2024 Ford Bronco vs 2023 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Toyota Sienna was a minivan that defied traditional expectations with its sleek design and practical features. Toyota worked hard to shed the typical minivan image, giving the Sienna a front-end styling reminiscent of a Japanese bullet train. The Sienna offered a variety of trim levels, including the base LE, XLE, sporty XSE, Limited, and top-tier Platinum, with a special 25th Anniversary Special Edition trim available. The XLE trim was particularly appealing to value-conscious buyers, featuring standard LED fog lights, power-sliding doors, and a power liftgate. Inside, the Sienna impressed with its high-quality materials, such as the brown leather upholstery and wood-grain accents in the Platinum trim. It accommodated seven or eight passengers, with the eight-seater option available in the LE or XLE trims, allowing for three-across car seats in the middle row.

The 2024 Ford Bronco embraced a retro design, drawing inspiration from the 1960s, and was particularly striking in its two-door form. The Sasquatch Package, a popular upgrade, added a suspension lift, 35-inch mud-terrain tires, and other off-roading enhancements, giving the Bronco a rugged and adventurous appearance. The Bronco offered nine trim levels, including the Raptor performance model, and buyers could choose between two-door and four-door body styles. The test vehicle, a four-door Big Bend trim, featured Hot Pepper Red paint, LED signature lighting, and the Sasquatch Package, with a price tag of $55,415. While the marine-grade upholstery was practical, it lacked breathability, making it less comfortable in hot weather. The Bronco's interior was functional, with an 8-inch digital display and a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, but the spare tire on the tailgate obstructed the rear view.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two front-mounted electric motors and an optional third rear-mounted motor for all-wheel drive. This setup delivered 245 net system horsepower, which was less impressive compared to competitors. The Sienna's continuously variable transmission (CVT) struggled with acceleration, but its chassis and steering were commendable. The minivan was surprisingly nimble, easy to drive in urban settings, and comfortable on highways. The Sienna offered multiple drive modes, including EV, Normal, Eco, and Sport, but Normal mode was recommended for the best balance of performance and efficiency.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend came with a standard turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. It offered a choice between a seven-speed manual transmission and a 10-speed automatic. The Bronco's optional 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine delivered 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, while the Raptor's exclusive 3.0-liter V6 produced 418 hp and 440 lb-ft. The Bronco's part-time 4WD system was standard, with an advanced system available as an upgrade. The Bronco excelled off-road, thanks to technologies like Trail Control, Trail One-Pedal Drive, and Trail Turn Assist. However, its fuel efficiency was lacking, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway for the Big Bend Sasquatch. During testing, the Bronco averaged 16.9 mpg, highlighting its thirst for fuel.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior storage, offering numerous cubbies, shelves, and bins. It featured a spacious open cubby below the center console, a long shelf across the dashboard, and a large center console bin. The Sienna's minivan platform provided ample cargo space, with 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row and 75.2 cubic feet with the third row folded. Total cargo space reached 101 cubic feet, although the middle row couldn't be removed or folded into the floor. The second-row captain's chairs were highly functional, with extending ottomans and a long sliding track for easy access to the third row.

The 2024 Ford Bronco, especially in the Big Bend Sasquatch trim, required some effort to enter and exit due to its lifted stance. However, it offered comfortable seating for four adults in the two-door model and even more space in the four-door version. The Bronco's marine-grade vinyl upholstery was practical but lacked breathability. The two-door model featured a standard hardtop with removable roof panels, while the four-door had a standard fabric soft top with an optional hardtop. The Bronco's interior storage was decent, with MOLLE panels for customization. Cargo space in the two-door model was 22.4 cubic feet, expanding to 53.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The four-door model offered 38.3 cubic feet with the soft top and 35.6 cubic feet with the hardtop, expanding to 83 cubic feet and 77.6 cubic feet, respectively.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna featured an older infotainment interface, lacking the latest technology found in other Toyota models. It included core features like SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, but required a wired connection. The interface was functional but felt outdated, with some quirks in accessing Android Auto. The Sienna's 9-inch touchscreen was adequate, and the 12-speaker JBL audio system delivered good sound quality.

The 2024 Ford Bronco came standard with a 12-inch touchscreen Sync 4 infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. Higher trims added a connected navigation system and a Bang & Olufsen sound system. However, the Sync 4 system had connectivity issues, with Apple CarPlay frequently disconnecting. The Bronco Trail App provided access to trail maps and information, enhancing the off-road experience.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna impressed with its standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. It received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS for the 2022 model. While competitors offered additional features like intercom systems and rear-seat cameras, the Sienna focused on essential safety technologies.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend included standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and a backup camera. The Mid Package added Ford Co-Pilot360 technologies, including lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Bronco received favorable ratings from the IIHS, except for its headlight performance, and a four-star frontal-impact rating from the NHTSA.