Compare the2024 Jeep WranglerVS 2023 Toyota 4Runner

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Wrangler have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Toyota 4Runner doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Wrangler. But it costs extra on the 4Runner.

Both the Wrangler and the 4Runner have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

There are almost 2 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Wrangler’s warranty.

The Wrangler has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the 4Runner 4x4’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep above average in initial quality. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

The Wrangler’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 17 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 278) than the 4Runner’s 4.0 DOHC V6. The Wrangler’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 15 more horsepower (285 vs. 270) than the 4Runner’s 4.0 DOHC V6. The Wrangler 4xe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 105 more horsepower (375 vs. 270) and 192 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 278) than the 4Runner’s 4.0 DOHC V6. The Wrangler Rubicon 392’s standard 6.4 V8 produces 200 more horsepower (470 vs. 270) and 192 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 278) than the 4Runner’s 4.0 DOHC V6.

On the EPA test cycle the Wrangler 4-door running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the 4Runner:

The Wrangler 4xe can travel with zero emissions for 21 miles. The 4Runner can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Wrangler Rubicon 392’s fuel efficiency. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Wrangler 2.0 Turbo/4xe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Wrangler (except Rubicon 392)’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The 4Runner doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Wrangler 4xe has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the 4Runner. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The Wrangler offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

An eight-speed automatic is available on the Jeep Wrangler, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a five-speed automatic is available for the 4Runner.

The Wrangler Rubicon 392’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The 4Runner doesn’t offer launch control.

For better traction, the Wrangler 4-door Rubicon 392/Xteme 35’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 4Runner (315/70R17 vs. 265/70R17).

The Wrangler High Altitude/4xe’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 4Runner Limited/TRD Sport’s 60 series tires.

The Wrangler has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The 4Runner doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Wrangler 4-door’s wheelbase is 8.6 inches longer than on the 4Runner (118.4 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Wrangler is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 4Runner.

For better maneuverability, the Wrangler 2-door’s turning circle is 4.7 feet tighter than the 4Runner’s (32.7 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Wrangler 2-door has a greater minimum ground clearance than the 4Runner (9.7 vs. 9.6 inches), allowing the Wrangler to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Wrangler 4-door Xtreme 35’s minimum ground clearance is 3.3 inches higher than on the 4Runner (12.9 vs. 9.6 inches).

The Jeep Wrangler may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the Toyota 4Runner.

The Wrangler 2-door is 1 foot, 11.4 inches shorter than the 4Runner, making the Wrangler easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Wrangler 4-door has a much larger cargo volume than the 4Runner with its rear seat up (31.7 vs. 9 cubic feet).

The Wrangler can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Wrangler can be unhitched and driven around locally. The 4Runner can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Wrangler uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The 4Runner doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Wrangler to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Toyota doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the 4Runner.

The Wrangler Automatic offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The engine computer on the Wrangler automatically engages the starter until the car starts with one twist of the key and disables the starter while the engine is running. The 4Runner’s starter can be accidentally engaged while the engine is running, making a grinding noise and possibly damaging the starter and ring gear.

The Wrangler’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The 4Runner does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows available on both the Wrangler and the 4Runner have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Wrangler is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The 4Runner prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Wrangler’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The 4Runner’s power mirror and cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Wrangler’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The 4Runner’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Wrangler has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the 4Runner only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Wrangler’s optional power mirror controls are mounted on the door for easy access. The 4Runner’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

On extremely cold winter days, the Wrangler’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Jeep Wrangler JL comes in four door and soft top bodystyles; the Toyota 4Runner isn’t available as a soft top.

Motor Trend selected the Wrangler as their 2019 Sport Utility of the Year. The 4Runner has never been chosen.

The Jeep Wrangler outsold the Toyota 4Runner by 50% during 2022.