The 6th Gen 4Runner & 250 Series Land Cruiser Are Too Similar - Change My Mind

Summary

In this video, the creator discusses the striking similarities between the new sixth-generation Toyota 4Runner and the 250 Series Land Cruiser, raising concerns about how similar these vehicles have become in terms of powertrain, drivetrain, and capabilities. The main difference now seems to be their appearance, and the host questions whether this dilutes the appeal of the Land Cruiser. They ponder if Toyota made a misstep in launching these two models so close together, potentially affecting their uniqueness. The video invites viewers to share their thoughts on the matter.

Takeaways

• 🚗 The speaker believes that the new sixth-generation 4Runner and the 250 series Land Cruiser are too similar, with minimal differences beyond looks.
• 🛠️ The Land Cruiser used to stand out for its superior capability, reliability, and robustness, but now it's more like the 4Runner.
• 🧐 Despite the Land Cruiser's name, the speaker feels it lacks the unique features that made it distinct from the 4Runner in the past.
• 🚙 The 4Runner and Land Cruiser now share the same engine, specifically the i-Force Max 4-cylinder Turbo Hybrid, which was not the case in previous generations.
• 🔄 The 4Runner offers various drivetrain options, including a rear-wheel drive and part-time four-wheel drive, while the Land Cruiser has a full-time four-wheel drive system.
• ⚙️ Although there are some differences in trim levels and exterior designs, the speaker emphasizes the similarities in mechanical components between the two vehicles.
• 💡 The speaker points out that even the Limited and Platinum trims of the 4Runner come with a drivetrain similar to the Land Cruiser's full-time 4WD system.
• 📊 The speaker questions Toyota’s strategy, feeling that introducing two nearly identical vehicles dilutes the Land Cruiser's special status.
• 💰 While the Land Cruiser is more expensive, the higher-trim 4Runners closely match it in terms of capabilities and features.
• 🤔 The speaker is left feeling conflicted, questioning whether Toyota's decision makes sense or undermines the Land Cruiser's unique legacy.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The video discusses the similarities between the new sixth-generation Toyota 4Runner and the 250 Series Land Cruiser, questioning if the vehicles are too similar.

Why does the speaker believe the Land Cruiser and 4Runner are too similar?

The speaker argues that both vehicles share the same engine, drivetrain, and capabilities, which reduces the distinctiveness of the Land Cruiser as a superior, more robust vehicle.

How were previous generations of the 4Runner and Land Cruiser different?

In the past, the 4Runner and Land Cruiser differed significantly in size, with the 4Runner being a five-seater and the Land Cruiser being a seven- or eight-seater. They also had distinct engines and chassis designs.

What engine do the current 4Runner and Land Cruiser share?

Both the 4Runner and the 250 Series Land Cruiser now share the I-Force Max 4-cylinder Turbo Hybrid engine.

What differentiates the drivetrain of the Land Cruiser and 4Runner?

The Land Cruiser has a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a center differential, while the 4Runner has a part-time four-wheel-drive system with rear-wheel-drive options for better fuel economy.

What specific trims does the speaker mention for the 4Runner?

The speaker mentions various 4Runner trims, including the Off-Road, TRD Pro, Nightcrawler (or Nightstalker), Limited, and Platinum Edition.

Why does the speaker feel the new Land Cruiser is less special?

The speaker feels the new Land Cruiser is less special because it shares many similarities with the 4Runner, diluting its traditional identity as a robust, top-tier vehicle.

What is the main visual difference between the 4Runner and Land Cruiser?

The Land Cruiser is described as taller and more angular, while the 4Runner looks more like a 'mini Sequoia.'

Why might some buyers prefer the 4Runner over the Land Cruiser?

Some buyers might prefer the 4Runner for its lower entry price, more fuel-efficient part-time four-wheel-drive system, and its availability in trims that are more off-road capable out of the gate.

What does the speaker think about Toyota's decision to release the two vehicles at the same time?

The speaker feels that releasing both vehicles at the same time dilutes the distinctiveness of the Land Cruiser and may confuse or split the potential buyer base, making the vehicles seem too similar.

Outlines

00:00

🚙 Comparing the New 4Runner and Land Cruiser

The video discusses the similarities between the new sixth-generation Toyota 4Runner and the 250-series Land Cruiser. The speaker believes these vehicles are too similar, especially in terms of engine options and design, and argues that a Land Cruiser should stand out more for its superior capabilities, reliability, and robustness. Despite acknowledging differences in looks and drivetrain, the speaker expresses disappointment that the new models are now essentially the same vehicle, which wasn’t the case in the past.

05:00

🤔 Are They Mechanically the Same?

The speaker delves deeper into the mechanical similarities between the new 4Runner and the Land Cruiser, speculating that the two models may even share the same chassis, drivetrain, and powertrain. Historically, Land Cruisers were built with more robust parts, but the speaker suspects that this may no longer be the case. This raises concerns about how differentiated these vehicles truly are and whether the shared components justify the price gap between the models.

