2025 Toyota 4Runner vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner, in its sixth generation, maintained a design evolution rather than a complete overhaul. It retained the horseshoe-shaped grilles from the previous generation, now with a more robust and industrial look. The side body panels featured deep beveled creases that seamlessly integrated with the flared wheel arches, giving the 4Runner a broad-shouldered stance suitable for an off-road SUV. Paying homage to its predecessors, the 4Runner included design elements like the slanted rearmost window, while the sliding rear window facilitated easier cargo access. Inside, the 4Runner mirrored the Tacoma pickup truck, with a cabin that echoed the exterior's beveled styling. It was designed to endure rugged use, with hard plastics and light cushioning for comfort. The materials were superior to those in a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco but not as refined as the Land Rover Defender.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport emphasized a sportier aesthetic within the Range Rover family. It stood tall with a shorter wheelbase and chopped top, giving it an athletic appearance. Large front air intakes and fake vents added to its sporty look, though it appeared somewhat tall and narrow from certain angles. The Range Rover Sport lineup included Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE, Autobiography, and SV Edition Two trims, with the SV Edition Two being the highest-performance model. The SV Edition Two featured 23-inch carbon-fibre wheels and a carbon-fibre hood, presenting a sleeper look in Marl Grey. Inside, the SV Edition Two boasted red leather upholstery, sport seats with light-up “SV” inserts, and illuminated steering-wheel paddle shifters. All models shared a minimalist aesthetic with a touchscreen, stubby shifter, and engine start button, creating a cockpit-like feel. Material quality met luxury segment standards, though the use of reflective piano black plastic was excessive.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner offered two engine choices. The entry-level trims came with a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 317 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup promised better acceleration and fuel economy than the previous five-speed unit. In Canada, part-time 4WD was standard, with full-time 4WD available in the Limited and Platinum packages. Toyota introduced a Hybrid i-Force Max powertrain, combining the four-cylinder engine with a 1.87-kWh battery pack and an electric motor, delivering 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. This hybrid variant offered stronger power at lower speeds, beneficial for off-roading. The 4Runner's new generation was quieter and more composed on pavement, with improved handling and reduced body roll. It retained its off-road prowess, with eight distinct packages offering varying levels of off-road capabilities. The TRD Pro and Trailhunter models were the most capable, with approach angles between 18 and 33 degrees, departure angles between 22 and 24 degrees, and ground clearance between 20.5 and 25.6 centimetres.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options, all with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. The base Dynamic SE model in Canada featured a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The plug-in hybrid variant, based on the same engine, delivered 454 hp and 487 lb-ft. The Autobiography trim offered a more powerful plug-in hybrid with 543 hp and 590 lb-ft. Both Dynamic SE and Autobiography models could be equipped with a BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. The SV Edition Two used the same V8, tuned to 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. It achieved 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 290 km/h. The Range Rover Sport excelled in handling with sport-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and brake-based torque vectoring. It maintained comfort and refinement, with the Terrain Response system for off-roading and impressive ground clearance of up to 28.4 cm.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner was nearly 13 centimetres longer than its predecessor, with a 6-centimetre increase in wheelbase. Despite this, passenger space gains were minimal. The front seats offered ample room for taller passengers, but the middle row was less accommodating, with adequate legroom and headroom. A third row was available on non-hybrid models, though it was cramped and lacked thigh support. The cockpit was well-organized, with oversized climate control knobs and grouped off-road controls for easy operation. Storage included slatted door pockets, a dashboard tray, cupholders, and a centre armrest bin. Cargo capacity was 1,371 litres behind the second row, reduced to 1,206 litres in the Hybrid due to the raised floor. A sturdy roof rack supported a static load of 360 kilograms.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport sat between the Range Rover Velar and full-size Range Rover in size, offering more room than the Velar. It was a two-row five-seater, with front-seat headroom comparable to other midsize luxury SUVs. The sloping roof didn't significantly impact rear-seat headroom, though competitors like the Mercedes-Benz GLE offered more legroom. The Range Rover Sport provided 835 litres of cargo space behind the second row, expandable to 1,860 litres with the seats folded. It lacked a split tailgate but featured power operation and an “access height” setting for easier loading. The Sport's towing capacity was 3,500 kilograms for turbo-six and V8 models, with plug-in hybrids rated at 3,000 kilograms.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard, with an optional 14-inch screen. Both were user-friendly, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A digital instrument panel was standard on Hybrid variants and available on gas models. Off-road models included external camera views for trail navigation, with automatic activation at low speeds. A 14-speaker JBL audio system was available, along with a portable Bluetooth speaker. Remote monitoring and control were possible through a smartphone app, with a digital key function.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport shared its screen setup with the larger Range Rover, featuring a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard. The minimalist design had functional limitations, with most controls requiring touchscreen interaction. Steering wheel controls offered limited alternatives. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition Two featured “Body and Soul Seats” with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience, though it felt somewhat gimmicky.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but the Tacoma pickup on which it was based was a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. All 4Runner models included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, with features like frontal collision warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Proactive Driving Assist was also included, though it could be intrusive. In Canada, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert was standard.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though parking sensors were overly sensitive. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of writing.