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Dec 14, 2023

How The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Stacks Up Against The New Ford Bronco

Toyota's new Land Cruiser will directly face off against the established Ford Bronco, so we take a look at how the two off-roaders compare. Toyota has generated a lot of buzz with the 2024 Land

Toyota's new Land Cruiser will directly face off against the established Ford Bronco, so we take a look at how the two off-roaders compare.

Toyota has generated a lot of buzz with the 2024 Land Cruiser. The retro-modern design and heavy emphasis on off-roading prowess have struck the right nerves, and rightfully so. The Land Cruiser name is legendary among off-roading aficionados, especially the invincible '60 series' from 1980 that the 2024 Land Cruiser harks back to. Over the years, the Land Cruiser got heavier and more bloated to the point where it became more about luxury than off-roading, which forced Toyota to go back to the drawing board and completely re-evaluate what the Land Cruiser is supposed to be.

The 2024 LC is the grassroots-level rethink that the Land Cruiser name needed. It's cheaper, lighter, and a more focused machine. However, it faces stiff competition in the U.S., as the Ford Bronco also receives a 2024 model update. Here's how the Toyota and Ford off-roaders compare head-to-head.

Toyota has kept the engine lineup for the 2024 Land Cruiser extremely simple. Only one engine option is available - the i-Force Max turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four engine coupled to a 48 hp electric motor and an 8-speed automatic transmission. This may seem like a considerable step-down from the mighty 5.7-liter V8 in the 2021 LC, but it's quite the opposite. The new powertrain is lighter and develops its peak torque at 1,700 rpm compared to the V8's 3,600 rpm, which is excellent for off-roading. The 1.87 kWh nickel-metal-hydride battery isn't very large, and it's not a plug-in hybrid either. The hybrid system only serves to complement the engine, so don't expect purely electric driving. You can, however, expect class-leading fuel efficiency.

The Bronco, on the other hand, is a bit more traditional. Ford will offer two engine options with the 2024 Bronco - a 2.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder and a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6. Both of these engines are mated to a 10-speed shiftable automatic gearbox, but the 4-cylinder can be specced with a 7-speed manual, too. The Land Cruiser's powertrain is more comparable to the Bronco's twin-turbo V6, which makes slightly more power, but loses out on torque output. The V6 also develops peak torque at 3,100 rpm, which is another crucial win for the LC.

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser

2024 Ford Bronco

Configuration

Turbocharged 4-cylinder, hybrid

Turbocharged 4-cylinder

Twin-turbo V6

Displacement

2.4L

2.3L

2.7L

Horsepower

326 hp

300 hp

330 hp

Torque

465 lb-ft

325 lb-ft

415 lb-ft

Transmission

8-speed auto

10-speed auto, 7-speed manual

10-speed auto

Design-wise, both the Land Cruiser and the Bronco share a common theme - paying tribute to the designs of their predecessors with a modern touch - resulting in a quirky mix of retro and futuristic styling that is very appealing. The 2024 Land Cruiser shares a strong resemblance to the LCs from the 1980s, with its squared-off design language, bold Toyota badging on the front, and high-riding stance. Toyota will also offer it in several vibrant colors and allow owners to personalize their LC through the Toyota Genuine Accessories and Associated Accessory Products programs. The 2024 Land Cruiser is also smaller than the outgoing model, which bodes well for off-road maneuverability.

The sixth-gen Bronco's design has garnered a lot of presence in the two years it's been around. The butch stance and rugged looks of the 1960s Bronco have been retained and consumers have responded very well, with over 200,000 units sold in 2022. The round headlights nestled within the black rectangular enclosure combined with the large 'BRONCO' badging are instantly recognizable, and while Ford has slightly updated the design for the 2024 refresh, they've left it largely untouched. Here are the dimensional differences between both of these gorgeous SUVs.