10:02

😕 Questioning Toyota's Strategy

In this section, the speaker questions Toyota’s decision to introduce two vehicles that are so similar, potentially diluting the distinctiveness of the Land Cruiser brand. They acknowledge that the 4Runner has a lower starting price, but when comparing higher trims, both vehicles appear to be nearly identical. The speaker wonders if Toyota is relying on the Land Cruiser's reputation and name rather than offering something truly unique.

Keywords

💡Land Cruiser

The Land Cruiser is a well-known SUV model by Toyota, traditionally celebrated for its ruggedness, durability, and off-road capabilities. In the video, the speaker discusses the newer 250 series Land Cruiser, highlighting concerns that it shares too many similarities with the 4Runner, diluting its distinctiveness as a top-tier off-road vehicle.

💡4Runner

The 4Runner is another popular SUV by Toyota, often considered smaller and less premium compared to the Land Cruiser. The video focuses on how the new sixth-generation 4Runner and the 250 series Land Cruiser share many features, including drivetrain and powertrain options, making them more similar than in previous generations.

💡I-Force Max Engine

The I-Force Max is a turbocharged 4-cylinder hybrid engine used in both the new Land Cruiser and 4Runner. The video points out that both vehicles now use the same engine, raising concerns about their mechanical overlap and whether this undermines the exclusivity of the Land Cruiser's typically unique powertrain.

💡Drivetrain

Drivetrain refers to the system that transmits power from a vehicle's engine to its wheels. In the video, the speaker compares the drivetrain systems of the two vehicles, noting that while the Land Cruiser has a full-time four-wheel-drive system, the 4Runner offers both part-time and full-time options depending on the trim, blurring the lines between the two models.

💡Off-road capabilities

Off-road capabilities refer to a vehicle's ability to handle rough, unpaved terrain. This is a central theme in the video, as both the Land Cruiser and 4Runner have historically been known for their off-road prowess. The speaker notes that certain trims of the 4Runner might even be more off-road capable out of the gate than the Land Cruiser, adding to the confusion between the two models.

💡Full-time four-wheel drive

Full-time four-wheel drive (4WD) means all four wheels receive power from the engine at all times, which enhances traction and stability. The video highlights that the Land Cruiser comes standard with full-time 4WD, while only some trims of the 4Runner, like the Limited and Platinum editions, offer this system, usually making them more similar to the Land Cruiser.

💡Part-time four-wheel drive

Part-time four-wheel drive allows a vehicle to switch between two-wheel drive (for regular driving) and four-wheel drive (for off-road or slippery conditions). In the video, the speaker discusses how the 4Runner offers part-time 4WD in certain off-road trims, which can help with fuel efficiency compared to the full-time 4WD found in the Land Cruiser.

💡Price point

Price point refers to the cost of a product, which is a key differentiating factor between the Land Cruiser and the 4Runner. The video mentions that while the Land Cruiser typically has a higher starting price, the higher trims of the 4Runner can become quite expensive, making the two vehicles compete more directly in the same price range.

💡1958 Edition

The 1958 Edition is a trim of the new Land Cruiser that has a more retro design with circular headlights. In the video, this version of the Land Cruiser is briefly mentioned as one of the trim options, highlighting how Toyota is positioning different models for different aesthetic tastes.

💡Vehicle design

Vehicle design refers to the aesthetic and structural appearance of the car. The video contrasts the more angular and taller design of the Land Cruiser with the 4Runner, which the speaker describes as looking like a 'mini Sequoia,' emphasizing how the main visual difference between the two vehicles may ultimately be a key deciding factor for buyers.

Highlights

Comparison between the sixth generation 4Runner and the 250 series Land Cruiser, suggesting they are too similar in terms of features and performance.

Main differentiator between the two vehicles boils down to personal preference in looks, rather than substantial differences in performance.

Historically, the 4Runner and Land Cruiser were very different vehicles in terms of size, seating, and engine options.

Discussion on the Land Cruiser's unique engine history, like the 1FZ-FE for the 80 series and the 2UZ-FE for the 100 series, compared to the new shared 4-cylinder turbo hybrid engine between both vehicles.

The drivetrain in the Land Cruiser has a full-time four-wheel drive system, whereas the 4Runner features a part-time four-wheel drive system in off-road trims.

The Limited and Platinum trims of the 4Runner come with the same full-time four-wheel drive system as the Land Cruiser, making them mechanically similar.

Higher trims of the 4Runner, like the TRD Pro, come more off-road capable than the Land Cruiser right out of the factory.

The Land Cruiser offers different exterior and interior designs, like the choice between circular or rectangular headlights in certain trims.

