The automotive world is buzzing with the arrival of the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser and 2025 4Runner. For off-road enthusiasts and daily drivers alike, understanding the nuances between these two SUVs is crucial. Both vehicles promise rugged capability, but how do they stack up, especially when considering critical factors like Land Cruiser 2025 Ground Clearance? This article delves into a detailed comparison, focusing on the “Land Cruiser” model and the 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium i-FORCE MAX, to help you discern which Toyota SUV best fits your needs.
Alt text: Front view comparison of the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser and 2025 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium i-FORCE MAX, highlighting their distinct front fascia designs.
2025 Land Cruiser Versus 2025 4Runner TRD Off-Road: Key Differences
To provide a clear picture, we’re pitting the 2025 Land Cruiser “Land Cruiser” trim against the 2025 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium i-FORCE MAX. These models represent compelling options for those seeking off-road capability without sacrificing everyday comfort. While sharing Toyota’s legendary durability, they present distinct characteristics.
Here’s a snapshot of their primary differences:
Land Cruiser Advantages:
- Taller stance with a 2.1-inch height advantage, yet 1.1 inches shorter in overall length for enhanced maneuverability.
- Front sway bar disconnect for improved articulation on uneven terrain.
- Significantly superior approach angle, offering a 12-degree advantage for tackling steep inclines.
- More spacious front cabin with greater head, shoulder, and legroom for driver and passenger comfort.
- Tri-zone climate control for personalized temperature settings throughout the vehicle.
- Color-selectable Rigid Industries fog lights for enhanced visibility in varied conditions.
- Quicker and more responsive steering for confident control.
- Full-time 4WD system for consistent traction in all driving scenarios, unlike the 4Runner’s part-time system.
4Runner Advantages:
- Lighter weight by 495 pounds, contributing to agility and potentially fuel efficiency in certain situations.
- Higher payload capacity, capable of carrying 110 pounds more gear.
- Slightly better ground clearance, with 0.8 inches more than the Land Cruiser, enhancing its ability to navigate obstacles.
- Larger cargo area, offering 8.1 cubic feet more space for equipment and luggage.
- Larger fuel tank by 1.1 gallons, potentially extending driving range.
- JBL Premium audio system with a portable Bluetooth speaker for enhanced entertainment.
- Wireless charging pad for convenient device charging.
- More comfortable front passenger seat with additional adjustability.
- Greater rear passenger legroom, prioritizing comfort for back-seat occupants.
- Larger 14-inch infotainment screen for improved visibility and user interface.
- Power rear tailgate window, a classic 4Runner feature for added convenience.
- Bilstein shocks, known for off-road performance and durability.
- Lower starting price, making it $4,680 less expensive than the comparable Land Cruiser model.
Alt text: Three-quarter front view of the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser and 2025 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium i-FORCE MAX, showcasing their side profiles and wheel designs.
Pricing and Availability
The 2025 Land Cruiser has already started arriving at dealerships, while the 2025 4Runner is anticipated to reach North American dealers in early 2025.
The 2025 Land Cruiser “Land Cruiser” model begins at $63,900, while the 2025 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium i-FORCE MAX starts at $59,220. These prices include a $1,495 delivery, processing, and handling fee, with both SUVs manufactured in Japan.
Looking at the broader pricing spectrum, the 2025 4Runner 4WD models start at $44,265 (2WD at $42,220), and the 2025 Land Cruiser base model begins at $57,900. The 4Runner lineup tops out at $68,395 for the Trailhunter and TRD Pro trims, whereas the Land Cruiser’s highest trim, the “Land Cruiser,” is priced at $63,900.
It’s worth noting the significant price increase for the new generation 4Runner compared to its predecessor. For instance, the 2025 4Runner TRD Pro sees an $11,730 price jump over the 2024 model. The 2025 Land Cruiser 250, being a significantly different vehicle than the previous generation Land Cruiser offered in the U.S., represents a price point reduction for the Land Cruiser badge in the North American market.
Powertrain and Fuel Economy
Alt text: Close-up of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner i-FORCE engine, showcasing its engine cover and components.
Both the Land Cruiser 250 and the top-tier 2025 4Runner models share the i-FORCE MAX mild-hybrid powertrain. This translates to identical power figures: 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque.
