2020 Toyota 4Runner vs 2020 Land Rover Defender

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner was characterized by its tall slab sides, high beltline, and short overhangs, contributing to its timeless and utilitarian design. Its flared wheel wells were specifically designed to accommodate off-road tires, while the short overhangs allowed it to tackle steep pitches and sharp declines. The hood scoop, a visual cue for the off-road-focused TRD trim, was one of the few non-functional elements. The front end featured small, angular headlights, and the grille varied across trims, with the TRD Pro boasting blacked-out accents and the Limited featuring chrome. The 4Runner's lineup in Canada was based on the SR5 trim with five packages, including the TRD Off-Road, Venture, TRD Pro, Limited, and Nightshade special edition. The Limited package, which our test model carried, was aimed at comfort, featuring leather upholstery and an 8-inch touchscreen. Despite these upgrades, the 4Runner retained its utilitarian DNA, with plenty of plastic and a seating position designed more for trails than highways.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender brought back the classic boxy design reminiscent of the 2016 LR4, with squared-off edges, a rising roofline, and roundish headlights. Its design was purposeful, with short overhangs and skid plates for trails, and it retained some funky, non-functional elements like step plates and a ladder. The Defender's taillights were rounded rectangles, and it featured an external spare tire. The vehicle offered various design themes, from urban to country, with options like black fender flares, additional skid plates, and a factory matte wrap. Inside, the Defender's interior was basic and industrial, with cloth seats and an optional centre jump seat. The dashboard featured an exposed aluminum bar, and the touchscreen was neatly integrated. Our HSE test model, one step below the X, was not luxurious, but it was functional, with a water-resistant synthetic covering and hard fabric on the seats. The Defender was likened to a commercial vehicle, offering a rugged and utilitarian feel.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner was powered by a 4-litre V6 engine, producing 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. This engine was not designed for efficiency but for reliability and off-road capability, allowing for a towing capacity of up to 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds). The 4Runner's fuel efficiency was poor, with an estimated consumption of 14.8 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 12.5 on the highway, and 13.8 combined. The 4Runner excelled off-road, with its body-on-frame construction and advanced traction systems like Toyota's crawl control and Multi-Terrain Select. The full-time four-wheel drive system on the Limited model was better suited for maintaining forward progress, while the standard part-time system handled off-road challenges with ease.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender offered a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six engine with 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, featuring a mild hybrid system. This setup eliminated turbo lag and provided consistent power, with a separate 48-volt battery powering accessories. The Defender's eight-speed automatic transmission offered a sport mode for aggressive launches. The standard engine was a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four with 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Off-road, the Defender excelled with Terrain Response 2 and adjustable-height suspension, allowing it to tackle steep angles and deep water. The Defender's off-road capabilities were complemented by its quiet and plush ride on pavement, making it a versatile vehicle for various terrains.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner offered excellent outward visibility and a relatively tight turning radius of 5.6 metres. Inside, the dashboard featured large, chunky knobs for HVAC and stereo controls, with an 8-inch touchscreen and steering wheel controls. The 4Runner's tall front seat position provided a commanding view, but climbing in and out could be tiring without power-retractable running boards. The 4Runner offered an optional third row of seats, but these were best suited for short and occasional use, lacking legroom and comfort.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender was designed for durability and ease of use, with a minimalist interior featuring rubber floors. The two-door Defender 90 offered an optional jump seat, while the four-door 110 had an optional third row. The cabin layout was versatile, with generous headroom and legroom, and a standard panoramic moonroof on the 110. Cargo space varied, with the two-door 90 offering 297 litres and 1,263 litres with seats folded, while the four-door 110 offered 786 litres behind the second row and 1,875 litres with them folded. The Defender's towing capacity was impressive at 3,719 litres (8,200 pounds), and its rugged design was tested by driving into a curb at 40 kilometres per hour.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. While Toyota's proprietary system was not difficult to understand, the onboard navigation system was challenging to manage. The 4Runner also offered Bluetooth connectivity, a single USB port, and subscription services like Sirius XM satellite radio. Despite these updates, the 4Runner lagged behind competitors in terms of total features and usability, with the most advanced features hidden in the powertrain.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender introduced the Pivi Pro infotainment system, a complete overhaul with two SIM cards for streaming data and over-the-air software updates. The interface featured a muted grayscale theme, but some user interface problems persisted. The Defender's off-road capabilities were enhanced by front cameras showing the ground underneath the front hood, a rearview mirror doubling as a screen, and various off-road guides. The Defender offered analog gauges with a seven-inch display, a 12-inch digital instrument panel, and an optional head-up display. The base Defender 110 came with standard features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 360-degree cameras, while higher trims offered additional niceties.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and automatic high beams. It also featured eight standard airbags. The 4Runner received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a three-star rating in the rollover test, and a Good rating from the IIHS in most crash tests, except for a Marginal score in the small overlap front: driver-side test.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by U.S. crash testing agencies, and it lacked knee airbags or rear side airbags, with six airbags in total. Safety features included standard forward emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitor, and 360-degree cameras.