DIRT-LOVIN' FRENEMIES

THE LATEST TOYOTA 4RUNNER TAKES ON KING JEEP IN THIS OFF-ROAD SUV SHOWDOWN.

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There's a new Toyota 4Runner in town, fully 15 years after we first sampled its predecessor. That's a long time for any vehicle to stay in production, but it didn't hurt sales. In fact, 2021 was the 4Runner's best year ever, and Toyota USA moved more than 100,000 units per year from 2016 through 2023. The number sold in 2024 only sagged to 94,180 because production stopped toward the end of the year. Americans like Toyota 4Runners.

We like Jeep Wranglers, too. We snatched up more than 100,000 of them per year (and often more than 200,000) from 2011 to 2022. Sales have fallen just shy of 100,000 the past two years largely due to the Ford Bronco, which outsold the Wrangler in 2023 and 2024. We don't have all the most popular off-roaders in America for this comparison test only because Ford declined to participate. No matter; let's see how the 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium fares against the 2025 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4xe Willys '41.

It's hard to escape the Jeep Wrangler's impressive heritage; after all, its roots trace to General Patton and the Seventh Army recapturing Palermo, making all other off-roaders look like relative children. And just look at our Willys—the '41 package makes it look like an extra from Saving Private Ryan.

Of course, the Toyota 4Runner has been around a long time, too. Introduced in 1983 as the Hilux Surf in overseas markets, the 4Runner came to the States as a 1984.5 model. Yes, the basic Jeep template has been around for more than twice as long (the Wrangler nameplate arrived in '86), but 40 years in the SUV game means this Toyota's no noob.