They also utilize the same eight-speed automatic transmission with identical gear ratios and a four-wheel-drive system featuring a two-speed transfer case. However, a key distinction lies in the 4WD system: the Land Cruiser employs a full-time 4WD system, while the 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium i-FORCE MAX uses a part-time system.
Interestingly, both SUVs achieve the same EPA combined fuel economy rating of 23 mpg. The 4Runner slightly edges out the Land Cruiser in city fuel economy (23 mpg vs. 22 mpg), while the Land Cruiser performs marginally better on the highway (25 mpg vs. 24 mpg).
A notable difference is fuel requirement. The Land Cruiser necessitates premium fuel, whereas the 4Runner operates on regular gasoline, potentially offering cost savings over time.
The 4Runner features a 19-gallon fuel tank, slightly larger than the Land Cruiser’s 17.9-gallon tank. This results in an estimated average range of 437 miles for the 4Runner and 412 miles for the Land Cruiser.
Alt text: Rear view comparison of the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser and 2025 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium i-FORCE MAX, emphasizing their rear lighting and tailgate designs.
Dimensions, Weight, and Size
Both SUVs share a 112.2-inch wheelbase and a 77.9-inch width. The 4Runner is slightly longer at 194.9 inches, while the Land Cruiser stands taller at 76.1 inches, a 2.5-inch height difference.
The Land Cruiser carries a heavier curb weight of 5,445 pounds, 595 pounds more than the 4Runner’s 4,850 pounds. Despite the Land Cruiser’s higher gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 6,725 pounds compared to the 4Runner’s 6,240 pounds, the 4Runner offers a slightly higher payload capacity of 1,390 pounds versus the Land Cruiser’s 1,280 pounds.
Passenger space is comparable, with the Land Cruiser offering slightly more headroom (over 1.5 inches), front shoulder room (0.7 inches), and front legroom (1.2 inches). However, the 4Runner provides more rear passenger legroom, with an extra 1.9 inches.
Alt text: Side profile of the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser First Edition, highlighting its boxy silhouette and off-road tires.
Off-Road Capabilities: Ground Clearance and Angles
Both the Land Cruiser and 4Runner are built on body-on-frame platforms and feature a similar suspension setup: independent double-wishbone with coil-overs in the front and a five-link coil-spring solid axle in the rear. The 4Runner TRD Off-Road is equipped with Bilstein shocks, while the Land Cruiser utilizes unbranded Tokico twin-tube shocks.
Both SUVs come with 18-inch wheels and 32.61-inch all-terrain tires. They also share a selectable rear e-locker. The Land Cruiser gains an edge with a front sway bar disconnect for enhanced off-road articulation.
LED fog lights are standard on both, but the Land Cruiser boasts Rigid Industries color-selectable fog lights. Both are equipped with skid plates for engine and transfer case protection. Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select with CRAWL Control is also standard on both models.
When it comes to ground clearance, the 2025 Toyota 4Runner boasts 9.1 inches, slightly surpassing the Land Cruiser’s 8.3 inches. While seemingly a small difference, this 0.8-inch advantage can be beneficial when navigating rocky terrain and obstacles.
However, the Land Cruiser compensates with superior approach, departure, and breakover angles. The Land Cruiser’s angles are 31/22/25 degrees (approach/departure/breakover), while the 4Runner TRD Off-Road offers 19/24/24 degrees. The Land Cruiser’s significantly better approach angle is particularly advantageous for serious off-roaders tackling steep inclines.
Alt text: Interior view of the 2025 Land Cruiser Land Cruiser, showcasing its dashboard layout and center console.
Alt text: Interior view of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium i-FORCE MAX, highlighting its infotainment screen and interior trim.
Towing Capacity, Dimensions, and Turning Radius
Both mid-size SUVs offer a 6,000-pound towing capacity.
Despite sharing a wheelbase and tire size, the 4Runner exhibits a slightly tighter turning radius (19.7 feet vs. 20.0 feet). Interestingly, the Land Cruiser features more responsive steering with only 2.5 turns lock-to-lock compared to the 4Runner’s 3.25 turns, and incorporates a “vehicle speed-sensing, variable gear ratio” system.
