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 2010. 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. However, the interior showed its age with outdated technology and styling, featuring an analog instrument panel and a small eight-inch infotainment touchscreen. Despite the hard plastic surfaces, the 4Runner offered cushioned panels for comfort, though the materials felt more like vinyl than leather.

In contrast, the 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport presented a sportier, more modern aesthetic. Its shorter wheelbase and chopped top contributed to an athletic stance, though it appeared tall and narrow from certain angles. The SV Edition 2 model, with its carbon-fiber elements and subtle exterior, exuded a sleeper vibe compared to its German rivals. Inside, the minimalist design was both sleek and functional, with a focus on luxury and comfort. The high-quality materials and cockpit-like feel added to its sporty mission, though the reflective piano black plastic was prone to smudges.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner was powered by a 4.0-liter V6 engine, delivering 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. While these figures were comparable to competitors like the Bronco and Wrangler, the 4Runner's five-speed automatic transmission lagged behind their more advanced gearboxes. The TRD Pro model featured standard four-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case, making it capable off-road. However, on pavement, the 4Runner felt sluggish, with noticeable body roll and a loud engine that detracted from the driving experience. Its soft suspension was great for off-roading but resulted in a bouncy ride on highways.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a range of powertrains, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The base SE model featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with 355 horsepower, while the Dynamic SE offered up to 454 hp with a plug-in hybrid option. The Autobiography trim could be equipped with a twin-turbo V8 producing 523 hp, and the SV Edition Two pushed this to 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover ever. The SV Edition Two boasted a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph. Its sport-tuned air suspension and advanced features like four-wheel steering and brake-based torque vectoring provided a luxurious yet agile driving experience.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's interior was straightforward, with large climate-control dials and sturdy handles for off-road stability. It offered ample space for front passengers, though taller drivers might find the steering wheel's reach limited. The second row provided generous legroom, but headroom was restricted due to the elevated bench. Cargo space was impressive, with up to 89.7 cubic feet available when the rear seats were stowed. However, the lack of remote seat releases and a powered liftgate were drawbacks. The 4Runner's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, suitable for small campers.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, offered a spacious two-row, five-seater configuration. While competitors like the Acura MDX and Audi Q7 provided more legroom, the Range Rover Sport's reclining rear seats and 20-way power-adjustable front seats ensured comfort. Cargo space was 31.9 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 53 cubic feet with seats folded. The Sport's towing capacity reached 7,716 pounds for turbo-six and V8 models. Its power-operated tailgate and air suspension's "access height" setting facilitated easy loading and unloading.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's infotainment system included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but its 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, requiring familiarity with the owner's manual to fully utilize features like Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport boasted a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with standard wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. While the minimalist design was visually appealing, it relied heavily on the touchscreen for functions like climate control and drive mode selection. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition 2 featured "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience, though it felt somewhat gimmicky.

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. However, it scored three stars in rollover evaluations. IIHS ratings were similarly varied, with "Good" scores for moderate frontal overlap and side protection tests, but "Marginal" and "Poor" results in the small overlap frontal test. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning, though the alerts were often oversensitive.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver-assist features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though the parking sensors were overly sensitive. At the time of publication, IIHS and NHTSA had not released safety ratings for the current-generation Range Rover Sport.