Tough Toyota Battle! 2025 Toyota 4Runner vs. 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser

Toyota for the past few years has been adding many new SUVs to their portfolio, but two of their oldest and most iconic nameplates, 4Runner and Land Cruiser, have just been fully redesigned. But, unlike in the past, these two SUVs are also more similar than ever, sharing a platform and having a lot of capability and pricing overlap. So, who wins in a 2025 Toyota 4Runner vs. 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser battle? Let’s find out!

Pricing and Equipment

Now before we jump into all the individual exterior, interior, and performance comparisons, let’s talk about pricing.

This might be surprising to you if you haven’t been keeping up with the Toyota lineup recently because the former Land Cruiser used to cost about $90,000, and now the new one starts under $60,000. Our Land Cruiser is the standard trim with the Premium package, ringing in just under $68,000.

MSRP (Land Cruiser 4WD): $61,470 | Options: $4,950 | Destination: $1,450 | Total: $67,870

While the Land Cruiser’s price declined, the 4Runner pricing has elevated significantly over the outgoing generation. Its new most luxurious trim, the Platinum, rings in at $65,380.

MSRP (4Runner Platinum 4WD): $62,860 | Options: $1,070 | Destination: $1,450 | Total: $65,380

Exterior Design

So, getting things started here, you’ll notice that even despite sharing the same platform underneath, these two each have their own style. That means we have a classic grille and tough stance on the 4Runner, finished in a darkened chrome for Platinum duty. Meanwhile, on the Land Cruiser, we have a Toyota heritage-style grille, and while we don’t score styling preferences, both look quite handsome to us. As far as lighting, both have fully projector LED headlamps, LED turn signals, and even LED foglamps.

Of course, these SUV’s also have the goods to back up the rugged designs. We will discuss all their capabilities later in the comparison, but for now, know that they have 8.7 and 8.8-inches of ground clearance, plus metal skid plates are included on the Land Cruiser.

NOTE: Skid plates are available on different trims levels of 4Runner.

Moving to the side, this is where you can see the similarities even more. Lengthwise, the 4Runner is now longer by about an inch, since our American Land Cruiser is now the Land Cruiser Prado instead of the Land Cruiser 300 Series. We will see which cabin is larger later in the interior section, [p] but as far as the wheels, our Land Cruiser has 18s and the Platinum 4Runner comes with 20s.

Both come standard with all-season tires, but only the Land Cruiser lets you choose a customizable two-tone roof.

Lengths: LC: 193.7-inches | 4Runner: 194.9-inches

Heading to the rears, they have the same feature set, including fully LED taillights. Capability-wise, they can tow up to 6,000 pounds when properly equipped.

Additional Features

Moving into some other individual features, both have nicely equipped mirrors with BSM, heating, and power folding. They also both have the latest safety packages, which include every single active safety system as standard equipment. Only the Land Cruiser goes a step further and includes a traffic jam assist function, though.

BOTH: Warranty: Basic Warranty: 3yr/36k mi | Powertrain: 5yr/60k mi | Comp Main: 2yrs/24k

As cool as the exteriors are, it’s now time to explorer the luxurious and practical interiors.

Interior Design

So, walking up to the vehicles, both are obviously going to have smart entry systems with sensors behind the handles to unlock the doors. Once you open the doors, you’ll see power running boards on the 4Runner, a feature not offered on Land Cruiser.

That aside, looking into the cabins, you’ll find premium and tech-filled spaces. First, let’s talk about the seats. Here, they are mostly the same besides for their blue and brown color schemes. Both seats are finished in real leather, have heating and ventilation, memory, and plenty of ways of adjustment. However, it’s only the Land Cruiser that additionally includes a manual thigh extension.

Let’s fully climb inside and talk about the overall cabin materials. Despite them having almost the same price, you can tell the Land Cruiser has a more solid build and material selection. It includes leatherette accents and soft-touch plastics even on the upper dashboard, which is hard touch on the 4Runner. Overall, the Land Cruiser will take the materials point.

Now after we start them up, you will be greeted by two fully digital 12.3-inch displays, and when you look up, there are also large head up displays projected out. 

Even though these aren’t Lexus products, we also have rain-sensing wipers and even power adjusting steering wheels with heating.

Storage and Technology

Now the next major area to evaluate is interior storage, where they have one big difference: the Land Cruiser’s cool box for in-car refrigeration. That’s a fancy feature the 4Runner can’t get, but it does take up quite a bit of console space. That means it’s the 4Runner that will take the storage point with its larger console, more front storage, and passenger storage shelf.

Note: Both have wireless phone charging pads

Despite the good storage, both SUV’s have traditional shifters, and when you shift into reverse, display the same 360-degree cameras. 

For the climate controls, the Land Cruiser has a 3-zone setup vs. dual zone setup in the 4Runner, but both adjust it with easy-to-use knobs buyers will appreciate.

Alrighty, that brings us to the audio systems, so let’s sample them. They have 14-speaker JBL systems with decent audio quality, but the 4Runner does have the cool party trick of having a portable speaker that charges in the dashboard and can be removed for camping or beach adventures.

4Runner: 14-speaker JBL Premium audio (with removable speaker)

LC: 14-speaker JBL Premium audio

Now moving on to the screens, you might’ve expected this area to be the same, but as you can see that’s certainly not the case. In the 4Runner, we have a massive 14-inch touchscreen, compared to the Land Cruiser’s more traditional 12.3-inch display. That’s 14% more screen real estate, and both are running the same Toyota software with wireless AA and ACP and built-in navigation.

