2021 Ford Expedition vs 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its final year of the current form, offered a Heritage Edition trim to celebrate its 65th anniversary. This edition was available in four colors, with Midnight Black being the standout choice, complemented by bronze BBS wheels and a Yakima Megawarrior roof storage basket. However, the standard Land Cruiser, which arrived for review, was finished in Magnetic Gray with Terra semi-aniline premium leather upholstery. Its exterior design, with oversized headlights and taillights, was adorned with chrome, giving it a somewhat dated and characterless appearance. Inside, the Land Cruiser mixed Toyota parts-bin switchgear with Lexus design themes, offering high-quality materials and a traditional hand-operated parking brake, creating a nostalgic yet slightly outdated feel.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum greeted passengers with a plush and roomy interior, a welcome sight after a long flight. The Platinum trim represented the pinnacle of the Expedition lineup, offering luxurious features and a striking appearance with a chrome grille and 22-inch aluminum wheels. Despite its impressive looks, the Expedition struggled to accommodate all passengers' luggage, highlighting the practicality of minivans. The Expedition's interior, shared with the previous-generation F-150, featured high-quality materials, though some hard plastics reminded occupants of its origins. The Expedition Platinum's cabin provided comfort and utility, with ample storage and seating for adults in all rows, making it a versatile choice for families.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser was powered by a 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine, shared with the Toyota Tundra. This engine delivered 401 pound-feet of torque, with 90% available at just 2,200 rpm, providing unexpected thrust in first gear. The Land Cruiser's eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel-drive system, with a two-speed transfer case, contributed to its legendary off-road capability. Features like a Torsen limited-slip differential, mud-and-snow tires, and a Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) ensured it could conquer challenging terrain. On-road, the Land Cruiser offered a refined driving experience, though its nearly 3-ton weight affected maneuverability. It was rated to tow up to 8,100 pounds, but its fuel economy averaged 14.7 mpg, slightly better than the EPA rating.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, with the Platinum trim boosting these figures to 400 hp and 480 lb-ft. The Expedition's 10-speed automatic transmission and available 4WD provided smooth acceleration, even with a full load. Towing capacity ranged from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds, and Ford's Pro Trailer Backup Assist technology simplified trailer maneuvering. The Expedition's ride quality was affected by the Platinum's 22-inch wheels, but its four-wheel independent suspension ensured stability. The FX4 Off-Road Package, available on XLT and Limited models, enhanced off-road capability, though the Platinum trim focused on on-road comfort, achieving 17.1 mpg during testing.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior, while swanky, lacked impressive storage space. The center console housed a parking brake handle and switchgear, with a small compartment for wireless smartphone charging. The plush leather upholstery covered supportive seats, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The second-row bench seat offered heated cushions, and the Land Cruiser featured a four-zone automatic climate control system with 28 air vents. The third-row seat accommodated adults if the second row slid forward, but leg support was lacking. Cargo space measured 16.1 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 41.4 cubic feet with the third row folded and 82.8 cubic feet with the second row down.

The 2021 Ford Expedition excelled in comfort and utility, with power-deploying running boards and large seats for all passengers. The independent rear suspension ensured comfort, and storage was plentiful. Cargo volume expanded from 19.3 cubic feet to 57.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 104.6 cubic feet with all seats down. The Expedition MAX offered even more space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 73.3 cubic feet with it folded, and 121.5 cubic feet with all seats down. While generous, this still fell short of most minivans.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's technology felt dated, with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system that required tapping rather than swiping. It ran Toyota Entune technology, lacking depth and modern features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 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 but fell short of high-end competitors.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured the Sync 3 infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen display. While user-friendly, it was aging and sometimes slow to respond. Sync 3 offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, FordPass Connect, and a navigation system. The voice recognition system was enhanced for 2021, responding to basic commands. The test vehicle had a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and wireless charging, with an available dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system for other trims.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, with 10 airbags and a curb weight of nearly 6,000 pounds, offered a sense of security. However, it lacked crash-test ratings, leaving its safety performance uncertain. Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) driving assistance systems were standard, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services were also included, but more advanced systems were absent.

The 2021 Ford Expedition, with a minimum curb weight of 5,368 pounds, earned a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA. However, its rollover-resistance rating was three stars with RWD and four stars with 4WD. Ford Co-Pilot360 driving-assistance features were standard, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. Limited trim and above offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and a semi-autonomous parking assistance system.