Starting at
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| 418 | Horsepower | 326 |
| 3 | Engine Options | 2 |
| Yes | v | No |
Competition is steep among SUVs as drivers look for more capability, versatility, and value in the segment. Comparing the 2025 Ford Bronco vs 2025 Toyota 4Runner reveals how two well-known automakers answer a distinct demand for rugged SUVs that can seamlessly transition between weekday commutes and weekend adventures in the woods. These SUVs do double duty as everyday road warriors and rugged trail runners, but does one outshine and outperform the other?
It’s easy to immediately turn to staples like the 4Runner as your top choice for a midsize SUV that can handle life on and off the pavement. The 4Runner has a well-established history in the Toyota lineup and is renowned for its adventurous spirit and high resale value. Likewise, the 4Runner has a strong community of aftermarket support, with drivers sharing their experience customizing the SUV to their specific needs on and off the trail.
Despite the Bronco’s recent return to the Blue Oval stage, the same is true for the off-road SUV. The 2025 Bronco builds on its rich history of capability and introduces drivers to a new era of performance ingenuity you won’t find in the 4Runner. Moreover, Ford remains loyal to drivers by offering more value across the Bronco’s 2025 lineup, making it more accessible than its Toyota rival. Coincidentally, the 2025 Bronco is also more customizable and feature-rich, giving it another undeniable advantage.
How else does the 2025 Bronco outshine and outperform the 2025 4Runner? Why are we confident that your search for a rugged and reliable SUV will end with you behind the wheel of the legendary Bronco? It’s time to find out as we compare two of the best off-road SUVs available today.
The 2025 Bronco and 2025 4Runner offer diverse trim lineups that answer a wide range of needs, from budget-friendly base trims to wildly capable adventurers equipped with rugged off-road components. However, Ford offers more value across the Bronco’s lineup, keeping the SUV’s price tag affordable as Toyota requires drivers to dig deeper into their pockets and spend more on the 2025 4Runner. This difference is immediately apparent after a closer comparison of the entry-level trims.
The 2025 4Runner SR5 starts at $40,770, a premium price for a base trim with minimal features. The entry-level trim is sparsely equipped, and Toyota treats it as a blank canvas that drivers can further customize if they’re willing to spend extra on upgrades. For example, the SR5 has 17-inch alloy wheels, an 8-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen, power windows, and the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite. Upgrades include an available third-row seat and Toyota’s part-time four-wheel drive system.
Ford offers more for less with the 2025 Bronco Base, which starts at $37,995 and rolls off the production line with an Electronic Shift on the Fly two-speed transfer case.[a] It’s also more readily customizable as a two or four-door SUV, with Ford adding a HOSS suspension and giving drivers a choice between a seven-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission. The Base is also more tech-savvy than its Toyota counterpart, thanks to an expansive 12-inch center touchscreen display with Ford’s renowned SYNC infotainment system.
Climbing the respective trim families reveals more of the same, with Toyota requiring drivers to spend more without necessarily getting more. The 4Runner’s TRD trims offer progressive capability, from the entry-level TRD Sport and TRD Sport Premium to the TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, and TRD Pro. Top-tier trims like the Limited and Platinum offer more luxuries, but that requires choosing between comfort and capability. Fortunately, Ford gives drivers the best of both worlds by ensuring every Bronco trim, from the Base and Big Bend to the Heritage Edition, Outer Banks, Badlands, Stroppe Edition, and Raptor, offer premium comforts and innovative technologies with the capability expected of the Bronco name.
Drivers appreciate having plenty of options to customize their vehicles, from exploring various trims to different packages and upgrades. However, looking at the 2025 4Runner, it seems Toyota has forgotten this basic need. The SUV has an extensive trim family, but special editions, upgrades, and package options are minimal. Why is this significant enough to give the 2025 Bronco an advantage?
Toyota’s oversight forces 4Runner owners to tap into the aftermarket community to bring their 4Runner dreams to life. For example, building a custom TRD Sport in 2025 means choosing exterior and interior colors and between rear or part-time four-wheel drive. Any opportunity to customize the SUV’s design or capability off the factory floor is nil. Instead, you’ll have to spend more on aftermarket modifications, which can potentially threaten the 4Runner’s manufacturer-backed warranty.
