2024 Ford Bronco vs 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser

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 version. 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. Without this package, the Bronco's standard tires appeared awkwardly small within the fender flares. The Bronco offered nine trim levels, including the Raptor performance model, with prices ranging from $41,525 to $91,930, including destination charges. The test vehicle, a four-door Big Bend trim with the Sasquatch Package, was priced at $55,415. Inside, the Bronco featured an 8-inch digital display and a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with a dashboard design echoing the original 1960s Bronco. The interior was more refined than its rival, the Jeep Wrangler, offering better visibility and a more comfortable driving experience.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, available in two trim levels, showcased a blend of retro and modern design elements. The base model, named the 1958, paid homage to the year the Land Cruiser was first sold in the US, featuring round headlights and basic equipment. The more upscale Land Cruiser model offered a modern look with additional color options, a nicer interior, and essential off-roading features. The test vehicle, equipped with the Premium Package, boasted Heritage Blue paint, 20-inch wheels, and a roof rack, bringing its price to $71,004. The Land Cruiser's interior was utilitarian yet comfortable, with Java-colored leather and dual 12.3-inch digital screens enhancing its technological appeal. Despite its traditional two-box SUV design, the Land Cruiser excelled in off-road capabilities, aided by features like Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views. However, its handling on twisty roads was less impressive, and its fuel efficiency fell short of expectations during testing.

The 2024 Ford Bronco offered a range of engine options, starting 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, or buyers could opt for a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Bronco's maximum towing capacity was 3,500 pounds. An optional turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine delivered 330 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, while the Raptor model featured an exclusive turbocharged 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 with 418 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque, boasting a higher 4,500-pound tow rating. The Bronco's part-time four-wheel-drive system was standard, with an advanced system featuring automatic 4WD available as an upgrade. Off-roading technologies like Trail Control, Trail One-Pedal Drive, and Trail Turn Assist enhanced its trail capabilities. However, the Bronco's fuel efficiency was lacking, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg combined, dropping to 16.9 mpg during testing.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota's i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup produced 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, with a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. The Land Cruiser's full-time four-wheel-drive system included electronic locking rear and center differentials, along with standard Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The more expensive Land Cruiser model added Multi-Terrain Select off-roading modes and a front stabilizer bar disconnect feature. Despite an official EPA rating of 23 mpg combined, the Land Cruiser achieved only 15.7 mpg during testing. While it excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer, its handling on twisty roads was less impressive, and its suspension tuning resulted in noticeable ride motions during acceleration and braking.

The 2024 Ford Bronco, particularly in the Big Bend Sasquatch trim, required some effort to enter and exit due to its lifted stance and lack of optional running boards. Inside, the Bronco was comfortable in both two-door and four-door configurations, with ample space for four adults in the two-door model. The four-door version offered even more room and felt larger than a Jeep Wrangler. The Bronco's marine-grade vinyl upholstery, while durable, trapped moisture, making cloth seats a preferable option. The Bronco's removable roof panels and doors allowed for a customizable open-air driving experience. Cargo space in the two-door model measured 22.4 cubic feet, expanding to 53.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The four-door version offered 38.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the soft top, increasing to 83 cubic feet with the seats down.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, when upgraded from the 1958 model, featured SofTex artificial leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof. While the front seats were comfortable, the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The Land Cruiser's rear window design was less practical than the 4Runner's, and the center console's cool box reduced storage space. The Land Cruiser offered 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space, with a maximum of 82.1 cubic feet when the rear seats were folded. However, the high load floor height required extra effort when loading heavy items.

The 2024 Ford Bronco came standard with a 12-inch touchscreen Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect services, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a seven-speaker stereo system. Higher trim levels offered a connected navigation system and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system with 10 speakers. However, the Bronco's 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.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, when upgraded from the 1958 model, featured two 12.3-inch displays with the Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) infotainment system. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Five connected service plans were available, including Drive Connect with a cloud-based navigation system and a conversational digital assistant. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system, a wireless smartphone charger, a head-up display, a digital camera-based rearview mirror, and digital key technology.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend was equipped with standard safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, and a backup camera with guidance grid lines. 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. The Bronco received favorable crash test ratings from the IIHS, except for its headlight performance, which received a Marginal score. The NHTSA awarded the Bronco four-door a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0), featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. Additional safety features included a road sign reader, automatic high-beam headlights, and Predictive Driving Assist (PDA). The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, and Traffic Jam Assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side-impact testing and a three-star rollover resistance rating.