2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid vs 2025 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport, built on the C2 unibody platform shared with the Ford Escape, embraced a rugged aesthetic distinct from its sibling. Its design featured a rectangular grille with inset round headlights and "Bronco" lettering, echoing the larger Bronco's style. The Bronco Sport maintained a square silhouette with a long, flat hood and upright greenhouse, giving it a cute yet robust appearance. For 2025, the styling remained largely unchanged, except for new 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 center-console grab handles and auxiliary switches, offering a practical yet durable feel.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, available in the Rugged Woodland trim and three Sport grades, showcased a boxy, truck-like presence consistent with Toyota's SUV lineup. The Woodland trim emphasized off-road capability with features like a wide front fascia, solid panels replacing fog lights, and chunky all-terrain tires. The Sport trims, including the new GR Sport, highlighted racier elements such as red brake calipers and a wide mesh grille. Inside, the RAV4 PHEV offered a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.5-inch touchscreen, with a larger 12.9-inch option on top trims. The interior was optimized for storage, with clever features like a shelf over the dashboard and deep door pockets, although the cargo area was slightly reduced due to the battery pack.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport retained its powertrain options from the previous year, featuring a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque for most trims. The Badlands model boasted a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, which included a dual-clutch rear-drive unit for torque vectoring. The Bronco Sport excelled in off-road capabilities, offering features like Trail Control and a new one-pedal feature for 2025. The Sasquatch Package added 29-inch all-terrain tires, off-road suspension, and steel underbody protection, enhancing its off-road prowess. Despite its rugged capabilities, the Bronco Sport maintained impressive on-road comfort and composure.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured an updated 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine with 186 horsepower, paired with a larger 22.7-kwh battery pack. This setup delivered a total of 324 hp, making it the most powerful RAV4 to date. The PHEV offered an estimated electric range of 52 miles, with all-wheel drive as standard. The RAV4 PHEV excelled in EV mode for quiet cruising, while Auto mode provided a satisfying power band with a 0-60 mph time in the low five seconds. The GR Sport trim, with its lower stance and performance tires, offered enhanced handling and reduced body roll. Despite its heavier weight, the RAV4 PHEV maintained a spirited ride without sacrificing comfort, thanks to a strengthened chassis and improved suspension.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport offered practicality without compromising its off-road focus. It provided more headroom in both rows compared to competitors like the Jeep Compass Trailhawk and Subaru Forester Wilderness. The Bronco Sport offered 32.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, expanding to 65.2 cubic feet with them folded. Higher trims saw a slight reduction in cargo space. The interior featured a rotary shifter, generous cupholders, and multiple USB ports, enhancing convenience. The Bronco Sport could tow up to 2,700 pounds with the turbo-four engine, surpassing some rivals in towing capacity.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid maintained similar dimensions to its predecessor, with optimized interior storage. The base SE trim included a power driver's seat, heated front seats, and five USB ports. Higher trims offered synthetic leather upholstery and ventilated seats. The RAV4 PHEV provided 37.8 inches of rear legroom, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The cargo area offered 33.6 cubic feet of space, expanding to 63.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Clever storage solutions, like deep door pockets and multiple shelves, enhanced practicality, although the cargo space was slightly reduced due to the battery pack.

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. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, enhancing the vehicle's premium feel. The infotainment system provided detailed animations and easy-to-read text, while an available 360-degree camera system aided both safety and off-road driving. The cameras remained active in off-road modes, providing a comprehensive view of the surroundings.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.5-inch touchscreen, with a larger 12.9-inch option on top trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with customizable tiles and a quick menu for easy access to settings. Toyota's new operating system, Arene, improved responsiveness and voice command capabilities. The RAV4 PHEV also offered a built-in dash cam, recording clips from exterior cameras and providing additional safety features.

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 "Good" scores in several tests, with an "Acceptable" rating in the updated side-impact test. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features like reverse automatic emergency braking and traffic sign recognition were available on higher trims.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 4.0, offering a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features. The system included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, and a safe-exit alert. The RAV4 PHEV also featured an enhanced rearview camera and a surround-view camera system on higher trims. While crash-testing results were pending, the RAV4's strong safety record was expected to continue.