2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2024 Ford Bronco

The 2024 Ford Bronco embraced a retro design reminiscent of 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. This package was either standard or optional on most Bronco trims, allowing buyers to customize their off-road experience. The Bronco offered nine trim levels, with prices ranging from $41,525 to $71,580, and the Raptor model priced at $91,930. The interior featured an 8-inch digital display and a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with a design that paid homage to the original 1960s Bronco. Despite its rugged charm, the Bronco's marine-grade upholstery was not ideal for hot weather, and the vehicle's overall experience was described as unrefined yet enjoyable.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 maintained its distinctive appearance, drawing retro comparisons to the Lancia Delta while standing out with its unique styling. The mid-cycle refresh introduced subtle changes to the front fascia and expanded the color palette, including exclusive colors for the new XRT trim. The XRT trim featured red tow hooks and black plastic bumper cladding with a digital camouflage pattern, adding to its aesthetic appeal. The Ioniq 5's interior remained minimalistic and modern, with minor updates to the center console for improved functionality. The XRT trim leaned towards a rugged look with its dark interior and all-weather floor mats. The Ioniq 5's design and features continued to reflect Hyundai's commitment to creating a stylish and functional electric vehicle.

The 2024 Ford Bronco offered a range of engine options, starting with the 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 was available for rock crawling, while a 10-speed automatic transmission was an option. The Bronco's towing capacity reached up to 3,500 pounds. An optional turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine delivered 330 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, requiring the 10-speed automatic transmission. The Raptor model featured an exclusive turbocharged 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 engine with 418 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque, boasting a higher towing capacity of 4,500 pounds. The Bronco's off-roading capabilities were enhanced by technologies like Trail Control, Trail One-Pedal Drive, and Trail Turn Assist. However, the Bronco's fuel efficiency was a concern, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway for the Big Bend Sasquatch model.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT introduced a Terrain Mode button on the steering wheel, offering three drive modes: Snow, Mud, and Sand. These modes adjusted throttle mapping, wheel slip, power distribution, and regenerative braking. The Ioniq 5 XRT handled off-road conditions well, with its all-wheel-drive system providing confidence and control. The Ioniq 5's battery capacity increased for 2025, resulting in longer driving ranges. Most trims could travel 318 miles in rear-wheel-drive configuration, while the base trim had a 245-mile range. All-wheel-drive models had reduced ranges, with the XRT offering 259 miles. Power output varied with the powertrain choice, with rear-wheel-drive models producing up to 225 horsepower and all-wheel-drive models delivering 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. The Ioniq 5's electric vehicle instant torque provided an enjoyable driving experience despite its weight.

The 2024 Ford Bronco's interior offered comfort and space, accommodating four adults in both two-door and four-door body styles. The four-door model provided more room and felt larger than its rival, the Jeep Wrangler. The Bronco's marine-grade vinyl upholstery, while durable, trapped moisture and was not ideal for hot weather. The two-door Bronco featured a standard hardtop with removable roof panels, while the four-door model had a standard fabric soft top with an optional hardtop. The Bronco's cargo space varied, with the two-door offering 22.4 cubic feet and the four-door providing up to 83 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Bronco's interior storage was enhanced by MOLLE panels on the front seat backs, allowing for customizable storage solutions.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 addressed previous complaints by adding a rear windshield wiper and updating the center console with fore-and-aft cupholders. Heated front seats were standard, with additional features like a heated steering wheel and front seat ventilation available on higher trims. The Ioniq 5's interior dimensions remained unchanged, offering generous headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers. Cargo space measured 26.3 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 58.5 cubic feet with them folded down, with an additional 0.85 cubic feet in the front trunk. The Ioniq 5's transition to the North American Charging System allowed access to Tesla's Supercharger network, enhancing its charging capabilities.

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 offered a connected navigation system and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. However, the Sync 4 technology experienced connectivity issues with Apple CarPlay and inconsistent voice recognition performance. The Bronco Trail App provided access to maps and information for trails across North America, accessible through the Sync 4 touchscreen display.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 retained its dual 12.3-inch screens for the infotainment system and digital instrument cluster, with improved functionality and faster processing speeds. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto became standard, enhancing smartphone connectivity. The Ioniq 5 XRT and Limited trims featured a Bose Premium Audio system, while other trims had a six-speaker sound system. Standard features included navigation, dynamic voice recognition, and Bluetooth connectivity supporting two devices simultaneously. The Ioniq 5 also offered a head-up display on the Limited trim and a wireless charging pad starting at the SEL trim level.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend came equipped with standard safety features such as 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. The Bronco's safety systems operated as expected, though the lane-keep assist system was not favored during testing. The Bronco four-door received favorable ratings from the IIHS, except for its headlight performance, and a four-star frontal-impact rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 continued to receive high safety ratings, earning a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and five stars from the NHTSA. The 2025 model introduced new standard safety features, including an enhanced driver attention system and parking-distance warnings. The Ioniq 5 XRT and Limited trims included a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Highway Driving Assist 1 and 2 were available, with HDA 2 offering lane-changing capability and machine learning for improved performance.