Kia Sportage vs Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was offered in two trim levels, with the base model named the 1958, a nod to the year it first hit the US market. This version had a retro aesthetic, featuring round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment, available in three paint colors. Despite its nostalgic charm, the 1958 model was priced at $58,195, making it a costly choice for those seeking a budget-friendly SUV. The more modern Land Cruiser trim, priced at $62,965, boasted a contemporary look with a wider color palette, upscale interior, and essential off-roading features. The Premium Package added leather, advanced tech, and a Heritage Blue and Grayscape paint option, bringing the total to $71,004. The Land Cruiser's design emphasized off-road capability with a traditional two-box SUV shape, dark gray cladding, and an optional roof rack. Inside, the utilitarian cabin featured intuitive switchgear, dual 12.3-inch screens, and Java-colored leather, offering a blend of traditional and modern elements.

The 2026 Kia Sportage underwent a styling refresh, giving it a more rugged, truck-like appearance. The wide grille and vertical headlights aligned it with larger Kia models like the Sorento and Telluride. Despite these changes, the rear end retained a curvier design, creating a slight mismatch with the front. The Sportage's 108.5-inch wheelbase was longer than competitors like the Subaru Forester and Nissan Rogue, adding visual interest with crisp body lines. The X-Pro model benefited most from the refresh, with styling that matched its off-road aspirations. It featured all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels and unique drive-mode tuning. Inside, the Sportage had a new steering wheel design reminiscent of early airbag-equipped wheels, and a prominent curved screen due to the removal of large air vents. The materials in the X-Pro test car were practical and suited for active lifestyles, though not particularly luxurious.

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 eight-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor. This setup delivered 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, with power distributed through a full-time 4WD system featuring electronic locking rear and center differentials. The Land Cruiser had a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds and included standard features like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The more expensive trim added Multi-Terrain Select off-roading modes, Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, 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 adventurer, though it struggled on twisty roads due to its tires and suspension tuning. It offered a high driving position with excellent visibility, making it easy to park and maneuver on trails. Off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Crawl Control, along with 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

The 2026 Kia Sportage offered a range of powertrains, including conventional gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options. The base and hybrid models were available with FWD or AWD, while the plug-in hybrid was AWD-only. Non-hybrid models featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains used a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with an electric motor, delivering 232 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque for hybrids, and 268 hp for plug-in hybrids. The X-Pro model, designed for off-road use, had all-terrain tires and unique drive-mode tuning. Despite its off-road capabilities, the X-Pro's all-terrain tires were noisy and reduced the vehicle's sporty potential. The Sportage's suspension absorbed bumps well, but a lack of body control led to shaking and jostling during everyday driving.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered an upgrade from cloth upholstery to SofTex artificial leather in the higher trim, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof. While the front seats were comfortable, the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The Land Cruiser's running boards could be cumbersome for taller passengers. The rear window design was less practical compared to the 4Runner, and the center console's cool box was deemed unnecessary. The Land Cruiser provided 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 82.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, though the high load floor required effort to load heavy items.

The 2026 Kia Sportage's interior space remained competitive, with headroom and legroom comparable to rivals. Rear-seat legroom was among the best in the segment, surpassing the Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4. Cargo space measured 36.6 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 69.3 cubic feet with them folded, expandable to 39.6 and 74.1 cubic feet, respectively, by adjusting the dual-level cargo floor. The Sportage's towing capacity was 2,500 pounds for non-hybrid models and 2,000 pounds for hybrids. The center console offered ample storage, with a wireless charging pad, adaptable cupholders, and a large storage bin, showcasing efficient use of space.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured a 7-inch digital driver display and 8-inch touchscreen in the base model, upgraded to dual 12.3-inch displays in the higher trim. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. 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 sound system, wireless smartphone charger, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, and digital key technology.

The 2026 Kia Sportage came standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and touchscreen, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Wireless phone charging was standard on all but the base trim, and a Harman Kardon audio system was included on higher trims. The Sportage's horizontal display integrated the instrument cluster and touchscreen, similar to luxury brands. While the interface had sharp graphics, it required frequent swiping due to large icons. The Sportage's control panel combined climate and audio functions, necessitating attention to avoid adjusting the wrong setting.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist detection. It also offered lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist, with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist providing semi-autonomous highway driving. Additional features included a road sign reader, automatic high-beam headlights, and Predictive Driving Assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with five stars in side-impact testing and three stars for rollover resistance.

The 2026 Kia Sportage offered standard driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims included adaptive cruise control with navigation integration and Highway Driving Assist for automated lane centering. The Sportage also featured a surround-view camera system and Blind-spot View Monitor. It received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side crash testing and four stars for rollover performance.