2026 Ford Bronco Sport vs 2026 Toyota Highlander

$31,845 · Crossover

$45,270 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Choosing between the nimble 2026 Ford Bronco Sport and the larger 2026 Toyota Highlander often comes down to balancing budget against sheer size. Buyers wrestling with a tight budget will immediately gravitate toward the Bronco Sport, which starts at a very attractive $31,845, creating a significant $13,425 savings over the Highlander’s $45,270 MSRP. While the Highlander boasts superior performance with 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, the Bronco Sport compensates with better fuel economy, achieving 27 combined MPG versus the Highlander's 24 combined MPG. Although the Bronco Sport is shorter at 172.7 inches compared to the Highlander’s 194.9 inches, it surprisingly offers nearly double the essential cargo space at 32.5 cu ft versus the Highlander’s 16 cu ft, making it incredibly practical for daily hauling despite its smaller footprint.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Ford Bronco Sport

The Bronco Sport wins for commuters due to its significantly better combined MPG rating of 27 versus the Highlander's 24.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Toyota Highlander

The larger Highlander is the better choice for families needing maximum passenger space, despite its lower cargo volume rating of 16 cu ft compared to Car 1's 32.5 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Toyota Highlander

Enthusiasts will prefer the Highlander for its substantial power advantage, offering 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque over the Bronco Sport's 181 hp.

💰 Best Value

2026 Ford Bronco Sport

The Bronco Sport offers significantly better value with a starting MSRP that is $13,425 less than the Highlander.

Choose the Ford Bronco Sport if...

You prioritize keeping purchase costs low, as the Bronco Sport's $31,845 MSRP is substantially less than Car 2.
You need practical cargo hauling capacity, as its 32.5 cu ft beats the Highlander's 16 cu ft.
You want better efficiency from your all-wheel-drive crossover, given its 27 combined MPG rating.

Choose the Toyota Highlander if...

You frequently need to pass or merge aggressively, benefiting from the Highlander's extra 84 horsepower advantage.
Your family requires a significantly longer vehicle for better interior space, with the Highlander measuring 194.9 inches long.
You desire higher torque figures for towing or heavy hauling, utilizing the Highlander's 310 lb-ft output.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Ford Bronco Sport	Toyota Highlander
Length	172.7"	194.9"
Width	74.3"	76.0"
Height	70.2"	68.1"
Wheelbase	105.1"	112.2"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Ford	Toyota
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	—
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Brake Preparation System	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	2
Rear Folding Headrests	✓	—
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	—
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	—	✓
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	—	✓
Automatic Headlights	—	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	—	✓
Front Fog Lights	—	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	—	✓
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Ford	Toyota
Base Engine Displacement	1.5 L	2.4 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 3	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	181 hp @ 6000 rpm	265 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque	190 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm	310 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm
Number of Valves	12	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Ford	Toyota
Transmission Type	8-speed shiftable automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	all wheel drive	all wheel drive
Center Differential Type	—	Limited Slip
Hill Descent Control	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Ford	Toyota
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	25/30 MPG	21/28 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	27 MPG	24 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	400.0/480.0 mi.	375.9/501.2 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	16.0 gal.	17.9 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Ford	Toyota
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	—
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	✓
Single Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	—	✓
Universal Remote Transmitter	—	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	—	✓
Front Seatback Storage	—	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	—	✓
Three Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control	—	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	—	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Ford	Toyota
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	8.0 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	6
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—

Power Feature

Feature	Ford	Toyota
One-Touch Power Windows	1	4
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Moonroof Type	—	1st Row Power Glass

Frontseats

Feature	Ford	Toyota
Front Head Room	41.5 in.	39.6 in.
Front Leg Room	42.4 in.	42.0 in.
Front Shoulder Room	57.3 in.	59.0 in.
Front Hip Room	55.2 in.	57.2 in.
Seat Material: Premium Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	—
Seat Material: Leatherette	—	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	—	Power
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	—	✓
Driver Seat Heating	—	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	—	Multi-level

Rearseats

Feature	Ford	Toyota
Rear Head Room	41.7 in.	39.4 in.
Rear Leg Room	36.9 in.	38.7 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	55.6 in.	58.4 in.
Rear Hip Room	53.4 in.	57.0 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	—
Folding Rear Seatback	—	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	—	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Ford	Toyota
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	—
Wheel Diameter	17 in	18 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	225/65R H	P235/65R V
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Underbody Mounted
Wheel Material	—	Alloy

Suspension

Feature	Ford	Toyota
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Ford	Toyota
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	2 yr./ unlimited mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	—	2 yr./ 25000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport and 2026 Toyota Highlander.

How much bigger is the 2026 Toyota Highlander than the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport?

The Highlander is noticeably larger overall, measuring 194.9 inches in length compared to the Bronco Sport's 172.7 inches. This difference in length does not translate to better storage, however, as the Bronco Sport offers 32.5 cu ft of cargo room versus the Highlander's 16 cu ft.

Is the extra cost of the 2026 Toyota Highlander worth the power difference?

The Highlander costs $13,425 more, and in return, you get 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, an 84 hp increase over the Bronco Sport's 181 hp. If immediate acceleration is key, this power bump justifies the expense, but commuters might prefer saving money and using regular unleaded fuel.

Which vehicle has better fuel economy for regular city driving?

The 2026 Ford Bronco Sport is the clear winner for city driving efficiency, achieving 25 MPG in the city, while the larger Highlander only manages 21 MPG in city conditions.

Does the smaller Bronco Sport compromise on interior height?

Surprisingly, the Bronco Sport is taller overall at 70.2 inches compared to the Highlander's 68.1 inches, which likely translates to more headroom inside its smaller cabin.

Are maintenance costs likely to be different between these two AWD models?

While both use 8-speed shiftable automatics and accept regular unleaded fuel, the Highlander's higher MSRP suggests that replacement parts and routine maintenance might generally be more expensive due to its larger size and more powerful drivetrain.

If I need AWD, does one model perform better off-road based on these specs?

While both offer AWD, the Bronco Sport's dimensions—especially its height of 70.2 inches—suggest it is engineered with a more traditional, rugged SUV approach compared to the slightly lower-riding Highlander.