The Toyota Highlander will never rival the 4Runner in off-road capability, but while it may not be fully equipped for rugged terrain, it serves as an excellent vehicle for reaching the trailhead. Conversely, even the hybrid variant of the 4Runner will never be as thrifty to operate as the Highlander Hybrid. However, the MPG of the non-hybrid versions of both SUVs is surprisingly close. Many people may see the new 2025 4Runner as a possible adventure vehicle for the whole family because it has a longer wheelbase of 2.4 inches and a third row of seats. The Highlander, Toyota’s best three-row people mover, is right next to it in the store, though. The second option might be a smoother and more comfortable way to get to the start, but the first one is more rugged, thanks to its Tacoma-based body-on-frame design. The features of these two Toyota three-row SUVs are shown next to each other. Engines The Highlander and 4Runner both come with basic 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines, but you can also choose to make them hybrid. The 4Runner’s old 4.0-liter V-6 engine, which came out when brachiosaurs were still around, has been replaced by the i-Force. It makes 278 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque in base form. The hybrid version, which has 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, can be seen when the third-row seats are taken out. A gearbox with eight speeds, four-wheel drive as an option, and a high/low transfer case move the power from both engines to the wheels. The Highlander has a 2.4-liter engine that is placed across the middle of the car. It makes 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, which makes it a slightly softer choice. The shifting is done by an eight-speed automatic gear. Standard models didn’t have a real 4×4, but they did have front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive was an option. It will, however, be able to handle places that are wet or slippery, though not real rock climbing. The Highlander’s hybrid drivetrain is a different kind of system that is built around a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine instead of building on top of it. The engine makes 243 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, and the transmission is constantly variable. All-wheel drive is standard. How Well Fuel Works Power and tough off-road ability don’t come cheap, and the 4Runner built on the Tacoma will get great gas mileage. Toyota says that the i-Force 4WD models get 19/25/21 mpg in the city, on the highway, and combined, except for the Limited. The i-Force Max hybrid gets 23/24/23 mpg. The 4Runner with rear-wheel drive gets 20/26/22 mpg. It got 22/29/25 mpg in the city, 29/25 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg overall. The all-wheel-drive model got 1 mpg less in each area. As you might expect, the hybrid does much better, getting an average of 35 mpg in all three areas. The Highlander Hybrid is hard to beat for commuting in cities, but the 4Runner doesn’t use as much gas as a regular AWD car. Sizes and Shapes It’s a real 4×4 with high ground clearance and quick approach and departure angles—even better than the new Land Cruiser. The angle of approach is 32 degrees, the angle of exit is 24 degrees, and the space between the planes is 9.1 inches. Both cars had wheels that were 112.2 inches long. The Highlander is 8 inches tall, which is tall enough, but its low chin makes the approach angle smaller. It’s 23 degrees to leave and 18 degrees to get close. Cargo and Inside Since the Highlander is mostly used for carrying people, it has a little more space. The space in the first row is 42 inches, which is about the same as 41.8 inches. The headroom is 41.2 inches without a panoramic roof or sunroof. There are 59 inches of shoulder room compared to 58 inches in the 4Runner, and there are 57.2 inches of hip room compared to 55.2 inches. In the second row, things are the same. The Highlander is 0.6 and 0.9 inches longer than the 4Runner, and it has 57.8 and 56.1 inches of shoulder and hip room. Even though Toyota hasn’t released official specs yet, the Highlander’s third row is expected to be a lot bigger than the 4Runner’s. In this area, the 4Runner has a nameplate edge, but the load space is about the same. When the third row of seats is added, the Highlander’s 48.4 cubic feet of space behind the second row of seats shrinks to 44.8 cubic feet, while the hybrid model’s 42.6 cubic feet. The new 4Runner also has a maximum of 48.4 cubic feet of space behind the second row of seats. The 4Runner’s unique feature is the glass in the back trunk that can be lowered to make room for all of your outdoor gear. Both SUVs have a small amount of space when all three rows are filled. The Highlander has more room than the 4Runner (16.0 cubic feet). In any case, you should get a roof box. Pulling The new 2025 4Runner can pull 6,000 pounds, which is 1,000 pounds more than the old model. The Highlander can pull up to 5,000 pounds with the 2.4-liter turbo-four models. With the hybrid, it’s only 3,500 pounds, which is plenty for most families. Cost The 4Runner’s price increases have been huge compared to last year. The base SR5 model costs $42,220, and the top-of-the-line Trailhunter model costs an unbelievable $68,350. Most Highlanders are less expensive. The most expensive Highlander Hybrid costs $55,125, and the most expensive Platinum model costs around $52,000 to $53,000. This last thing is likely to keep families coming back to the Highlander, even though most families like being outside. On the other hand, both the 4Runner and the Tacoma it’s built on have been very popular used cars for a long time. The 4Runner will take you to trails with less traffic, even if it costs more and it is harder to get there.
