2021 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2022 Subaru Outback

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its final year of the current form, offered a Heritage Edition trim to celebrate its 65th anniversary. This version was available in four colors, with Midnight Black being the standout choice, complemented by bronze BBS wheels and a Yakima Megawarrior roof basket. However, the standard Land Cruiser, which arrived for review, was dressed in Magnetic Gray with Terra semi-aniline leather upholstery. Its exterior design, reminiscent of a first-generation Toyota Highlander, featured oversized headlights and taillights, with a chrome-heavy two-box shape. Inside, the Land Cruiser mixed Toyota parts-bin switchgear with Lexus design themes, offering plush materials and a traditional hand-operated parking brake, creating a nostalgic yet somewhat outdated feel.

In contrast, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness pushed the boundaries of the Outback's station wagon identity, resembling more of a Jeep with its 9.5 inches of ground clearance and aggressive all-terrain tires. The Wilderness model featured unique design elements like a matte black hood decal, black 17-inch wheels, and Anodized Copper accents. Its interior was dominated by dark gray and black StarTex water-repellant upholstery, with heated seats but lacking ventilation. The Outback Wilderness stood out with its rugged modifications, including a robust roof rack and exclusive Geyser Blue paint, offering a blend of purpose and personality.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser was powered by a 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine, shared with the Toyota Tundra. Despite its power, the engine's roar was subdued, contributing to an average fuel economy of 14.7 mpg, slightly better than the EPA's 14 mpg rating. The Land Cruiser's eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel-drive system, with a two-speed transfer case, provided impressive off-road capabilities. Features like a Torsen limited-slip differential, Multi-Terrain Select traction assist, and Crawl Control made it adept at handling challenging terrains. On pavement, the Land Cruiser offered a refined, Lexus-like driving experience, though its nearly 3-ton weight affected maneuverability. It was rated to tow up to 8,100 pounds.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), offered a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The Wilderness trim's 9.5 inches of ground clearance and all-terrain tires enhanced its off-road prowess, while revised final-drive ratios and a dual-function X-Mode traction system improved its capability on challenging terrains. On pavement, the Outback Wilderness felt quick but was limited by its tires. Off-road, it excelled, handling steep hills and rough trails with ease. The EPA rated its fuel efficiency at 24 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing averaged 21.3 mpg.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior, while luxurious with premium leather upholstery and heated, ventilated seats, felt dated. It offered a commanding view from its tall seating position. The second-row bench seat was spacious and heated, while the third-row seat, though accommodating adults, lacked leg support for long trips. The Land Cruiser provided 16.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 82.8 cubic feet with seats folded. Its split clamshell-style liftgate and tailgate facilitated easy access and cleanup after outdoor activities.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark gray StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but could be uncomfortable in hot weather. The front seats were heated, with the driver's seat offering 10-way power adjustment. The rear seat provided ample space for two adults or three children, with heated seats and USB charging ports. The cargo area offered 32.5 cubic feet of space, expandable to 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The Outback Wilderness's robust roof rack supported a 700-pound static load, ideal for rooftop camping.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's technology felt outdated, with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system that lacked swipe or scroll functionality. It ran on Toyota Entune technology, similar to a Corolla, and did not support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The voice-recognition system was basic, and the dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system was dated, though it included a 14-speaker JBL Synthesis audio system.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with physical knobs for volume and tuning. While the voice recognition technology required learning specific prompts, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto offered better functionality. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available in other trims, but included PIN code entry technology for secure access without a key fob.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser came 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 systems like stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and automated lane-keeping assistance. Crash-test ratings were unavailable for the Land Cruiser.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was equipped with EyeSight advanced driving assistance systems, offering adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assistance. It also featured steering-responsive headlights and a blind-spot warning system. While crash-test results for the 2022 model were unavailable, the 2021 Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.