Toyota now has two truck-based, midsize, body-on-frame, off-road SUVs with the 4Runner and Land Cruiser.

This year has been huge for Toyota fans, thanks to the launch of the brand-new, made-for-America Land Cruiser and the reveal of the new 4Runner. Both are iconic nameplates in the lineup, but here’s the rub: We’re talking about two midsize, off-road-worthy SUVs that ride on the same platform, share the same powertrains and several other components. When the 4Runner goes on sale later this year, it will likely be a little bit cheaper than the Land Cruiser…but probably not enough to make the decision between the two any easier. So, which one should you actually buy?

In the video below, Roman and Tommy go through the various details to try and flesh out an answer. Still (spoiler alert), the final answer when you’re sitting in the showroom boils down to the old classic “it depends”, and Toyota knows that as well.

Quantifying the struggle to decide between these two SUVs

What normally happens when you work your way through an automaker’s lineup is you’ll notice distinct size, price and performance breaks as you work your way up. Not so much with the new Toyota Land Cruiser and 4Runner. Both rigs ride on the TNGA-F platform, much like the rest of Toyota’s body-on-frame lineup including the Tacoma, Tundra and the Sequoia SUV.

The 4Runner and Land Cruiser also share the same 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. While the 4Runner does get a gas-only version on its lower trims, the hybrid version is available on the 4Runner’s upper models and standard on the Land Cruiser. That means both SUVs get 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. The 4Runner and Land Cruiser also have the same 8-speed automatic transmission and 6,000-pound towing capacity, while they also get the same 6,000-pound towing capacity.

Apart from the styling, there are at least a few slight differences between the two once you dig into some finer details. The 2025 Toyota 4Runner has at least 9.2 inches of ground clearance on four-wheel drive models, while the Land Cruiser only gets 8.7 inches. The 4Runner, for its part, does have a two-wheel drive option (the Land Cruiser is full-time-4×4 only), and the 4Runner is 1.1 inches longer to accommodate an optional third row seat. You can only seat five in the Land Cruiser on two rows, in any configuration.

The Land Cruiser does get a higher roofline than the 4Runner by 5.3 inches, which helps as far as headroom and general spaciousness. The 4Runner gets better off-road angles by virtue of its exterior design and ground clearance, though, with an approach angle of 32 degrees and departure at 24 degrees. By contrast, the Land Cruiser manages 31 degrees on approach and 22 degrees on departure. Not a huge difference, but if you’re looking to regularly off-road, it’s important to consider.

What about on the inside?

Interior-wise, both the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser and 2025 Toyota 4Runner pack a wide array of features. Both come with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 — a suite of driver assistance features — and a host of controls for off-roading. Now, you can split the two on some of the off-road kit, as even the base Land Cruiser 1958 gets a center differential lock and a rear locker. On the 4Runner, you only get a rear differential locker, and only if you get the TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro or Trailhunter.

Still, the 2025 Toyota 4Runner gets a larger 14.0-inch screen on higher-end models, to the Land Cruiser’s available 12.3-inch screen. At the lower end, both get the same 8-inch unit, though all models use the latest version of Toyota’s much-improved infotainment system.

If you’re shopping between these two SUVs by their interior features, then it will likely boil down to whether you need a third row. Some 4Runners will have the option, while Land Cruisers don’t get a third row at all (mainly since they need the space for the hybrid battery, while some 4Runner models without the hybrid system won’t have that limitation). Each SUV also brings distinct touches depending on which version you get (like the 4Runner TRD Pro’s unique elements or the Land Cruiser’s unique styling and “Toyota” script on the steering wheel).

What is Toyota’s rationale for buying one over the other?

At face value, offering two SUVs in the same competitive space is a bit baffling. Nevertheless, both represent iconic nameplates within Toyota’s lineup, and the automaker insists there’s room for two at the dealership.

It essentially boils down to your lifestyle: The automaker’s stance is that if you want a more off-road-focused SUV with more aggressive style, then you’ll probably want to lean toward the 4Runner. If you want a new SUV that is still plenty capable bit a little bit more refined (with such reputation to back it up), then lean toward the Land Cruiser.

And that’s the thing: Even with the two being remarkably similar, folks will still gravitate toward that Land Cruiser name in droves. It looks pretty cool, and you can even get completely different front-end styling if you buy the 1958 versus the standard Land Cruiser model. While it’s not billed or positioned as an $85,000 full-size luxury SUV this time around, it still gets the sort of styling, features and marketing campaign to reinforce Toyota’s pitch as a premium vehicle.

The new 4Runner will also have its fans — myself included — as it’s been a rock-solid seller for Toyota, even with the outgoing model’s 15-year history. It will also have a much wider trim walk with nine available options from the base SR5 to the top-dog TRD Pro, Trailhunter and Platinum. The larger lineup means more folks are likely to find a 4Runner that matches their particular needs, which will help drive sales. In other words, the 4Runner may be what some folks will buy based on the mass-market appeal, while others will move toward the Land Cruiser because they want a Land Cruiser.

On the pricing front, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser starts at $57,345 and tops out around $63,695 (or $76,695 for the limited First Edition). 4Runner pricing should start off much lower — from the low $40,000s for the SR5 — then rise to around $60,000 for the TRD Pro or the Trailhunter.

We’d love to hear your thoughts below, and you can also see Roman and Tommy’s thoughts on the matter below. Roman and Andre also reviewed the new Land Cruiser, which you can watch on TFLoffroad.