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser

2024 Ford Bronco

LxWxH

193.7 x 78.0 x 73.2 (inches)

189.5 x 75.9 x 73.0 (inches)

Wheelbase

111.2 in

116.1 in

Curb Weight

N/A

4,757 lbs

Gross Weight

N/A

6,080 lbs

Ground Clearance

8.9 in

11.5 in

Related: Here's How The 2024 Land Cruiser Stacks Up Against The New Jeep Wrangler

The capability to perform excellently when taken off the asphalt is one of the biggest selling points for both the 2024 Land Cruiser and Bronco, so it's only natural that both of them should be loaded to the gills with accessories to make life off the beaten path easier. The new hybrid powertrain of the 2024 Land Cruiser has enabled Toyota to install a 2400W inverter to power small appliances on camping trips, which is an ingenious feature. The LC's front stabilizer bar also gets a disconnection mechanism, which increases wheel articulation while off-roading. The base '1958' trim misses out on this feature, though. Toyota has also stiffened up the frame of the 2024 LC by 50% and managed to increase the overall rigidity of the structure by 30%.

The 2024 Ford Bronco is no slouch either. It gets a host of standard off-roading equipment like a heavy-duty modular front bumper (Badlands trim), 32-inch R17 all-terrain tires, rubberized flooring with drain plugs, heavy-duty bash plates, rock rails, and more. Ford also offers the optional Sasquatch Package, which adds 35-inch mud tires, high-clearance fender flares, and electronically-locking front and rear differentials.

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser

2024 Ford Bronco

Approach Angle

31 degrees

43.2 degrees

Departure Angle

22 degrees

37.0 degrees

Breakover Angle

25 degrees

26.3 degrees

Max. Towing Capacity

6000 lbs

3500 lbs

4WD

Full-time

Part-time

Electronic hi-lo gears

Yes

Yes

Locking differential

Center and rear

Front and rear

Front independent suspension

Yes

Yes

Stabilizer bar

Yes

Yes

Hill Descent Control

Yes

Yes

Recovery hooks

Yes

Yes

Crawl control

Yes

Yes

Multi-terrain select system

Yes (not on base trim)

Yes

As butch and utilitarian these SUVs may seem, they're still modern vehicles that must be comfortable to be in when they're not being sloshed around in mud and sand. Yet again, Toyota has stepped up to the plate and kitted out the 2024 Land Cruiser with a well-equipped, albeit slightly basic interior. The entire cabin was designed around excellent visibility, with a low-set cowl and instrument panel, as well as a low beltline, which will be a boon on rough roads. The standard equipment list definitely beats out the Bronco's, and buyers will be able to opt for more creature comforts on higher trims, such as a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system, off-road recovery gear, head-up display, leather seats, and more.

The 2024 Bronco's interior is even more basic in comparison, with the Standard Package only offering manual A/C, an 8-inch screen, and manually-controlled cloth seats, but then again, the base trim is significantly cheaper than the Land Cruiser's. Moreover, Ford offers a hefty amount of optional packages for buyers to choose from. Here is a detailed comparison of the standard features you can expect on these off-roaders.

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser

2024 Ford Bronco

Infotainment screen

12.3 inch (8 inch on base trim)

12 inch (8 inch on base trim)

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

Yes

Yes

Sound system

10-speaker (6-speaker on base trim)

7-speaker w/ subwoofer

Heads-up display

Optional

No

Seat ventilation and control

Heated and cooled, electronic

Heated only, manual

360-degree camera

Yes

Yes

Multi-zone climate control

Yes

Yes

Interior upholstery

SofTex

Cloth

Related: 10 Most Intriguing Updates On The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser

The Land Cruiser takes a beating on this front, since Toyota hasn't announced exact prices yet, but they have quoted that the 2024 LC lineup will start in the "mid-$50,000" range. Even though that's far cheaper than the outgoing model, it's still substantially more expensive than the 2024 Bronco. Ford made the controversial decision of dropping the $37,000 Base trim from the 2024 Bronco lineup, so the Big Bend trim is the new starting point for Bronco buyers. However, even with that change, the Bronco will still be over $13,000 cheaper even if Toyota conservatively prices the 2024 LC, which will make up for the lack of standard equipment in the Ford.

Ultimately, it does seem likely that the Land Cruiser will be more expensive overall, but it will be very interesting to see how these icons clash on the sales charts.

A die-hard petrolhead since the age of 4, a gifted writer, old Top Gear aficionado, and an automobile engineer, Viraaj's life revolves around cars and everything that makes them tick. From writing articles for his own WordPress blog, then DriveTribe, LinkedIn, Wix, and now HotCars, his only goal in life is to make his name known amongst the greatest motoring journalists on the planet.