The all-new sixth-generation 2025 Toyota 4Runner has arrived, and from our time behind the wheel, it’s the best iteration yet. But where does it stand against its pricier sibling, the North American Land Cruiser? Toyota’s decision to bring back the Land Cruiser at a higher price point has raised plenty of questions about how the two SUVs compare. So, let’s settle this debate.
We’ve driven both—back to back, on the same roads and off-road trails—during the 4Runner’s first drive event, where Toyota conveniently had both models on hand. The experiential information gathered there combined with the data provided by Toyota makes an interesting case for each SUV.
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Let’s break down the details including pricing, standard features, options, driving impressions, and more. In the end, we’ll paint a clear picture of which of the two is the better overall value.
QUICK FACTS
Similarities
It’s no surprise that these rugged SUVs share plenty of similarities. Both ride on Toyota’s TNGA-F platform, the same underpinnings found in the Tacoma and Tundra. This common architecture allows Toyota to use many of the same components across models.
For example, both the Land Cruiser and 4Runner have the same 112.2-inch wheelbase, the same eight-speed automatic transmission, and nearly identical width, with most trims measuring 77.9 inches across. They also share a 6,000-pound towing capacity when properly equipped.
In addition, Toyota equips the upper-level trims of the 4Runner with its i-Force Max 2.4-liter turbocharged hybrid four-cylinder. That just so happens to be the only engine available in the Land Cruiser. On top of that, they both make the same 326 hp (243 kW) and 465 lb-ft (630 Nm) regardless of application. However, the 4Runner also offers a non-hybrid version of this engine, making 278 hp (207 kW) and 317 lb-ft (429 Nm)—a noticeably weaker option.
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While that powertrain hasn’t yet built a reputation for dogged reliability, Toyota also offers the same warranty package on both vehicles. That includes three years or 36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage, five years, or 60,000 miles of powertrain coverage, and eight years or 100,000 miles of hybrid component coverage.
Differences On Paper
Pricing is the first major place where things start to diverge for these two SUVs. Much of that comes down to the trim lineup for each vehicle. For example, the Land Cruiser starts at $56,700 for the 1958 Edition, with its fully loaded trim topping out at $61,470, a relatively modest $4,770 gap between the base and the highest-spec model.
On the flip side, the 4Runner starts at just $40,770 but the pricing gap between the top and the bottom is a chasm that not even the most robust Toyota could span.The TRD Pro and Trailhunter trims each carry a $66,900 MSRP, a staggering $26,000 jump from the entry-level model. Why such a wide spread? A key factor is the non-hybrid powertrain offered in the lower trims, whereas the Land Cruiser comes standard with Toyota’s hybrid setup.
2025 Toyota 4Runner
Photos Stephen Rivers / Carscoops
Simply dubbed the i-Force, it consists of an almost identical 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder but without the hybrid technology. It makes 278 hp (207 kW) and 317 lb-ft (429 Nm) of torque and offers up to 20 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 combined according to Toyota.
Read: Toyota Dealers Adding $5,000 Markups Onto New 4Runner
Interestingly, the Land Cruiser actually bests that combination of figures overall. Despite having more horsepower on tap, it achieves up to 22 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. That’s even more impressive when considering that the base 4Runner that achieves the above-mentioned fuel economy scores is rear-wheel drive. Every Land Cruiser comes with four-wheel drive.
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser
Photos Stephen Rivers / Carscoops
In addition, the Land Cruiser offers more interior space for passengers, with nearly two extra inches of headroom in both rows and over an inch more legroom. If that wasn’t enough, it also provides more cargo space than a hybrid-equipped 4Runner at 46.2 cubic feet versus 42.6 cubic feet.
However, there’s a tradeoff. All Land Cruiser models are strictly five-seaters due to the placement of the hybrid battery, while some 4Runner trims offer a third-row option for those needing extra seating capacity. That said, the third row in the 4Runner is best suited for kids or smaller passengers, making it more of a convenience feature than a true people-hauler.
For some, those small differences aren’t enough to deter them from spending more to go farther off-road. With that in mind, let’s break down the off-road equipment and driving experience to see how each SUV handles when the pavement ends.
Off-Road Differences
One statistical point regarding off-road prowess seems to stick out in comparison tests; ground clearance. By that marker, the 4Runner is a clear winner here. The SR5 boasts 8.1 inches of it and every other model ranges from 8.8 inches all the way up to 10.1 for the TRD Pro and Trailhunter trims.
