2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, known for its iconic design, maintained its classic boxy shape with a flat roof, reminiscent of its predecessors. Each of the three trims featured elements that paid homage to earlier models, such as the heritage grille and round headlights. The vehicle was equipped with modern LED lighting, and the higher trims offered color-selectable fog lights, adding a contemporary touch. The lowered beltline improved driver visibility, and the vehicle came standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, with 20-inch options available for the middle trim. Inside, the base trim had cloth seats, while the middle trim featured SofTex, and the First Edition boasted real leather. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard across all trims, with additional features like a moonroof and ventilated seats available in the Premium Package.

The 2025 Subaru Outback stood out as one of the few remaining wagons in the U.S., adopting crossover trends with its rugged design, including chunky wheel-arch flares and a robust roof rack. The Crimson Red Pearl paint paired well with the black leather interior, though earthy shades were preferred for the Outback's aesthetic. Subaru focused on off-road capabilities, appealing to a niche market that proved successful. The Outback's design was consistent with Subaru's best-selling models, offering a lifted version of a passenger car. The 2025 model saw no major changes, with base trims featuring cloth upholstery and 17-inch wheels, while higher trims offered StarTex synthetic leather and additional features like a power moonroof and advanced infotainment systems. The Touring XT trim provided Nappa leather and ventilated front seats, enhancing comfort and luxury.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with a hybrid powertrain, featuring a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 1.87-kWh battery pack and a 48-hp electric motor, delivering a total of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. It had an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard full-time 4WD, with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case. The Multi-Terrain Select system, available on mid-tier and First Edition models, operated in both 4Hi and 4Lo. The vehicle also featured an automatic limited-slip differential, rear- and center-locking differentials, and a push-button disconnect for the front sway bar. The updated CRAWL control function offered five speed settings for precise off-road navigation, operating silently compared to previous versions.

The 2025 Subaru Outback offered two engine options: a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine producing 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines ran on regular unleaded gas and were paired with a CVT and standard AWD. The turbocharged engine provided better acceleration, making the XT model a recommended choice for those seeking more power. The Outback featured 8.7 inches of ground clearance, with the Wilderness model offering 9.5 inches and additional off-road enhancements. The vehicle's smooth suspension and powerful brakes ensured a comfortable ride, though the stop/start technology and CVT had some drawbacks.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, based on the Prado, offered two rows of seating with headroom measuring 36.1 inches in the front and 35.3 inches in the back. Legroom was 33.0 inches in the front and 26.7 inches in the rear. The center console provided easy access to off-road features, and the infotainment screen was conveniently placed. The cargo area, with a raised load floor, offered 37.5 cubic feet of space and included a 120-volt AC outlet and USB-C ports in higher trims.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's wagon shape provided practicality with easy entry and exit, a low center of gravity, and quick direction changes. It offered 32.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up and 75.6 cubic feet with the seat folded. The total passenger volume was 109 cubic feet, larger than its crossover competitors. The Outback's lower roofline did not compromise passenger space, though the rear seat was slightly smaller. The vehicle's towing capacity increased to 3,500 pounds with the turbocharged engine.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured the Multi-Terrain Monitor system on higher trims, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display that was useful for off-road navigation. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with USB-C ports for both front and rear passengers. The base trim had an 8-inch display and a six-speaker sound system, while higher trims offered a 10-speaker system or an optional 14-speaker JBL system with the Premium Package.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's technology package included an 11.6-inch touchscreen with large icons, though the Starlink infotainment system was slow to respond. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a Harman Kardon 12-speaker audio system available. The dashboard featured a mix of physical controls and touchscreen functions, with a CD player included in the Touring trim. USB-A and USB-C ports were available for device connectivity.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but Toyota's safety record provided some confidence. It came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and more. The Premium Package added lane-keep assist and other features to the middle trim, standard on the First Edition.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist technology, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and more. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The 2024 Outback earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA, with the 2025 model expected to perform similarly.