Toyota Land Cruiser vs Buick Enclave

The 2026 Buick Enclave shared its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia, yet it distinguished itself with a unique personality. Its exterior featured graceful lines, a swooping hood, and narrow accent lights, creating a streamlined look for an SUV. The oversized grille, particularly in the Sport Touring trim with its glossy black finish, was a dominant feature. From the side and back, the Enclave's design was tidy and subtle, blending into traffic like a well-fitting gray suit. Inside, the Enclave offered a classy horizontal dashboard with a modern curved digital display. The materials were of higher quality than the Traverse, with more soft-touch surfaces, although some driver ergonomics felt off due to the low dashboard placement.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser was available in two versions: the Land Cruiser 1958 and a higher trim level. The 1958 model featured round headlights and cloth seats, while the higher trim had rectangular lamps and artificial leather upholstery. The higher trim also offered more color options and features. Starting at $59,775, the 1958 catered to those seeking a basic yet functional vehicle, while the upmarket version, priced from $64,620, targeted buyers wanting more for their money. The Land Cruiser's cabin emphasized function over form, with the Premium Package adding soft leather upholstery and generous padding. The displays and switchgear were similar to the Lexus GX, exuding quality despite a thin metallic echo when doors slammed.

The 2026 Buick Enclave was powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive optional. The Enclave accelerated to 60 mph in just over 7 seconds, though it felt slower due to dull transmission response and loud engine noises. The brakes were predictable and easy to modulate, while the suspension favored ride quality over handling. The top Avenir trim offered adaptive dampers for improved handling and comfort. The Enclave's cabin remained quiet at highway speeds, with only a hint of road noise. It offered a respectable 5,000-pound towing capacity with an optional trailering package.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser featured the i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, combining a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to produce 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission, full-time four-wheel drive, and a 6,000-pound towing capacity. The Land Cruiser returned 23 mpg combined on premium fuel, though our test vehicle averaged 20.3 mpg during a heat wave. It excelled in off-roading with features like center and locking rear differentials, hill-start assist, and Crawl Control. The i-Force Max powertrain provided impressive torque, though it wasn't particularly quick. The Land Cruiser handled rugged terrain with ease, but its touchy brake pedal and wind noise were notable downsides.

The 2026 Buick Enclave offered second-row captain's chairs, limiting passenger capacity to seven. Taller passengers enjoyed ample space in the middle row, while the third row accommodated adults up to five-foot-ten comfortably. The Enclave provided 22.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 97.5 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Power package added power-folding third-row seatbacks and a hands-free power liftgate. The front seats offered ample storage, with a large center armrest bin and a giant tray under the center console.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser's 1958 model featured manually adjustable front seats and cloth upholstery, while the higher trim offered power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation. The Premium Package added genuine leather, memory settings, and a power sunroof. The Land Cruiser accommodated up to five people, with no third-row seat available. The cargo area offered 46.2 cubic feet of space, expanding to 82.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. However, the high liftover height and lack of a flat surface made loading bulky items challenging.

The 2026 Buick Enclave featured a 30-inch curved digital display with a Google Built-in operating system, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. It included a wireless charging pad, WiFi hotspot, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The infotainment system was praised for its sharp graphics and quick response. Physical buttons for climate controls allowed for easy adjustments. The Power package added a head-up display and Amazon Alexa voice commands. The standard Bose audio system lacked punch in the lower registers, but the top Avenir trim offered a 16-speaker system.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser's 1958 model came with a 7-inch digital driver display and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The higher trim featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and touchscreen. Our test vehicle included wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 14-speaker JBL audio system. Five connected service plans were available, with complimentary subscriptions for some. The Intelligent Assistant worked well, though it occasionally misinterpreted commands. The infotainment system was simple and easy to use, with a preference for Night mode due to low-contrast graphics in Day mode.

The 2026 Buick Enclave received a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, with "Good" ratings in all crashworthiness evaluations. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The optional Power package added a digital rearview mirror and GM's SuperCruise, allowing for hands-free highway driving on select roads.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including high-beam assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and parking sensors. Additional features included blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and a safe-exit assist system. The Premium Package added lane-change assist, front cross-traffic alert, and Traffic Jam Assist. The NHTSA gave the Land Cruiser a four-star overall safety rating, with five-star side-impact ratings and a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS gave it mostly Good ratings, with some Acceptable and Marginal scores.