2022 Toyota Venza vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

Ford had been teasing the new Bronco for years, and it finally revealed that the resurrected off-roader would be preceded by a little brother: the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The Bronco Sport captured some of the same styling cues as its big brother but was a frameless (unibody) crossover with a more suburban focus—an everyday driver ready for weekend adventures. The Bronco Sport had a modern retro feel that wouldn’t be out of place in the Land Rover lineup. The front overhang was very short, and the rear overhang was almost as good, designed for trail driving with minimal unnecessary adornment. Bold white lettering on the front grille and tailgate announced the vehicle’s name as “BRONCO,” while a smaller postscript admitted “SPORT.”

Toyota tried with the Venza before, but the model faded away without much fanfare. The Venza rose again for the 2021 model year, riding on the Toyota New Global Architecture K (TGNA-K) platform. The Venza measured 186.6 inches long, 73.0 inches wide, and 65.9 inches tall, with 7.8 inches of ground clearance and a 105.9-inch wheelbase. It had excellent proportions and a modern exterior design that would fit comfortably into the Lexus lineup. The most striking design feature was a deeply scalloped body side that bulged to form the rear fender, emphasizing power. The tailgate was eye-catching, bisected horizontally with a stripe of LED lighting. The Venza’s nose was prominent, giving it a very un-SUV overhang beyond the front wheels, best suited for parking lots rather than mountain tops.

Ford set up a media drive at Holly Oaks ORV Park, where several variants of the Bronco Sport were driven on groomed trails, designed obstacles, and public roads. The Bronco Sport had two engine choices tied to trim levels. A 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine produced 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque for the Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims. A 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine put out 245 hp and 275 lb-ft for the Badlands and First Edition models. All Bronco Sport models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD), along with a terrain management system with up to seven available G.O.A.T. modes. The Bronco Sport performed well off-road, with a short wheelbase, four-wheel independent suspension, generous suspension travel, and decent ground clearance. On pavement, the 2.0-liter engine seemed better suited to the Bronco Sport’s character, as the 1.5-liter could sound strained when pressed hard.

The Venza had a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine and three electric motors, producing 219 horsepower combined. The Venza balanced electric drive and gas drive for optimum efficiency and performance. Drivers could opt for electric-only (EV) operation for short distances or select among Normal, Eco, and Sport drive modes. Regenerative braking helped recharge the lithium-ion battery powering the electric motors, while the main charge came from the motor-generator driven by the gas engine. The Venza offered sprightly performance and agile handling, feeling maneuverable like the Camry. The taller body and higher ground clearance didn’t encourage aggressive cornering, but the Venza delivered the ride and performance it promised as a midsize family hauler.

The Bronco Sport delivered fun, clever features beyond the usual compact crossover mold. The cargo space was designed to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes, and Ford launched a catalog of over 100 factory and aftermarket accessories for transporting kayaks, surfboards, skis, and camping equipment. The roof was rated to hold up to 150 pounds (100 with moonroof). The 2.0-liter engine could tow up to 2,200 pounds, and the 1.5-liter could tow 2,000 pounds. The cargo hold had a flip-up rear glass, an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin had big door pockets, multiple cubbies, and covered storage. However, taller drivers might find it challenging to see past the roof overhang to spot traffic lights, and the bulges in the hood could obscure the trail ahead when off-road.

The Venza seated five in two rows, with two bucket seats in the front row and a 60/40-split folding second-row bench seat. Both rows had good headroom and legroom, with the second row offering 45.2 inches of hip room. The cabin felt roomy, especially with the available Star Gaze fixed panoramic glass roof on the Limited trim. The interior had numerous convenience features, including an overhead console with LED map lights, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a four-way power-adjustable front passenger’s seat on XLE and Limited models. The cabin had four cupholders and four bottle holders, with each door holding a 24-ounce bottle. The Venza’s lithium-ion battery pack lived beneath the second-row seats, allowing for 28.8 cubic feet of luggage space behind the second row and up to 55.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat. Toyota added sound-blocking and absorbing insulation, making the Venza serene and quiet on the road.

Ford equipped the Bronco Sport with the latest infotainment systems, including an 8-inch touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and available Ford+Alexa and SiriusXM capability. FordConnect with 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard. The base audio system was an AM/FM stereo with six speakers, with a Bang & Olufsen sound system available on Outer Banks and above trim levels. The terrain management system on the Bronco Sport had up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, setting the appropriate steering, transmission, and throttle response settings for the driver-selected condition. Trail control technology added a cruise-control-like feature for off-roading. Intelligent access with push-button start was included with all trim levels except the Base model, and heated and leather-wrapped steering wheels were available on Outer Banks and above.

The Venza’s hybrid powertrain required no special attention to work, with no need for charging infrastructure. The Venza’s hybrid setup was transparent in operation, with a tank of gas yielding well over 500 miles. Toyota engineered a Predicted Efficient Drive (PED) program that used the navigation system to analyze drivers’ habits and optimize how the hybrid battery got charged. The LE and XLE models came with an eight-inch touchscreen, AM/FM/HD Radio, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system worked with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and had Amazon Alexa capability and Bluetooth connectivity. The Toyota Venza Limited added a nine-speaker JBL audio system, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and intelligent touch-capacitive controls. Both multimedia setups came with Toyota Connected Services, including Safety Connect, Service Connect, Remote Connect, and WiFi Connect. An Advanced Technology Package was available for the Limited trim, including a head-up display and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

Each trim level of the Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, dynamic brake support, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera. Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ was available on all trim levels except Base, including adaptive cruise control, lane centering, evasive steering assist, a voice-activated touchscreen navigation system, and road-sign recognition. Trailer sway control was included as part of the available tow package. AWD was standard on all Bronco models, with a terrain management system with G.O.A.T. modes, traction control, anti-lock braking, and electronic stability control. Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA had revealed ratings for the Ford Bronco Sport for crash-worthiness.

The Venza came with the Toyota Star Safety System, including stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, smart stop technology, and a rearview camera. The Venza also had eight airbags, including driver and front-passenger advanced airbag systems, driver and front-passenger side airbags, driver knee airbag, front-passenger seat-cushion airbag, and front and rear side-curtain airbags. The Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0) group of driver aids included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, daytime bicycle detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams, lane tracing assist, and road-sign assist. A blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert and hill-start assist were standard on all trim levels. XLE and Limited models got front and rear parking assist with automated braking, and Limited models also got fog lamps. The 2022 Toyota Venza received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.