2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Ford Bronco

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia presented a bold and commanding presence, drawing inspiration from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. Its redesigned exterior featured a traditional grille and front bumper, distinguishing it from the Tundra's "manta ray on wheels" look. Inside, the Sequoia shared an industrial theme with the Tundra, highlighted by leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the upscale Capstone trim. The interior was dominated by a 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, and while it appeared luxurious, some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included various trims, with prices starting at $59,895 for the base SR5 and reaching $79,895 for the Capstone with 4WD. Off-road enthusiasts could opt for the TRD Pro trim or add a TRD Off-Road Package to the SR5 and Limited trims for enhanced capability.

The 2024 Ford Bronco embraced a retro design, reminiscent of the 1960s, with a more successful execution in the two-door model. The Sasquatch Package, a popular upgrade, added a suspension lift, 35-inch mud-terrain tires, and other off-roading enhancements, giving the Bronco a rugged and purposeful appearance. The Bronco lineup offered nine versions, including the Raptor performance model, with prices ranging from $41,525 to $91,930. Our test vehicle, a four-door Big Bend trim with the Sasquatch Package, had an MSRP of $55,415. The Bronco's interior featured marine-grade upholstery, which, while durable, could become uncomfortable in hot weather. The dashboard included an 8-inch digital display and a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with grab handles for easy entry. The Bronco's interior was praised for its spaciousness and practicality, with removable roof panels and doors for an open-air experience.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator, and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This hybrid powertrain delivered 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds, and its payload capacity improved to 1,730 pounds. Fuel efficiency also saw an improvement, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg with 4WD and 22 mpg with RWD. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, with a Custom mode for personalized settings. The adaptive rear air suspension adjusted ride and handling based on the driving mode, but the Sequoia's steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend came with a standard turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed manual transmission with a low first gear for rock crawling was available, along with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Bronco's towing capacity was 3,500 pounds. An optional turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine delivered 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, while the Raptor model featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 with 418 hp and 440 lb-ft. The Bronco offered a part-time 4WD system with an advanced automatic 4WD option. Off-roading technologies included Trail Control, Trail One-Pedal Drive, and Trail Turn Assist. The Bronco's fuel efficiency was rated at 18 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway, with the Sasquatch Package affecting highway performance. The Bronco excelled in off-road conditions, but its on-road experience was characterized by wind and tire noise.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium sound system, and a triple-zone climate control system. The Sequoia's power-deploying running boards aided entry and exit, while the panoramic glass sunroof reduced second-row headroom. The second-row captain's chairs lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row space. The third-row seat, mounted above the battery pack, offered limited comfort and legroom. Cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, with 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 22.3 cubic feet. Folding the third-row seats provided 49 cubic feet, while folding the second-row seats increased capacity to 86.9 cubic feet, still smaller than previous models and competitors.

The 2024 Ford Bronco offered comfortable seating in both two-door and four-door configurations, with ample space for four adults in the two-door model. The four-door Bronco felt roomier than its competitors, with no rollbar obstructing rear-seat passengers. The marine-grade vinyl upholstery was durable but retained moisture. The Bronco's interior featured removable roof panels and doors, allowing for an open-air experience. Cargo space in the two-door model was 22.4 cubic feet, expandable to 53.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The four-door model offered 38.3 cubic feet with the soft top and 83 cubic feet with the seats down, reduced to 35.6 cubic feet and 77.6 cubic feet with the hardtop.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen in the base SR5 trim and a 14-inch touchscreen in higher trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with connected services for user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant. The Capstone trim added a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. The Sequoia's parking sensors and automatic rear braking system enhanced safety during reversing maneuvers.

The 2024 Ford Bronco came with a 12-inch touchscreen Sync 4 infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect services, and a seven-speaker stereo. Higher trims included a connected navigation system and a Bang & Olufsen sound system. The Bronco's Sync 4 technology experienced connectivity issues with Apple CarPlay and voice recognition. The Bronco Trail App provided access to trail maps and information, enhancing off-road adventures.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia included Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5) as standard, featuring forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and road sign recognition. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. The Sequoia's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems improved highway driving, while the lane-departure warning system was slightly irritating. Crash test ratings were unavailable, but the Tundra's high IIHS rating was promising.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend included standard safety features such as 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, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system were optional. The Bronco's safety systems operated as expected, though the lane-keep assist system was less preferred. The IIHS rated the Bronco four-door favorably, except for its headlight performance, while NHTSA ratings were incomplete.