Ford takes a far better approach with the 2025 Bronco, which is revered for its diverse trim family and many package options. For starters, the 2025 Bronco Base gives you a choice between a two and four-door model. You can also add the Sasquatch Package, which adds Ford’s advanced four-wheel drive system with automatic on-demand engagement, a high-clearance suspension, high-clearance fender flares, and position-sensitive Bilstein shock absorbers. This package extends the Bronco Base’s capability and sets the stage for further customization options across the SUV’s trim family.
Beyond the Sasquatch Package, the Bronco’s extensive customization options cater to every need, from towing and off-roading to styling and tech. For example, the 2025 Bronco Big Bend offers ten packages, including Free Wheeling, Black Diamond, Black Appearance, and Sasquatch. The Black Diamond adds auxiliary switches with pre-run accessory wires, powder-coated steel bumpers, steel bash plates, rock rails, and rubberized flooring. The Black Appearance Package puts the SUV in stealth mode, adding black molded-in-color door handles, fender flares, mirrors, and an exclusive black-painted grille with white “BRONCO” lettering. With many of these packages stackable, creating a custom Bronco is far easier and more affordable than attempting the same with the 4Runner in 2025.
The 2025 Bronco and 2025 4Runner are destined to venture beyond the pavement, with Ford and Toyota equipping the SUVs with the necessities to tackle challenging terrain. However, the 2025 4Runner falls short with a two-engine lineup that pales compared to the Bronco’s three powertrains that include the performance-tuned Raptor heartbeat. The difference in performance and capability is undeniable, and here’s why.
Toyota sets the benchmark for the 2025 4Runner with its 2.4L i-FORCE turbocharged inline-four engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. The engine produces 278 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque, enough to make the SUV responsive and agile. However, Toyota doesn’t give drivers many options to customize that performance, which is why Ford gains the lead with the 2025 Bronco’s turbocharged 2.3L EcoBoost inline-four and its optional seven-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission. The base powerplant outshines the 4Runner, producing 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque.
As you climb the 4Runner lineup, Toyota limits your choices to a 2.4L i-FORCE MAX turbocharged inline-four that makes 326 hp and 465 l-ft of torque. The increase is significant but doesn’t appeal to those looking for more power from a non-hybrid option. Fortunately, Ford takes a different approach with the Bronco’s optional 2.7L EcoBoost turbocharged V6, which makes 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque with its quick-shifting ten-speed automatic transmission. Ford puts the 3.0L turbocharged EcoBoost V6 under the Raptor’s hood, enticing drivers with 418 ponies and 440 lb-ft of torque for plenty of thrills behind the wheel.
The Bronco’s lead over the 4Runner in 2025 continues when you realize the incredible performance behind its powertrains and rugged build. The 2025 4Runner Trailhunter is the most capable at the top of the lineup, with an Old Man Emu suspension, 33-inch tires, stabilizer bar disconnect, and Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select system. Yet, the 2025 Bronco ups the ante with its Built Wild design, offering a choice of three HOSS suspensions, class-exclusive 35-inch tires, an 11.6-inch ground clearance, water fording capability up to 37 inches, and the renowned G.O.A.T. Modes that guarantee the SUV can go over any type of terrain.
Did you initially envision yourself behind the wheel of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner? The 4Runner is a well-loved SUV revered for its rugged capability, but it’s no longer a leader in the segment. Competition is fierce, thanks to models like the 2025 Ford Bronco, which encourages drivers to dream big, chase the horizon, and answer the call of the wild without hesitation.
As your Ford destination, we share your excitement for the Bronco and everything it offers. Its penchant for adventure is undeniable, yet Ford doesn’t require you to pay a premium to join this incredible legacy. Instead, the Blue Oval offers more value for your hard-earned money, making the 2025 Bronco an exciting and rewarding investment for our customers.
Making that investment is enjoyable when you work with the team at DePaula Ford. Beyond sharing your excitement, we’re here to bring your Bronco dreams to life and help you protect your investment every mile ahead. It’s an automotive partnership that stretches from our showroom floor to our service center, guaranteeing a world-class experience every time you’re here.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.
