--- title: "Toyota 4Runner vs Land Cruiser: What’s the difference?" url: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/03/toyota-4runner-vs-land-cruiser-whats-the-difference/" publisher: "Pickup Truck + SUV Talk" content_signal: "search=yes, ai-input=yes, ai-train=no" author: "Jill Ciminillo" published: "2025-03-07T13:00:00+00:00" modified: "2026-01-28T17:24:10+00:00" image: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/toyota-4runner-vs-land-cruiser.webp" --- # Toyota 4Runner vs Land Cruiser: What’s the difference? By Jill Ciminillo Published: 2025-03-07T13:00:00+00:00 Updated: 2026-01-28T17:24:10+00:00 ![Featured image]() Since the launch of the [2025 Toyota 4Runner]() earlier this year, we’ve gotten a lot of questions about it differs from the re-launched [Land Cruiser]() – especially since they are both off-road capable, are similarly sized and, frankly, kinda look the same from the side. So, we figured it was time to dig into the specs a bit and do a Toyota 4Runner vs Land Cruiser comparo. You’re welcome. ## **Toyota 4Runner vs Land Cruiser price disparity** The first, and most obvious, difference is going to be the starting price of the two vehicles, as there’s about a $16k difference. But keep in mind, the Land Cruiser has a four-wheel-drive-only drivetrain, whereas 4Runner offers a base two-wheel-drive option. Granted, that doesn’t account for such a big difference. But the engine might. The only engine option on the Land Cruiser is the hybrid i-Force Max. If you look at the most basic 4Runner that includes the hybrid powertrain, it’s the TRD Off-Road, and the base price for that vehicle is $53,440. That puts the two vehicles within $5k of each other. ![2025 toyota 4runner photo by jill ciminillo]() 2025 Toyota 4Runner (photo by Jill Ciminillo) ![2025 toyota land cruiser photo courtesy of toyota]() 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser (photo courtesy of Toyota) ## **Land Cruiser is the off-road king?** Looking at the Toyota 4Runner vs Land Cruiser specs, you can see Land Cruiser has a simplified trim structure and is intended to be more of a dedicated off-roader. It doesn’t have a third-row option, which leaves more room for gear in the cargo area, and the hybrid powertrain is made to go off-road. As we noted during [our first look of the 4Runner](), after driving both the gas and hybrid engines, the hybrid engine performs much better off road because of the low-end torque. Land Cruiser also has better approach and breakover angles. The 4Runner, which is more off-road capable than Land Cruiser in its priciest trims, gives the consumer more family and budget friendly options. You can seat seven and the gas-engine costs a lot less. ## **Premium vs regular fuel** Another difference of note: Since the Land Cruiser only has the i-Force Max engine available, the only fuel recommendation is premium. So, you’re going to pay more for the up-level powertrain, and then pay more again every time you hit the pump. 4Runner, with its base gas engine, at least offers you the option of regular fuel. | | **2025 Toyota 4Runner** | **2025 Toyota Land Cruiser** | | --- | --- | --- | | **Price range** | $42,220 – $66,900 | $58,150 – $62,920 | | **Trims** | SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, TRD Sport Premium, TRD Off-Road Premium, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro, Trailhunter | Land Cruiser 1958, Land Cruiser | | **Seating capacity** | 5 (7 available on i-Force SR5 and Limited) | 5 | | **Engines** | 2.4L, 4-cyl turbo (i-Force); 2.4L, 4-cyl hybrid turbo (i-Force Max) | 2.4L, 4-cyl hybrid turbo (i-Force Max) | | **Horsepower** | 278; 326 | 326 | | **Torque** | 317 lb-ft; 465 lb-ft | 465 lb-ft | | **Fuel** | Regular | Premium | | **MPG (city/hwy/combined)** | i-Force: 20/26/22 (2WD; SR5, Sport, Sport Premium); 20/24/22 (2WD; Limited); 19/25/21 (4WD; SR5, Sport Premium, Off-Road, Off-Road Premium); 20/24/21 (4WD; Limited); i-Force Max: 23/24/23 (4WD, all trims) | 22/25/23 | | **Fuel capacity** | 19 gallons | 17.9 | | **Transmission** | 8-speed AT | 8-speed AT | | **Drivetrain** | 2WD, 4WD | 4WD | | **Front suspension** | Independent double-wishbone front suspension with stabilizer bar and twin-tube shock absorbers | Independent double-wishbone front suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar | | **Rear suspension** | Multi-link rear suspension with coil springs and outboard-mounted twin-tube shock absorbers | 4-link rear suspension with coil springs, stabilizer bar and semi-floating axle | | **Approach angle (degrees)** | 18 (SR5, SPT, LTD, PLT), 19 (OFR) 33 (PRO, TH) | 30 (1958), 31 (LC) | | **Departure angle (degrees)** | 22 (SR5, SPT, LTD, PLT), 24 (OFR, PRO, TH) | 22 | | **Breakover (degrees)** | 23 (SR5), 24 (SPT, LTD, PLT, OFR, PRO, TH) | 25 | | **Ground clearance (in)** | 8.1 (SR5), 8.8 (SPT, LTD, PLT), 9.1 (OFR), 10.1 (PRO, TH) | 7.9 | | **Wheelbase (in)** | 112.2 | 112.2 | | **Overal length (in)** | 194.9 | 196.4 | | **Overall width (in)** | 77.9 (SR5, SPT, LTD, PLT, ORP), 79.9 (PRO, TH) | 83.2 | | **Overall Height** | 72.6 (SR5); 73.1 (SPT, LTD, PLT); 73.6 (ORP); 74 (PRO, TH) | 75.7 (1958); 76.1 (LC) | | **Curb weight (lbs)** | 4,455- 4,970 (i-Force); 5,225-5,500 (i-Force Max) | 5,360-5,445 | | **GVWR (lbs)** | 6,005-6,395 (i-Force); 6,505 (i-Force Max) | 6,725 | | **Max towing (lbs)** | 6,000 | 6,000 | ## **Our take on the Toyota 4Runner vs Land Cruiser** The Land Cruiser isn’t going to be a volume seller. It has a niche audience and simplified trims with a history steeped in legend. In our book, this vehicle is more about image and the cool factor than practical ownership. The Toyota 4Runner has been and will continue to be a stalwart option for those who not only want a weekend warrior fun SUV but also need some family friendly features. Plus, it looks pretty cool in some of the extra-costs paints. Then, if you want that dedicated off roader, which will suprass the capability of the Land Cruiser, and have the $$ to spend, the Trailhunter or TRD Pro are phenomenal and look damn cool in their own right. ## Structured page information ~~~json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/03/toyota-4runner-vs-land-cruiser-whats-the-difference/#article", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/03/toyota-4runner-vs-land-cruiser-whats-the-difference/" }, "author": { "name": "Jill Ciminillo", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/person/17a307b2bd8654a0efc57d38f2e79df8" }, "headline": "Toyota 4Runner vs Land Cruiser: What’s the difference?", "datePublished": "2025-03-07T13:00:00+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-01-28T17:24:10+00:00", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/03/toyota-4runner-vs-land-cruiser-whats-the-difference/" }, "wordCount": 531, "publisher": { "@id": 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