Up above, both SUV’s include auto-dimming rearview mirrors, HomeLink garage door openers plus the rear camera ability. Finally, they have traditional size moonroofs since panos aren’t offered.

Rear Seats and Cargo

As we move to the rear areas, as expected, many elements will be similar, but they are far from equal. Land Cruiser has a little over 5% advantage in legroom and a 4% advantage in headroom.

4Runner: 34.8-inches of legroom | 37.8-inches of headroom

LC: 36.7-inches of legroom | 39.4-inches of headroom

Features-wise, they have rear air vents in completely different locations and 2 USB ports. 4Runner adds to that, though, since it additionally has heated rear seats for this loaded Platinum and a household outlet for keeping things charged up.

Now this is where you might be expecting us start talking about third rows, but neither of these two has one. On the Land Cruiser a third row is not offered on any version, and on the 4Runner it’s only available in the Limited and SR5 trims. That means these are both 5-passenger vehicles as equipped.

Now moving around back to the cargo, both have hands-free power tailgates, and the rear glass can be moved independently from the tailgate. The Land Cruiser’s pops out and the 4Runner retains its famous power sliding function, which allows you to roll it down while driving.

Once open, you will find large amounts of space. The 4Runner has a large 12% advantage behind the second row of seats, and a maximum of 82 cubic feet as tested. Toyota unfortunately still hasn’t given us an official maximum volume on the Land Cruiser so we can’t award points for that configuration. 

Amenities-wise, they are identically equipped with power outlets, spare tires, and no handles to fold the seats from the cargo area.

4Runner: 42.6/82.6 cu.ft

LC: 37.5/?? cu. ft.

But that’s it for the insides, now let’s take them out on the road, and see how they stack up there!

Powertrains

So, throughout the video, you’ve seen quite a lot of overlap but also quite a lot of differences between these siblings. When it comes to what’s under the hood, though, you’ll find the exact same powertrain setup. All Land Cruisers and this trim of the 4Runner only have the hybrid setup, which combines a 2.4L Turbo 4-cylinder with electric components to make 326 horsepower and 465 lb. ft. of torque. As expected, acceleration feels nearly identical.

4Runner: 2.4L Turbo I-4 + electric motor: 326 hp | 465 lb.ft of torque

LC: 2.4L Turbo I-4 + electric motor: 326 hp | 465 lb.ft of torque

As far as the transmissions are concerned, we have 8-speed automatics which are smooth and responsive. Power, of course, is put to the ground via full-time 4WD systems, and when the pavements ends, and you take them off-road they are extremely capable. Their body-on-frame architectures are very similar, and include features like standard center locking diffs, multi-terrain select, crawl control, and even a rear locking diff on the Land Cruiser. While that specific feature is available on the 4Runner, it’s only on the more expensive TRD PRO or Trailhunter models.

Test Drive and Fuel Economy

But owners of these machines won’t always be off-road, so let’s talk about on-road manners. Here, you’ll find another difference. The Land Cruiser doesn’t have any technologies to mitigate the truck-like vibrations entering the cabin, but the Platinum 4Runner comes standard with adaptive dampers. Not only does that mean it rides a little better but also has less overall body roll than the very tall, boxy Land Cruiser.

Here at Car Confections, something we like to do is take sound level readings for all the models we test so that we can compare them. At 55 MPH, the Land Cruiser has a pretty serine environment measuring in at 57.3 dB. Ironically enough, on the exact same strip of road in California the 4Runner Platinum came in at 57.1 dB. That isn’t enough of a difference to score a point since 1dB is the average difference discernable by a human ear.

4Runner: 57.1 dB @ 55 MPH (SoCal)

LC: 57.3 dB @ 55 MPH (SoCal)

Finally, when it comes to fuel economy, you’ll see that the focus of these Toyota hybrid powertrains more on performance than efficiency since they both are rated at 23MPG combined.

4Runner 4×4: 23/24/23 MPG

LC 4×4: 22/25/23 MPG

Value Assessment

Now, we need to revisit that price difference at the beginning. In this comparison, the Land Cruiser costs $2,490 more than the 4Runner.

I want to emphasize that if money, matters less to you personally, feel free to disregard these points.

I want to emphasize that if money, reliability or resale value matter less to you personally, feel free to disregard these points. And if you’d like to check out all our data about reliability and resale values, as well as learn about our methodology, make sure to head to www.carconfections.com/resale and www.carconfections.com/reliability. Buying a car is a big decision, and this is a great place to compare all the makes you might be cross-shopping.

2025 Toyota 4Runner vs. 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser Winner!

Well, there you have it! Even after considering everything, it’s still a tight race! But let’s talk about who should be “your” winner based on what matters most to you:

4Runner:

• Endless customizability (many trims from hardcore off road to luxury oriented)
• Third row offered
• Few feature advantages (heated second row, power running boards)
• On-road dynamics (adaptive dampers) 

LC:

• More standard off-road ability
• More luxurious interior materials (and exclusive cool box)
• Boxy shape

Now we want to know your opinions, so make sure to head to the comment section and let us know which one you would pick!

Thanks for joining us for another Car Confections Comparison! We’ll catch you next time as we sample the latest automotive delicacies!