Toyota 4Runner vs Ford Bronco
Midsize SUVs · head to head, 2021–2026
The Toyota 4Runner and Ford Bronco were both sold for 6 model years (2021–2026). Among the 4Runner's own years, its best bet is 2023; years to avoid: 2010, 2025; the newest year rated a good buy is 2024. Among the Bronco's own years, its best bet is 2024; years to avoid: 2021; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025.
Toyota 4Runner
SUV · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2023
- Newest good buy 2024
- Avoid 2010, 2025
- Be careful 2011–2012, 2015
Ford Bronco
SUV · 2021–2026
- Best bet 2024
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid 2021
- Be careful 2022
How to read this: each model's verdicts compare that model's own years with each other (serious owner complaints per car on the road against that model's usual year, using New York registrations). They are not a reliability ranking of one model against the other, so a good-buy 4Runner year says nothing about whether it beats a Bronco. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Toyota 4Runner | Ford Bronco | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Not rated | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Side by side |
| 2025 | AVOIDSerious complaints 7.8× usual, mostly brakes and structure | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | Side by side |
| 2024 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2023 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2022 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 2.2× usual, mostly engine and power train | Side by side |
| 2021 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | AVOIDSerious complaints 3.9× usual, mostly engine and suspension | Side by side |
Each chip rates that year against the same model's other years. Tap a chip for the year's details; "Side by side" compares both models that year, trim by trim.
Compare any year, trim by trim
2026: the newest shared year, at a glance
| 2026 Toyota 4Runner | 2026 Ford Bronco | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | Not rated | TOO NEW |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | $41,870 to $67,900 base price by trim, 9 trims | $40,495 to $79,995 base price by trim, 7 trims |
| Engines and horsepower | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo, 275–278 hp 2.4L 4-cyl turbo hybrid, 275–278 hp | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo 2.7L 6-cyl turbo 3.0L 6-cyl turbo manual available |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | 21–23 mpg | 15–20 mpg |
| Seats | 5 | 4–5 |
| Third row | Yes | No |
| Cargo behind last row | 42.6–48.4 cu ft | — |
| Max cargo | 82.6–90.2 cu ft | — |
| Max towing | 6,000 lb | — |
| NHTSA crash rating | 4 of 5 stars | Not rated |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | 0 · 0 | 9 · 8 |
Sources: OpenSpec and the makers' equipment guides, NHTSA vPIC, EPA and NHTSA ratings. Cargo, towing and bed length rows appear when we have them. "—": not in our data. Compare every 2026 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| 4Runner SR5 lowest price, $41,870 | 4Runner TRD Pro highest price, $67,900 | Bronco Base lowest price, $40,495 | Bronco Raptor highest price, $79,995 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Adaptive cruise control | Standard | Standard | — | Standard |
| Blind-spot warning | Standard | Standard | — | Standard |
| Heated front seats | — | Standard | — | Standard |
| Ventilated front seats | — | Standard | — | — |
| Sunroof or moonroof | — | Standard | — | — |
| 360-degree camera | — | — | — | Standard |
| Power liftgate or tailgate | No | Standard | — | — |
| Remote start | Standard | Standard | — | Standard |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2026 data lists it (a package or option adds an "Optional" item); "—": not verified in our sources, never a guess. The cheapest and most expensive trim of each model; every trim is on the model's 2026 page (4Runner, Bronco).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Toyota 4Runner
14 manufacturer programs on file: 10 extended coverage, 4 repair programs.
- Extended coverage Customer Support Program ZKG ? (Z3G, 2010–2017 models)
- Extended coverage On July 30, 2018, a settlement of claims for Economic Loss related to Takata airbag inflators was approved for full implementation. The settlement includes Toyota's agreement to provide a Customer Support Program (?CSP?) for 2002-2019… (22TE04, 2010–2016 models)
- Extended coverage CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM ZKG Multiple Models and Model Years Vehicles Painted with Blizzard Pearl (070) or Super White (040) Paint Color Coverage for Peeling of Factory-Applied Paint (2010–2015 models)
- Extended coverage Repair is Now Available Multiple Models and Model Years Vehicles Painted with Blizzard Pearl (070) or Super White (040) Paint Color Coverage for Peeling of Factory-Applied Paint. (2010–2015 models)
Ford Bronco
6 manufacturer programs on file: 1 extended coverage, 5 repair programs.
- Extended coverage NEW VEHICLE DEMONSTRATION / DELIVERY HOLD Safety Recall 24S55 – Supplement #1 Dated: August 15, 2025 Customer Satisfaction Program 24N12 Dated June 19, 2025 New! REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT • Rental Vehicles: Added specification that long… (24N12, 2021–2022 models)
From manufacturer bulletins filed with NHTSA, counted per program. A count is how many programs exist, not how good or bad a model is: a maker that extends coverage is paying for a known problem. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
Which should you buy?
- Buying used, years both are rated a good buy: 2023–2024. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Shopping around 2025: the Bronco is rated good buy (serious complaints 0.8× usual), while the 4Runner is rated avoid (serious complaints 7.8× usual, mostly brakes and structure). Each against its own other years.
- Shopping around 2021: the 4Runner is rated good buy (serious complaints 1.1× usual), while the Bronco is rated avoid (serious complaints 3.9× usual, mostly engine and suspension). Each against its own other years.
- Years to skip: 4Runner 2010, 2025; Bronco 2021.
- Newest year rated a good buy: 4Runner 2024; Bronco 2025.
- Want a third row? Only the 4Runner offers one in 2026; the Bronco is a two-row vehicle.
- Lower starting price in 2026: the Bronco, from $40,495 against $41,870. Prices are the maker's listed base prices, not what dealers charge.
- Best EPA combined rating in 2026: 4Runner at 23 mpg (Bronco: 20), for the most efficient version of each.
- Before you buy either: run the VIN for open recalls and ask the dealer whether the extended-coverage repairs above were done.
Rules applied to the data on this page: no overall winner is declared, because our verdicts compare each model with itself.