Cargo capacity favors the 4Runner, with 90.2 cubic feet behind the first row and 48.4 cubic feet behind the second row. This is 8.1 and 2.2 cubic feet more, respectively, than the Land Cruiser.
Alt text: Dashboard view of the 2025 Land Cruiser Land Cruiser, focusing on the digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen.
Alt text: Dashboard view of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium i-FORCE MAX, emphasizing its larger infotainment screen and air vents.
Technology and Features
Both vehicles are equipped with 12.3-inch digital gauge clusters and central infotainment touchscreens with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium i-FORCE MAX boasts a larger 14-inch infotainment screen compared to the Land Cruiser’s 12.3-inch screen.
The 4Runner in this comparison features the upgraded 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system, including a portable Bluetooth speaker, while the Land Cruiser has a standard 10-speaker system (upgradeable to the JBL system, minus the portable speaker, with the Premium Package).
Both SUVs include Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 and Multi-Terrain Monitor (MTM) with selectable front, side, and rear views.
For charging, both offer a 12V center console auxiliary outlet and cargo area 120V AC power outlets. The 4Runner provides two 400W outlets, while the Land Cruiser has one 2,400W outlet. The Land Cruiser features six USB outlets, while the 4Runner has five USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad (optional on the Land Cruiser).
Alt text: Rear cargo area of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter, showing its spaciousness and cargo management features.
Comfort and Convenience
The Land Cruiser provides a more premium three-zone climate control system compared to the 4Runner’s single-zone system.
Both feature a hands-free power liftgate. The 4Runner retains its signature power rear tailgate window, while the Land Cruiser has a manual lift-up glass window.
Both offer SofTex-trimmed heated and ventilated eight-way power-adjustable driver seats with lumbar support. However, the 4Runner extends this to the front passenger seat, while the Land Cruiser has a six-way manual-adjustable front passenger seat.
Additional shared features include roof rails, running boards, 12 cup/bottle holders, and a power-adjustable, heated steering wheel.
Third-Row Seating and Model Range
While both are primarily five-seaters, the 4Runner offers an optional third-row on i-FORCE SR5 and LIMITED models, providing seven-passenger capacity. The 2025 Land Cruiser 250 does not offer a third-row option.
For those seeking a highly capable off-road SUV with a third row and even more premium features, the Lexus GX 550 Overtrail presents an alternative, with a third row as standard.
Trim Levels and Off-Road Focus
Alt text: Front three-quarter view of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter, showcasing its aggressive styling and off-road accessories.
Currently, the U.S. market “Land Cruiser” does not offer top-spec off-road focused trims directly from the factory. In contrast, the 2025 4Runner will be available from launch with highly equipped off-road versions like the TRD Pro and Trailhunter models.
The base Land Cruiser “1958” model, while not inexpensive at a starting price of $57,900, includes four-wheel drive. The base 2025 4Runner SR5, starting at $42,220, will be available in a two-wheel-drive configuration with fewer standard features, catering to fleet vehicle needs and a lower entry price point.
Alt text: Front view of the 2024 Land Cruiser 1958 model, highlighting its retro-inspired grille and headlamps.
Conclusion: 2025 Land Cruiser vs. 4Runner – Which Reigns Supreme?
Alt text: Rear three-quarter view of the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser and 2025 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium i-FORCE MAX, showing their rear styling and badging.
Ultimately, the 2025 Toyota 4Runner emerges as a compelling choice, particularly when considering value. It offers a lower price point and a range of practical advantages.
While the Land Cruiser presents desirable features like a front sway bar disconnect, superior approach angle, and premium fog lights, these can often be addressed in the aftermarket if desired. The Land Cruiser’s advantages in front cabin space, tri-zone climate control, and steering feel are noteworthy, but the 4Runner counters with benefits like better ground clearance, extended range, greater cargo capacity, a more comfortable front passenger seat, increased rear legroom, a larger infotainment screen, and unique features like the power rear window and portable speaker.
Styling preferences are subjective, but the 4Runner’s design and interior aesthetics are arguably more appealing to many. For those prioritizing a blend of off-road capability, everyday practicality, and value, the 2025 Toyota 4Runner stands out as a winner in this comparison, even with a slightly higher ground clearance than the Land Cruiser not being the only deciding factor.
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