2024 Ford Bronco vs 2023 Acura MDX

The 2023 Acura MDX presented a blend of luxury and subtlety, especially in its Type S Advance trim. This model, with its Apex Blue Pearl paint and Orchid interior, aimed to set high expectations for quality and driving dynamism. However, it occasionally fell short of these aspirations. The MDX Type S was the first Acura SUV to sport the Type S badge, and its design was praised for its subtlety rather than ostentation. It featured chicane-design LED lights, automatic high-beam LED headlights, and 21-inch wheels that provided a solid stance. Inside, the Type S boasted perforated Milano leather, aluminum trim, and a Sport Appearance package, with the Advance trim adding open-pore wood and a leather-wrapped dashboard. Despite its appealing design, some aspects, like the gloss black plastic on the dashboard and the electronic transmission switchgear, were less user-friendly.

In contrast, the 2024 Ford Bronco embraced a retro design reminiscent of the 1960s, particularly in its two-door version. The Sasquatch Package, a popular upgrade, enhanced its rugged appearance with a suspension lift and 35-inch mud-terrain tires. The Bronco offered nine trim levels, with the Big Bend as the standard trim after the base model was discontinued. Our test vehicle, a four-door Big Bend with the Sasquatch Package, showcased a Hot Pepper Red paint and a hardtop. While the marine-grade upholstery was practical, it lacked breathability. The Bronco's interior featured an 8-inch digital display and a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with grab handles for easier access due to the suspension lift. Compared to its rival, the Jeep Wrangler, the Bronco's interior was more refined, offering a nearly vertical windshield and effective square side mirrors. Despite its rugged nature, the Bronco was a delight to drive on-road, offering a unique and enjoyable experience.

The 2023 Acura MDX Type S was distinguished by its turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, producing 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. This was a significant increase over the standard 3.5-liter V6, but the Type S also weighed 285 pounds more than the lightest standard MDX with AWD. The engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), which could direct up to 70% of engine output to a single rear wheel. The MDX Type S featured an Integrated Dynamics System with multiple driving modes, including an exclusive Lift mode for increased ground clearance. Despite these enhancements, the MDX Type S struggled to deliver a cohesive driving experience. The transmission was indecisive, the ride lacked compliance, and the brakes were difficult to modulate. The engine's power increase was not substantial enough to justify its poor fuel economy, averaging 16.9 mpg during testing. The MDX Type S was more agreeable in Normal mode but still exhibited occasional delays in engine response and transmission behavior.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend came with a standard turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, delivering 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. It offered a choice between a seven-speed manual transmission with a low first gear for rock crawling or a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Bronco's optional 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine provided 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, while the Raptor model boasted a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 with 418 hp and 440 lb-ft. The Bronco featured a part-time 4WD system, with an advanced system available as an upgrade. It also offered various off-roading technologies, including Trail Control, Trail One-Pedal Drive, and Trail Turn Assist. Our test vehicle's base engine and part-time 4WD system provided satisfying performance, with good acceleration and clean shifts. However, the Bronco's fuel efficiency was lacking, averaging 16.9 mpg during testing. Despite this, the Bronco excelled in off-road conditions, effortlessly tackling trails and offering a fun driving experience on-road.

The 2023 Acura MDX offered a functional interior with three rows of seats and a spacious cargo area. Our test vehicle featured 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage, wrapped in quilted leather upholstery. However, the seats were firm and didn't provide the expected support during enthusiastic driving. The MDX's second-row seat could be adjusted for more third-row space, but the third row was best suited for children. The interior design prioritized style over storage space, with limited storage options in the center console. The MDX's cargo area was practical, with a power liftgate and a sizable underfloor storage bin. It offered 18.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 71.4 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2024 Ford Bronco, particularly in its four-door configuration, provided a roomy interior with comfortable seating for four adults. The marine-grade vinyl upholstery was practical but lacked breathability. The Bronco's two-door models came with a standard hardtop, while the four-door had a fabric soft top, with a hardtop available as an option. The Bronco's interior storage was good, with MOLLE panels on the front seat backs for customizable storage solutions. The Bronco's cargo area offered 22.4 cubic feet of space in the two-door model, expanding to 53.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The four-door model provided 38.3 cubic feet of cargo space, increasing to 83 cubic feet with the rear seats down.

The 2023 Acura MDX featured a Digital Precision Cockpit with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment display. However, the infotainment screen was not touch-sensitive, requiring the use of a True Touchpad Interface (TTI) on the center console. This design choice limited storage space and partially blocked the wireless charging pad. The MDX offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa Built-In, along with a premium ELS Studio 3D audio system with 25 speakers. The Advance package added a 10.5-inch head-up display, but the traffic sign recognition system occasionally misread speed limits.

The 2024 Ford Bronco came standard with a 12-inch touchscreen Sync 4 infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and FordPass Connect services. However, the system experienced connectivity issues with Apple CarPlay and inconsistent voice recognition performance. The Bronco also featured a complimentary Bronco Trail App for accessing trail maps and information. Our test vehicle had a basic technology package, with a short learning curve for the 8-inch digital instrumentation panel.

The 2023 Acura MDX was equipped with Acura Watch, a suite of driving assistance and collision avoidance systems. It included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and Traffic Jam Assist. The MDX also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors. However, the lane-departure warning system occasionally issued false notifications, and the adaptive cruise control was slow to resume speed. The MDX received good crash-test ratings, earning a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend came with standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and a backup camera. The Mid Package added Ford Co-Pilot360 technologies, such as lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Bronco's safety systems operated as expected, though the lane-keep assist was not preferred. The Bronco received favorable crash-test ratings from the IIHS, except for its headlight performance, and a four-star frontal-impact rating from the NHTSA.