2025 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its familiar aesthetic with minor updates to the Wilderness trim, featuring a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark gray cladding provided a striking contrast to the Autumn Green Metallic color of the Touring XT model, which was described as a “green-tinged dark khaki.” The Outback's various trims offered different levels of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Touring trim showcasing the most chrome, which was tastefully executed. Wheel designs varied across trims, with standard black 17-inch alloy wheels and a matte black version for the Wilderness trim. The interior of the top-trim test car was notably upscale, featuring Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, which was both attractive and comfortable. Other trims offered different seating materials, from standard leather to Subaru’s StarTex synthetic leather and cloth seats.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its second model year, was available in two trims: the base 1958 and the more upscale Land Cruiser. The 1958 trim had a retro look with round headlights and basic equipment, while the Land Cruiser trim offered a modern appearance with more color options and a refined interior. The Land Cruiser model included critical off-roading hardware and software, and the Premium Package added leather, a sunroof, and more tech features. Our test vehicle, equipped with the Premium Package, featured Heritage Blue and Grayscape paint, 20-inch wheels, and an accessory roof rack. The Land Cruiser's traditional two-box SUV design maximized off-road capabilities and interior space, with a utilitarian interior that was more refined than the 1958 model. The Java-colored leather and dual 12.3-inch digital screens added a touch of luxury and technological advancement.

The 2024 Subaru Outback was powered by a “Boxer” horizontally opposed engine, with the base model featuring a 2.5-liter flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, were equipped with a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, increasing the towing capacity to 3,500 lbs. The Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and Lineartronic CVT were standard across all trims. The Touring XT test car, with its turbo engine, provided a well-balanced driving experience, with the CVT mimicking eight distinct gears. The Outback offered a comfortable ride, aided by its suspension and wheel design, with ground clearance ranging from 8.7 inches to 9.2 inches for the Wilderness trim, which also featured all-terrain tires and advanced X-Mode settings.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup produced 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, with a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. The full-time 4WD system included electronic locking differentials and off-roading features like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The Land Cruiser trim added Multi-Terrain Select modes and a front stabilizer bar disconnect. Despite an EPA rating of 23 mpg combined, real-world testing yielded only 15.7 mpg. The Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road vehicle, with its suspension absorbing rough terrain and providing a high driving position for excellent visibility. However, it struggled with handling on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning and tire setup.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered ample interior space despite its sleek design. It provided more front headroom than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and competitive rear-seat legroom. The cargo area measured 32.6 cubic feet with all seats in place and 75.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Feature availability was a strong point, with dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat standard on most trims. Higher trims offered heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The hands-free power liftgate and power moonroof were available on higher trims, and the Outback’s roof rails with retractable cross bars added practicality.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, particularly in the upgraded trim, featured SofTex artificial leather or real leather with the Premium Package. The front seats were comfortable, but the second-row seats lacked support and comfort. The high load floor in the cargo area required effort to load heavy items, but the space was generous at 46.2 cubic feet, expanding to 82.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The rear window design was less practical compared to the 4Runner, and the center console's cool box reduced storage space. The running boards were helpful for roof access but could be cumbersome for taller passengers.

The 2024 Subaru Outback Touring trim featured a CD player, USB-C and USB-A ports, and an 11.6-inch infotainment screen, with the base trim retaining dual 7-inch screens. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless connectivity starting from the Premium trim. The climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with some hard buttons for essential functions. Wi-Fi capability, Bluetooth, HD Radio, and SiriusXM were standard on most trims, with a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system available on higher trims.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered a significant technology upgrade from the 1958 trim, with dual 12.3-inch displays and the Toyota Audio Multimedia system. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music. Five connected service plans were available, with Drive Connect offering cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL audio system, wireless smartphone charger, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, and digital key technology.

The 2024 Subaru Outback received a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The EyeSight suite of driver-assistance technologies was standard, including adaptive cruise control, lane-centering, and automatic emergency braking. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on higher trims, with additional features like a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor on the Touring trim.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. It also included lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist. The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert and Traffic Jam Assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with mixed results in specific tests.