2021 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2021 Nissan Murano

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its final year of the current form, offered a nostalgic nod to its storied past with the Heritage Edition trim. However, the standard model, which was the focus of this review, came in Magnetic Gray paint with Terra semi-aniline premium leather upholstery. From the outside, it resembled a first-generation Toyota Highlander, albeit with more extravagant features like giant headlights and a chrome-laden exterior. Inside, the Land Cruiser mixed Toyota's parts-bin switchgear with Lexus design themes, offering plush, high-quality materials. Despite its dated appearance, the interior exuded a sense of luxury, complete with a traditional hand-operated parking brake and a CD player, making it feel like a trip back in time.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Murano had a design that once seemed ahead of its time but had since become more mainstream. Its L-shaped LED headlights and contoured front end were now standard fare in car design. The interior was conservative, focusing on comfort and practicality, making it an ideal choice for commutes and road trips. The Murano's cabin was user-friendly, with controls placed intuitively, minimizing any learning curve. It offered four trims: S, SV, SL, and Platinum, each adding more features and luxury, culminating in the Platinum trim with a dual-panel panoramic moonroof and premium leather upholstery.

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, with just enough of its characteristic note filtering into the cabin. The SUV averaged 14.7 mpg, slightly better than the EPA rating of 14 mpg in combined driving. An eight-speed automatic transmission directed power to all four wheels through a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case. The Land Cruiser's off-road prowess was enhanced by features like a Torsen limited-slip differential, mud-and-snow tires, and a sophisticated suspension system. It could tow up to 8,100 pounds and handled various terrains with ease, thanks to its advanced traction control systems and Crawl Control.

The 2021 Nissan Murano featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. Power was delivered through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. The V6 provided strong low-speed acceleration, making it ideal for city driving, though the CVT dulled its power at higher speeds. The Murano prioritized comfort, offering a smooth ride that absorbed road imperfections well. However, its towing capacity was limited to 1,500 pounds, which was lower than many midsize and even some compact SUVs.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior was luxurious, with plush leather upholstery and heated and ventilated front seats. The SUV offered a commanding view of the road, and the second-row bench seat was spacious and comfortable, with heated cushions. The third-row seat could accommodate adults if the second row was adjusted, but it lacked leg support for long trips. Cargo space was limited to 16.1 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 82.8 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. The split clamshell-style liftgate provided easy access to the cargo area.

The 2021 Nissan Murano offered up to 67 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 32.1 cubic feet with them in use. While not the most spacious in its class, the Murano excelled in ease of use, with a center console full of trays and cubbies. The two-row seating configuration provided ample headroom and legroom, with the second-row seats offering partial reclining functionality. The SL and Platinum trims featured a hands-free power liftgate for added convenience.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's technology was a throwback to simpler times, with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system that required tapping rather than swiping. It lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the voice-recognition system was basic. The SUV featured a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system, which was not touchscreen and could only play DVDs. A 14-speaker JBL Synthesis audio system provided decent sound quality but fell short of high-end audio systems in other luxury SUVs.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring a sensible menu layout and hard buttons for easy navigation. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, enhancing smartphone integration. Available tech features included an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo system and navigation, providing a more modern and connected experience.

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 more advanced features like stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and automated lane-keeping assistance. Crash-test ratings were unavailable for the Land Cruiser, leaving its safety performance uncertain.

The 2021 Nissan Murano featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, with standard driver assistance features like reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane departure warning. Additional safety features included forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and driver drowsiness monitoring. Optional features included a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control, enhancing the Murano's safety credentials.