On the flip side, the Land Cruiser only has a maximum of 8.7 inches of ground clearance regardless of which trim one picks. In reality, though, ground clearance doesn’t tell the whole story. Many off-roading experts will say that anywhere between 8-10 inches of ground clearance will enable a vehicle to tackle light rock crawling, overlanding, and shallow mud.
Big rocks, deep mud, and bigger challenges require, at minimum, 10 inches meaning that the TRD Pro and Trailhunter trims could in theory, do these types of obstacles but only just barely. In fact, those figures suggest that even the humble SR5 with 4WD (and perhaps some all-terrain tires) could tackle the vast majority of what the rest of the trims could.
Read: 2025 Toyota 4Runner Starts Under $41,000, Nearly $16,000 Less Than The Land Cruiser
Again though, ground clearance isn’t the whole story. Approach angle is another factor and the Land Cruiser is the clear winner here with a 30/31-degree approach angle. The 4Runner TRD Pro and Trailhunter both beat this with 33 degrees but every other 4Runner falls short of even 20 degrees.
Then, there’s the departure angle to talk about. The Land Cruiser matches the base 4Runner along with the Limited, Platinum, and TRD Sport trims with a 22-degree departure angle. The TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and TRD Trailhunter all have a 24-degree departure angle to achieve a small victory. Of course, that victory feels short-lived when I tell you that the Land Cruiser has a 25-degree breakover angle whereas the most robust 4Runner has a 24-degree breakover angle.
Off-Road Equipment
All of this is to say nothing about the physical equipment on each SUV. The 4Runner does have some big benefits when it comes to things like shock technology. For example, the TRD Sport gets TRD-branded shocks, the Limited gets Adaptive Variable Suspension dampers, the TRD Off-Road comes with Bilstein shocks, the TRD Pro gets FOX internal bypass shocks, and the Trailhunter gets ARB Old Man Emu dampers.
Toyota doesn’t offer anything as bespoke for the Land Cruiser. Instead, it gets dampers built by Tokiko on both trim levels. That means that buyers won’t get that super-customized ride available with the 4Runner. At the same time, that doesn’t take away from the serious equipment that comes standard on the Land Cruiser.
Every LC gets locking rear and center differentials. They also come with full-time four-wheel drive and the top trim is available with a sway-bar disconnect feature. The 4Runner isn’t available with those features in one package unless you’re willing to drop at least $66,900 for the Trailhunter or TRD Pro.
The Driving Experience
The 4Runner might have bespoke dampers for basically every trim but having driven them, they’re not glaringly different. Sure, the idea of having a set of high-end purpose-built shocks on my SUV is attractive, and no doubt very useful for the five percent (I’d guess it could actually be less) of people who will truly push this Toyota to the brink of its off-road capability.
For everyone else, the Land Cruiser shocks will do just fine. Don’t forget that the LC is built to feel and be a little more luxurious overall. That’s one reason it offers more interior volume and why, in our testing, it was quieter in the cabin overall. When the road runs out, the Land Cruiser literally cruised over the exact same trails, obstacles, and steep pitches that the 4Runner did with the same aplomb as the 4Runner.
I’m not a hardcore off-road enthusiast but I’ve gotta believe one could outfit their Land Cruiser with upgraded dampers for far less than the $5,430 price difference between a top-end LC and a 4Runner TRD Pro or Trailhunter with zero additional options.
The Verdict
The 4Runner is an especially strong value in this field for those who want the lower-end trims. The SR5 with four-wheel drive will do, on its own, what the vast majority of buyers will ever need when it comes to off-road capability. It’s also the only 4Runner currently available with third-row seating.
In addition, Toyota offers other attractive trims like the TRD Off-Road ($49,190) and the TRD Sport Premium ($52,610) that are even more rugged while remaining less expensive than the base Land Cruiser. Beyond those trims, the Land Cruiser begins to look dramatically more attractive.
It’s more comfortable, has as much or more power than any 4Runner, offers more cargo space than the hybrid and equally powerful 4Runner, and costs considerably less than similarly equipped 4Runners when it comes to off-road equipment.
When we compare apples to apples, it’s clear that the Land Cruiser offers a lot more for the same price as the 4Runner TRD Pro and Trailhunter. The X factor that we haven’t even hit on is that dealers are already marking up the 4Runner so that it’s even less attainable for die-hard Toyota fans willing to part with nearly $70,000. But that could change.
At the end of the day, we’re in a really interesting moment in the history of Toyota. While fans might prefer the 4Runner or the Land Cruiser over the other, both are sincerely capable SUVs. What’s more, is that we get to see how well this strategy of having two very similar products selling alongside one another works out. Which would you pick and why? Let us know in the comments below!