Discussion on the affordability of the new Land Cruiser and how it compares to the pricing of the higher-end 4Runner models.

Confusion over Toyota's decision to release these two similar vehicles at the same time, potentially diluting the special appeal of the Land Cruiser.

Speculation on Toyota's strategy to market the Land Cruiser based on its iconic name and design, rather than major performance differences.

The appeal of part-time four-wheel drive in the 4Runner as an option for drivers looking for better fuel economy in regular driving conditions.

Discussion on Toyota's hybrid drivetrain success, such as in the Prius, and how it might translate to the new 4Runner and Land Cruiser models.

The speaker’s personal preference for the Land Cruiser over the 4Runner, despite the similarities between the two vehicles.

The video ends with a question for viewers, asking whether Toyota’s decision to release two similar vehicles was a good move or a misstep.

Transcripts

what is going on Bros we are back with

another video and today's topic is going

to be something uh that I think a lot of

people maybe have been thinking about

the past few months you know 6 months

something like that and that is that I

think that the uh the new sixth

generation 4Runner and the 250 series

Land Cruiser are too similar I think uh

I think to a point where it pretty much

just leaves your preference for like

what the vehicle looks

like uh as like the

main

decision and I don't think that

personally I don't think for a lane

Cruiser it should be like that I think

you should be buying a Land Cruiser for

like Superior cap uh

capability and reliability and

robustness granted I do understand that

the new 250 series Land Cruiser is kind

of like a you know it's a prao so it's

not like a full like uh the like main

line of the Land Cruiser if you want to

say um but still it does have the Land

Cruiser name it's not called a pra here

it's it's a Land Cruiser so still but in

the past uh you know the Forerunner and

the Land Cruiser were very very very

different Vehicles they were completely

different in terms of it their size eyes

you know the 4Runner always a

five-seater and the Land Cruiser always

a seven seater um or I guess eight

seater I guess you could put maybe three

in the back or something like that

regardless

um

so those two factors alone you know um

or no not just those two but the sorry

there's traffic I don't want to crash

okay um Jesus bro come on how you can do

me like that

um but the engine as well too the Land

Cruiser always had a distinct engine

that was unique to the vehicle like the

1 fce for the 80 series and the 2 U for

the 100 series Land Cruiser granted the

2 U in the Land Cruiser uh the Land

Cruiser was the first uh Toyota vehicle

that they put that engine in but then

the 2 was later used for a number of

other vehicles but it was you know

pioneered in the Land

Cruiser um but then now they are

utilizing the same I force Max 4cylinder

Turbo Hybrid engine between the Land

Cruiser and the Forerunner they're

identical the main difference is that

the Forerunner has an option to just

have the turbo 4-cylinder instead of the

hybrid system and I do want to mention

as well too like I do understand that

the 4Runner I mean they're different

Vehicles they look different 100% the

the Land Cruiser is uh more angular it's

taller while the 4Runner looks pretty

much like a mini Sequoia I don't

personally like the looks of the six

generation 4Runner that much um but

regardless uh they are different I do

get that I do understand that the

drivetrain is uh different in terms of

the laners are having a full-time

four-wheel drive system versus the uh

4Runners part-time four-wheel drive

system

and what's interesting though is that

you know the higher or not the higher

trims the more off-road off-road trims

like the off-road TD Pro the freaking

Nightcrawler nightstalker I don't know

what you want to call it um I don't know

what it's called

Uh those have the part-time two wheel

drive system where you're driving around

town with two wheel drive but then you

can engage four high or four low which

locks the uh like I don't know it's

differential or power like the transfer

case so it has a 50/50 split between the

front and the rear uh and because it has

the 50/50 split you can't really drive

it on you know like a like normal Road

at high speeds for very long it's not

good for the uh drivetrain while the 250

series Land Cruiser actually has a

center differential which allows it to

drive those higher speeds and be a true

full-time uh four-wheel drive

vehicle uh uh I freaking digressing

there what's weird is that the 4Runner

has like you can buy it in a rear wheeel

drive option you can buy it in that

part-time four-wheel drive option for

the off-road TD Pro and the other uh

trim but then the Limited in the uh

Platinum Edition actually they come with

the same powertrain drivetrain that's in

the Land Cruiser the full-time

four-wheel drive system so you can buy a

4Runner that has the exact setup

that the Land Cruiser has so at that

point it's like you're essentially

buying the same vehicle just kind of

like re re like not repackaged but just

with a different design you know and

nobody's I don't know if anybody's done

like a tear down yet of the new Land

Cruiser and you know I don't think

anybody's been able to get their hands

on like a a new sixth generation 4Runner

to tear it down and compare I mean often

times Land Cruisers will have like more

robust Parts uh compared to their

counterparts you know like the 100

series Land Cruiser compared to the I

don't know what generation the fourth

generation third gener third generation

4Runner like way more beefy ball joints

