2021 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its final year of the current form, offered a nostalgic yet luxurious experience. The Heritage Edition trim celebrated its 65th anniversary with distinctive features like bronze BBS wheels and a Yakima Megawarrior roof basket. However, the standard model, with its Magnetic Gray paint and Terra leather upholstery, presented a more subdued exterior. The design was reminiscent of a first-generation Toyota Highlander, with oversized headlights and a chrome-heavy two-box shape. Inside, the Land Cruiser combined high-quality materials with a mix of Toyota and Lexus design elements, including a traditional hand-operated parking brake and a CD player, evoking a sense of time travel to the mid-2000s.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite a redesign in 2019, retained a familiar look with its boxy, upright shape. The styling, largely carried over from the previous generation, appealed to SUV shoppers seeking practicality. The Forester Sport model added visual flair with orange striping and black alloy wheels, enhancing its rugged appearance. Built on the Subaru Global Platform, the Forester shared its underpinnings with other Subaru models, maintaining a balance between ruggedness and everyday usability. Inside, the Forester's no-nonsense interior featured durable materials, with the Sport trim adding orange accents. The cabin offered ample space and comfort, with options for cloth or leather upholstery and an All-Weather Package for added convenience.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser was powered by a 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine, shared with the Toyota Tundra. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivered power to all four wheels through a full-time four-wheel-drive system. The Land Cruiser's off-road prowess was enhanced by features like a Torsen limited-slip differential, Multi-Terrain Select, and Crawl Control. Despite its nearly 3-ton weight, the SUV offered a refined driving experience, with a quiet cabin and smooth handling. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 14.7 mpg. The Land Cruiser's towing capacity was rated at 8,100 pounds, making it a capable choice for those needing to haul heavy loads.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). While the engine provided adequate power for most situations, it lacked the thrust needed for confident highway merging and overtaking. The Forester's suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in a soft ride with noticeable body roll in corners. Standard all-wheel drive and X-Mode enhanced its capability on various surfaces, with Sport models offering Dual X-Mode for different terrains. The Forester's towing capacity was limited to 1,500 pounds, but its 8.7 inches of ground clearance allowed it to handle light off-road conditions better than many competitors.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior was luxurious, with plush leather upholstery and heated, ventilated front seats. The cabin featured a four-zone automatic climate control system and 28 air vents, ensuring comfort for all passengers. The second-row bench seat offered ample space, while the third-row seat, though accommodating adults, 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 seats folded. The split clamshell-style liftgate provided easy access to the cargo area, making it convenient for outdoor activities.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in interior space, offering generous headroom and legroom in both rows. Its tall roofline contributed to excellent visibility and a spacious feel. The Forester provided 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, expanding to 76.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. While it lacked a sliding second-row bench, a power liftgate was available on higher trims. The Forester's interior featured practical storage solutions, though the phone-storage cubby was small, and wireless charging was not offered. The controls were user-friendly, with large knobs for audio and climate settings, though the steering wheel had an overwhelming number of buttons.

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. The system ran on Toyota Entune technology, lacking the sophistication expected in a high-priced SUV. Notably, it did not support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and Bluetooth pairing was limited to one device at a time. The dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system was outdated, though it offered DVD playback and HDMI connections. A 14-speaker JBL Synthesis audio system provided decent sound quality, but it fell short compared to high-end systems in other luxury SUVs.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came equipped with the Subaru Starlink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto compatibility. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen and a Harman Kardon audio system. The system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and physical shortcut buttons, though it was slow to boot up. Additional displays in the dashboard and instrument cluster provided secondary information, though the setup felt overly complex. The Forester's technology package was comprehensive, offering a good balance of features and usability.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser was 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 lane-centering assistance. The Land Cruiser's crash-test ratings were unavailable, leaving its safety performance uncertain.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard EyeSight driver-assist features included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The Forester also offered a driver-monitoring system, ensuring attentive driving. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking, enhancing its safety credentials.