10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Toyota Land Cruiser, 4Runner Double-Team Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Where similarly stacked SUVs overlap, the 2025 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser aren’t a Venn diagram so much as they are a near-total eclipse Bonnie Tyler would’ve written ’80s pop bangers about. Exterior styling aside, the (mostly) two-row off-road-ready SUVs match up in myriad meaningful ways: powertrain (both rock a 326-horsepower, turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder gas-electric hybrid system channeling power through an eight-speed automatic transmission), comparable ground clearance for treacherous terrain (9.1 inches versus 8.7), and identical fuel-economy estimates from the EPA for combined city and highway driving (23 mpg). So what, beyond surface aesthetic preferences, differentiates these rugged mid-size SUVs enough for you to choose one over the other? You can read all about it and decide for yourself in one of Cars.com’s most popular news articles of the past week.
Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Kia Telluride Triumphs as Nissan Versa Leads Cheap Charge
Spoiler: In our head-to-head comparison of the 4Runner and Land Cruiser, the latter SUV cruised past its competitor in each of three measured categories, including everyday driveability, cabin quality and comfort, and past-the-pavement performance. The Land Cruiser boasts a more sophisticated drivetrain differential, a cabin more cocooned from outside annoyances, a cushier and more controlled ride, substantially higher-grade interior appointments — from to-the-touch materials feel to its touchscreen infotainment display — and elevated off-road equipment. The 4Runner, on the other hand, runs “rough and unrefined,” according to our experts, though, unlike the Land Cruiser, you can get a third row if you opt for a non-hybrid version. Oh … also … the 4Runner costs roughly 12 grand less than the Land Cruiser … so there’s that.
For the full comparo between the 2025 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, follow the link below to the No. 2 news story on this week’s countdown of most read articles.
But if rock crawling takes a literal backseat to people hauling on your car-shopping priority list, this week’s sixth-place finisher — a roundup of the pros and cons of the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz — is all-electric minivan news you’ll want to plug into. Making a case for the ID. Buzz is its class-leading passenger space and clever storage spaces; prominently mounted 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen; Audi-level interior appointments and finishes; an impressive array of standard comfort features, engaging driving dynamics and absorbent suspension response; and head-turning exterior styling guaranteed to elicit questions and comments in the supermarket parking lot. Undermining its appeal are an underwhelming max driving range of 234 miles on a full charge, so-so acceleration to match and a starting price over 60 grand — which is a hell of a lot of money to pay primarily for the purpose of standing out in the school pickup line.
For full details on the things we love and the things we loathe about the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz, follow the link below to the No. 6 news story of the week.
Beyond all that, we’ve got headlines on the Kia Telluride, Polestar 4, cheap cars, cheap SUVs, cheap pickup trucks and much more — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:
1. What’s the Best New-Car Deal for Black Friday 2025?
2. 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser Premium Vs. 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium
3. Here Are the 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy Right Now
4. 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show: Everything You Missed
5. Here Are the 10 Cheapest New SUVs You Can Buy Right Now
6. Is the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz a Good Minivan EV? 5 Pros, 3 Cons
7. 2025 Kia Telluride Review: Rougher Roads Ahead
8. 2025 Polestar 4 Review: Not Looking Backwards
9. 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show Best in Show: 2027 Kia Telluride
10. Here Are the 10 Cheapest Pickup Trucks You Can Buy Right Now
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