2021 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its final year of production in its current form, offered a nostalgic experience with its Heritage Edition trim. This version celebrated the SUV's 65th anniversary with distinctive features like bronze BBS wheels and a Yakima Megawarrior roof basket. However, the standard model, which arrived for review, was less striking, with its Magnetic Gray paint and Terra leather upholstery. The exterior design was reminiscent of a first-generation Toyota Highlander, with oversized headlights and a basic two-box shape. Inside, the Land Cruiser mixed Toyota switchgear with Lexus design themes, offering high-quality materials and a traditional hand-operated parking brake, creating a retro yet luxurious atmosphere.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Escape presented a modern, car-like appearance, straddling the line between SUV and hatchback. Its sleek roofline and curved front gave it a less truck-like look compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. For 2021, the Escape introduced new appearance packages across its trim levels, enhancing its visual appeal with features like 19-inch alloy wheels and leather-wrapped steering wheels. However, the interior design lacked cohesion, with some low-quality materials and odd design choices. Despite this, the Escape's exterior styling and available upgrades made it a more contemporary choice.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser was powered by a 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine, shared with the Toyota Tundra. This engine was remarkably quiet during acceleration, contributing to its low average fuel economy of 14.7 mpg, slightly better than the EPA rating of 14 mpg. The Land Cruiser featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case. Its off-road capabilities were enhanced by a Torsen limited-slip differential, mud-and-snow tires, and a suite of traction control systems, including Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control. On-road, the Land Cruiser offered a refined driving experience, akin to a Lexus, but its nearly 3-ton weight affected maneuverability. It was rated to tow up to 8,100 pounds, showcasing its robust capabilities.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered a range of powertrains, including two gasoline engines and hybrid options. The base 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine produced 181 horsepower, while the optional 2.0-liter turbo-four delivered 250 horsepower. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with all-wheel drive available. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, producing 200 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid's larger battery allowed for extended electric-only driving. Despite its smaller engine, the Escape's performance was adequate, though its chassis tuning left room for improvement. The Escape's towing capacity reached 3,500 pounds with the 2.0-liter engine, but figures for the hybrid models were not specified.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior was luxurious, with plush leather upholstery and heated, ventilated front seats. The SUV offered a commanding driving position and a four-zone automatic climate control system with 28 air vents. The second-row bench seat was spacious and heated, while the third-row seat could accommodate adults if the second row was adjusted. Cargo space was limited to 16.1 cubic feet behind the third row, but folding the seats expanded it to 82.8 cubic feet. The split clamshell-style liftgate provided convenient access, and the lower tailgate served as a practical seating area.

The 2021 Ford Escape excelled in interior space, with generous headroom and legroom in both rows. The sliding rear seat allowed for flexible legroom or cargo space, with up to 40.7 inches of rear legroom in non-hybrid models. Cargo capacity varied, with gasoline models offering 33.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat, expandable to 65.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. Hybrid models had slightly less space due to battery placement. While the Escape's cargo space was competitive, some rivals offered more room.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Toyota Entune technology. However, it lacked modern conveniences like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the interface required tapping rather than swiping. The voice-recognition system was basic, and the dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system was outdated. A 14-speaker JBL Synthesis audio system provided good sound quality, but it fell short of high-end competitors.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with a 4.2-inch touchscreen on base models. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot were standard. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system. While Sync 3 was user-friendly, the Escape lacked some advanced tech features found in competitors, such as wireless smartphone integration.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser came equipped with 10 airbags and Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. However, it lacked advanced features like stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance. Crash-test ratings were unavailable, leaving its safety performance uncertain.

The 2021 Ford Escape received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and park assist. The Escape's comprehensive safety suite contributed to its strong safety ratings.