2024 Toyota 4Runner vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner was a nostalgic nod to the past, with its design largely unchanged since its 2010 redesign. Its boxy shape and flared fenders gave it a rugged, stable appearance, ideal for off-road adventures. The TRD Pro model enhanced this tough persona with underbody skid plates and all-terrain tires, while the tubular roof rack suggested readiness for any terrain. Inside, the 4Runner's old-school styling and outdated technology, such as an analog instrument panel and a small eight-inch infotainment screen, highlighted its age. Despite the hard plastic surfaces, cushioned panels provided some comfort, though the interior materials resembled vinyl more than leather.

In contrast, the 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport presented a sportier, more modern aesthetic within the Range Rover family. Its tall stance and shorter wheelbase gave it an athletic look, though it appeared narrow from certain angles. The SV Edition Two, the highest-performance model, featured carbon-fibre elements and a minimalist interior with red leather upholstery and illuminated accents. The cockpit-like feel was enhanced by high console and door panels, though it felt slightly cramped. Material quality was luxurious, but the use of reflective piano black plastic was excessive.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner was powered by a 4.0-litre V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. While its power was comparable to rivals like the Bronco and Wrangler, the outdated transmission limited its acceleration and fuel efficiency. The TRD Pro model came with standard four-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case, excelling off-road but feeling sluggish on highways. The soft suspension provided excellent wheel articulation but resulted in significant body roll and nosedive during braking. The 4Runner's loud engine and exhaust added to the perception of being underpowered.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrains, all with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The Dynamic SE model featured a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine with 395 hp, while the plug-in hybrid variant delivered 454 hp. The Autobiography model increased output to 543 hp, and the SV Edition Two boasted a 626 hp twin-turbo V8, making it the most powerful Range Rover ever. The SV Edition Two accelerated from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 290 km/h. Its sport-tuned air suspension and advanced features like four-wheel steering and brake-based torque vectoring provided agile handling and a luxurious ride.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's interior was straightforward, with large climate-control dials and sturdy handles for off-road stability. Visibility was excellent, and the front seats offered ample space, though the steering wheel's limited telescoping range was a drawback for taller drivers. The second row provided generous legroom, but headroom was restricted. The 4Runner offered up to 2,540 litres of cargo space with the rear seats stowed, though accessing them required manual effort. The sliding glass rear window and party speakers were unique features, and the 4Runner could tow up to 2,268 kilograms.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, offered a spacious two-row configuration. Front-seat headroom was comparable to other midsize luxury SUVs, while rear-seat headroom was slightly less than competitors. The Sport provided 835 litres of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 1,860 litres with the seats folded. Power operation and an "access height" setting facilitated loading, and the Sport's towing capacity reached 3,500 kilograms for turbo-six and V8 models. The interior featured deep door pockets and large cupholders for convenience.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's infotainment system included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the small eight-inch touchscreen was challenging to use while driving. The TRD Pro model featured a 15-speaker JBL audio system, though road noise often overshadowed its quality. Additional terrain controls were located in the headliner console, with Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select systems enhancing off-road capability.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport boasted a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The minimalist design, while visually appealing, required screen interaction for many functions. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition Two featured "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers, offering a unique, albeit slightly gimmicky, experience.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner received mixed safety ratings, with four out of five stars from NHTSA for overall and frontal crash protection, and five stars for side impacts. IIHS ratings were similarly varied, with "Good" scores for moderate frontal overlap and side protection tests, but "Marginal" and "Poor" results in newer tests. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning, though the systems were sometimes overly sensitive.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and more. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though parking sensors were overly sensitive. At the time of writing, IIHS and NHTSA had not released safety ratings for the current-generation Range Rover Sport.