffic sign recognition were optional on higher trims.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features. It received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick due to "Acceptable" ratings for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection. The Proactive Driving Assist system, while standard, was found to be more of an annoyance than a benefit in certain situations.