way more beefy axles on the uh on the

Land Cruiser but then

now I I'm assuming if they're sharing

the same like chassis and powertrain and

drivetrain they're pretty much going to

be mechanically like identical I feel

like for the most part um and I don't

know I I feel like for the 4Runners

I don't know if those are built in the

US maybe that has something to do with

it as well too regardless

um the

drivetrain power the power train

drivetrain

drivetrain that's the main

differentiating thing but then we kind

of went over the fact that you can buy

the same uh drivetrain between the two

actually so that's not even really a

differentiating factor it's pretty much

just the looks that are differentiating

them the interior is completely

different the exterior is obviously

completely different uh the Land Cruiser

comes with like two options I think like

I don't know if it's called like the the

Land Cruiser Land Cruiser and then the

1958 something I don't know some weird

trim thing like Circle headlights or the

rectangular that's it but then with the

4Runner it's like you have all these

crazy trims some of them can come with

like 33s from the factory with like

crazy suspension all this stuff and out

of the gate will be more capable than

the Land Cruiser so it's like you can

buy a 4Runner that is like way more

capable out of the gate and then

mechanically identical to a Land Cruiser

so it's like where does the Land Cruiser

come in are you are like is Toyota just

banking that people will buy it based

off of the looks and then the name

pretty much like if I had to choose

between the two I guess I would pick the

Land Cruiser I guess but then I it's

just weird because I I feel like it just

it's like pitting these two cars against

each other that are essentially like the

same package

um and I don't know like what

Toyota's uh reasoning for this is like I

know the 4Runner has like a lower entry

price than

the Land

Cruiser but once you're getting up into

those like more like uh expensive like

forerunners it's like you're it's you're

looking at the the two the vehicles are

like the same thing pretty much it just

like one is like looks like a mini scoa

and then one's like a lot more angular

yes the drivetrain is a little bit

different if you maybe some people I

think some people actually prefer having

like the rear wheel drive like the

part-time four-wheel drive with the

standard rear wheel drive in order to

get like better like fuel economy and

that kind of thing so maybe that's one

reason why somebody would go with like a

4Runner instead of a Land Cruiser but I

just think it's like a weird decision on

Toyota's part to introduce these

vehicles and just have them pretty much

be the same thing the Land Cruiser is

always supposed to be like the like

robust like reliable bulletproof top dog

kind of thing and then now it's they've

introduced it and I mean it's a prto I

get that but it's they've it's

it's so similar to the 4Runner that it's

like it doesn't feel as cool as if they

were to like introduce this like Land

Cruiser alongside like the older like

you know if the fifth generation maybe

had like hypothetically if it had like

four more years or something like that

you'd be like oh sick yeah this Land

Cruiser is totally different I want this

but then the fact that they're

introducing the Lan Cruiser in 2024 and

the 4Runner in 2025 the sixth generation

with the same thing you're it just I

don't know it just puts kind of like a

bad taste in my mouth but I don't know

I'm I'm just curious what you guys think

so you know if you get to this point and

you hear all of this like what do you

guys think like do you think uh we

should just be celebrating the fact that

Toyota has introduced a more affordable

Land

Cruiser uh or do you think it was like a

misstep on their part to kind of

introduce these two vehicles at the same

time uh like kind of diluting the uh

potential sales I guess like between the

two

um cuz I feel like it is like when I saw

the news about the new Land Cruiser I

was excited because I'm like cool it's

like actually you know somewhat

affordable I think it's like in the five

mid 50,000 starting something like that

for the I don't know it's 1958 Edition

something like that um I was excited but

then when I saw the news of the 4Runner

I'm like that's like the same vehicle

pretty much like it's uh I don't know it

makes the land Cru or just feel not as

special I guess but yeah do you think we

should just be stoked on the Land

Cruiser being here being cheap cheap

cheaper uh or do you think it's

Justified to kind of you know try to to

hold Toyota accountable and just be like

yo what's going on guys what was this

decision

about uh regardless you know I'm sure

even though it is like a you know Turbo

Hybrid four-wheel drive system I'm sure

it's going to be Reliable Toyota has had

huge success with hybrid drivetrains in

the past you know if you look at the

Prius those things go forever easily 200

300,000 mil I know you have to change

the battery pack at some point but

there's third partying companies that do

it you know no big deal um and I'm sure

the same thing's going to happen with

the uh

Forerunner Land Cruiser and the Tacoma

they use the I force Max

system but yeah it's just I don't

know I don't know I don't know guys

feels feels kind of weird but yeah let

me know what you think if you got to the

end of the video thank you for watching

uh please subscribe if you haven't

already I think I'm going to be doing

more of these car videos they're just

convenient and easy I can just get

through topics that I've been thinking

about for a while um so yeah thank you

for watching keep an eye out for more

videos peace